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The Bay International Film Festival has now confirmed its fourth outing will take place 29 January-7 February 2027. The festival’s touring edition will also be taken on the road this summer around Morecambe, Carnforth, Ulverston and Barrow.
Organisers were delighted with increasing audience numbers and widening participation with the town benefiting from overnight stays from filmmakers from Canada, Prague, Amsterdam, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Ireland.
Homegrown talent was showcased with the film industry jury selecting several UK entries for awards including the overall Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Northern Short and the Best Local Community Film created by students from PQA Morecambe and Lancaster. The full list of award winners and their films can be found on the festival website.
The themed programme of shorts will return in 2027, including the popular Northern day where audiences can discover regional voices, the family friendly screening as well as plans to find a bigger venue for the sold out LGBTQ+ dedicated screening.
Organisers are also looking to introduce Virtual Reality film experiences to the festival programme in a first for the region. With no VR cinema venues in Lancashire and Cumbria, the festival will bring this new cutting-edge cinema to the local audiences as it seeks to secure the future of independent cinema.
Festival producer Anna Henderson said: “When we started the festival three years ago, we had a simple dream: to bring world-class short films to Morecambe and prove that great film festivals don't just belong in big cities - they belong right here, in our community. And here we are - three years later with an absolutely incredible festival edition behind us and more to come.
“The warmth, the laughter, the conversations, the tears, the words people shared with us throughout this journey meant everything. People travelled from many countries and all across the UK just to be part of what we're building together here in Morecambe. And that blows my mind every single time.”
Roger Ashton-Griffiths, the actor who played DS Lestrade in Young Sherlock Holmes screened at the festival, said: “One of the most remarkable things about The Bay International Film Festival is just how effectively it combines its global outlook with events that involve the local community.
“I presented the award for Best Film to an extraordinary English production but other awards testified to the diverse range of international submissions. The festival brought the wide world in, yet sent the local community out, and I congratulate the organisers on their remarkable achievement.”
Festival patron and director of ITV’s The Bay, Daragh Carville, said: “The third Bay International Film Festival was an absolute blast, a celebration of the talent and creativity that's long been at the heart of the Morecambe Bay area. Congratulations and thanks to the organisers and the team of tireless volunteers for all their hard work in putting together the best festival yet!”
Guest filmmaker Suzanne Procter praised the care and enthusiasm shown by the organisers and incredible volunteers which made the event feel genuinely welcoming.
Suzanne added: “Morecambe provided a beautiful and fitting backdrop for such an inspiring event, and we very much hope to return in the next few years with another film. I would highly recommend submitting!”
John McMeeking, REEL Cinema Morecambe, and festival venue, said: “An absolute pleasure to be involved. From the films to the wonderful guests to the film community who attended. A huge congratulations to the organisers for putting together an amazing experience and a credit to Morecambe for hosting. Can't wait for next year.”
To keep up with all the news, follow the festival channels on all socials @thebayfilmfestival
Header Image: The Bay Film Festival Award winners. (Chris Holmes)
