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The centenary of Eric Morecambe is to be celebrated at the gala opening of film festival in the comedian’s birthplace. The Bay International Film Festival was set up three years ago in Morecambe to make film accessible for everyone - from emerging northern talent to community audiences.
The leading independent film festival - dubbed a meaningful creative milestone for Morecambe - opens 23 January with a gala screening hosted by Daragh Carville, writer and showrunner of ITV’s The Bay, and newly announced film festival patron.
Daragh said: “It’s a great honour to become a Patron of the Bay International Film Festival. The success of the festival since its launch three years ago is a testament to the energy and creativity of the organisers and the Morecambe Bay community in general.”
A key ambition of this year’s festival is highlighting northern filmmakers with a dedicated Northern Day featuring two workshops for regional filmmakers, a screening of nine northern films along with Q&As, and a mini awards ceremony for the Best Northern Film. There will be a guerilla filmmaking workshop with the director/screenwriter Chris Jones whose impressive CV includes directing Splinter Unit on Paramount's ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning’ parts 1 and 2, and executive producing ‘The Enfield Poltergeist’ for Apple TV+.
He also co-created The Guerilla Film Makers Handbook series and founded the London Screenwriters Festival, attracting over 1,000 professional screenwriters globally each year.
Other films already confirmed include ‘England is Mine’, a portrait of Steven Morrissey and his early life in 1970s Manchester before he went on to become the lead singer of seminal alternative rock band The Smiths. Industry guests for the screening include the film’s director/screenwriter Mark Gill along with the award-winning screenwriter and co-writer of the film, Will Thacker.
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Co-founder Anna Henderson said: “We’re working to build a creative network and combat isolation among North West filmmakers. Last year's northern screening was the most popular short film event, so we are expanding this focus, and hoping to build on the outcomes which saw attendees go on to work together, including on a short film ‘The Premiere’ shot in Lancaster this summer.”
The official selection of 72 short films submitted from 47 countries are now confirmed with tickets available for the eight themed screenings. The festival is also introducing a new Best Local Community Film award to encourage amateur filmmakers to tell stories with footage shot on mobile phones to encourage grassroots filmmaking.
A Family Day with a short film screening for kids and two animation workshops will see their work edited during the week and receive a red carpet premiere at the awards ceremony, with the young participants receiving certificates.
This year's theme is mental health, featuring a whole day dedicated to a film forum ‘Mental Health in Focus’, short film screenings and a workshop focused on mental health representation on screen. The film festival is also an opportunity to watch and discuss films together, shown to improve wellbeing and combat loneliness and isolation.
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Film producer Philip Herd, who came on board as a patron in the inaugural year, said: "As a film producer originally from Morecambe, the prospect of being part of a new film festival in my hometown is just brilliant. I’m so excited to help build something that will continue to grow as a major event for film-makers and film-lovers alike."
The festival is supported by Film Hub North, National Lottery Community Fund, Nat Merriman Fund, The Granada Foundation, Eric Wright Charitable Trust, Lancaster University, The Penhale Fund and Reel Cinema.
A new ticket policy has been introduced which includes a free option for those who cannot afford to pay, a concession price of approximately £3-£4, and a ‘community champion’ price of £7-£10, relying on people to choose based on their financial situation. All proceeds are invested back into the ‘not-for-profit’ event. A percentage of the ticket sales for the Mental Health related events and screenings will be donated to a mental health charity.
Event tickets have started to be released with more being confirmed in January. More Music and Reel Cinema Morecambe are the main venues.
Header Image: The Bay Film Festival Short Film Screening. (Yifan Zang)
For tickets and programme information - CLICK HERE
