Over 150 films, including documentaries, music videos and VR, will be screened during the week-long festival at the Odeon in Manchester’s Great Northern Warehouse.
Alongside the films and post-screening Q&As, the festival will host free filmmaker studios where the creatives from this year’s selection will take questions from a live audience.
Some of the headlines are the premiere of British film The Runaways, starring The Full Monty’s Mark Addy, following three siblings travelling the world to avoid social services.
Far From the Apple Tree, starring Sorcha Groundsell of Netflix’s The Innocents, will also be screened for the first time, showcasing a struggling artist who lands her dream job working for a sinister visual artist.
Hollywood legend Martin Sheen will appear in The Princess of the Row, while Joan Collins stars in short-film Gerry, following an old woman who uncovers a long-buried secret.
“This years line-up is the perfect example of what we set out to achieve five years ago” said Head of Programming, Al Bailey,
“[it’s] a showcase of the most eclectic independent films from around the world and the strength of the selection shows the reputation the festival has and continues to gain.”
MANIFF2019 will be held from 2nd-10th March 2019.
