BAFTA and Oscar nominees will join local talent for the third edition of an ever-growing film festival held in Morecambe.
The Bay International Film Festival will open this Friday (January 23) with a gala event at Reel Cinema to celebrate the centenary of Eric Morecambe.
This will include the screening of two films - The Last Laugh and Eric and Ernie.
Guests are Paul Hendy, writer/director of The Last Laugh, Peter Bowker, the BAFTA winning writer of Eric and Ernie, actor Damian Williams who played Tommy Cooper in The Last Laugh and Daragh Carville, creator of ITV's The Bay series, who will host a Q&A.
The gala event will set the stage for a nine day film festival which has something for everyone from local audiences and film buffs to grassroots filmmakers and established professionals.
LISTEN to Darren and Anna Henderson from The Bay International Film Festival, talking about this year's event
For families, there will be an afternoon of 10 heart-warming films on January 25, bringing together the very best family-friendly stories celebrating friendship, courage, and the power of imagination.
A spectacular 40th anniversary screening of Young Sherlock Holmes on January 30 promises to be a journey back to when cinema was pure magic, when practical effects and imagination created worlds that still captivate today.
A post film Q&A with actor Roger Ashton-Griffiths, who played Inspector Lestrade, is a special chance to ask questions about the making of the film, working with the legendary cast, and stories from the golden age of 1980s filmmaking. Suitable for all ages.
Below, Roger Ashton-Griffths. Photo credit: Yan Hui Chew
A special double bill celebrating northern cinema on January 24 will showcase the work of Oscar and BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Mark Gill, along with Lancaster University graduate Will Thacker, co-writer of This is England, the evocative biographical drama exploring the life of The Smiths front man Morrissey as a teenager struggling to find his voice in 1970s Manchester.
Opening the screening will be The Voorman Problem, the darkly comic short that earned Mark Gill recognition at the 86th Academy Awards.
Starring Martin Freeman and Tom Hollander, this short explores what happens when a prison psychiatrist is assigned to evaluate a mysterious inmate claiming to be a god, and reality begins to bend in unexpected ways.
Part of the festival’s Northern Day, the screening will be followed by an in-depth conversation about bringing Morrissey's early years to screen, the craft of biographical filmmaking and celebrating Northern stories in cinema.
Hear first-hand about the journey from the North of England to the Academy Awards, and discover how regional filmmakers can break through to international success while staying true to their roots.
Chris Jones will host a Guerilla Filmmaking Workshop on January 24. This is described as perfect for first-time filmmakers with a burning idea, experienced creators ready to level up and anyone who's always wondered "could I actually do this?".
This year’s festival explores the theme of mental health on January 31 with a film forum examining mental health representation on screen and wellbeing behind the scenes; a ‘Stories of Resilience’ programme of short films with a Q&A with the filmmakers; a hands on workshop to reframe the mental health narrative and the premiere of a documentary exploring the lived experience of late neurodivergent diagnosis.
The organisers were inspired by the research of MediCinema that found watching films together was beneficial to mental health and wellbeing; reduced isolation, offered escapism and offered a positive experience for families.
A percentage of the ticket sales for the mental health related events and screenings will be donated to Achieve Change and Engagement, a mental health charity supporting young people in Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and rural areas.
The festival is essential viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in film with a programme of themed screenings of shorts, workshops, Q&As and more to bring together creators and audiences.
A screening at The Bay International Film Festival. Photo credit: Yifan Zhang.
"We're privileged to be bringing our third edition to Morecambe and to have so many wonderful films and events to share," said Darren Henderson, festival director and co-founder.
"We've been working hard to make this as accessible as possible and the support from many different individuals and organisations has been invaluable in making this happen.”
Free tickets and complimentary refreshments are available for many of the events thanks to the support of Arts Council England, 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.
Tickets can be bought on a ‘pay what you can’ scale including a number of free tickets to ensure the joy of film is accessible to all.
For programme details and to purchase tickets, see HERE.
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