A Northumberland film festival has announced its full programme line-up ahead of its full return for the first time in three-and-a-half years.
The Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival (BFMAF) aims to champion films and filmmakers who push the boundaries of filmmaking. Though it's the eighteenth iteration of the festival, it is the first fully in person programme since 2019 with a programme of screening events and exhibitions across the town after an online-only festival in 2020 and a hybrid in 2021.
The 2023 programme includes seven world premieres, three international premieres, two European premieres and 19 UK premieres, including the opening night gala's UK premiere of Anerca, Breath of Life by Finnish father and son filmmaking team Markku and Johannes Lehmuskallio, and another UK premiere for the closing night named Arnold is a Model Student.
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Since 2005, BFMAF has taken place each September in England's most northerly town, but the date for 2022's event has been pushed back until this spring as part of action attempting to address sector-wide pressure to staff and collaborators in a time of economic hardship. Organisers say that committing to slower, more sustainable futures better prioritises wellbeing in order to deliver the best for audiences, artists and filmmakers.
BFMAF has received new funding from North of Tyne Combined Authority to reach more audience, with it hoped that visitors will be drawn from Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and even international film and arts communities to this annual flagship event based out of the Maltings in Berwick.
Northumberland County Council and the BFI Audience Fund (awarding funds from the National Lottery) are supporting, and BFMAF recently received support from Arts Council England as part of its 2023-26 Investment Programme meaning it can continue to support staff, young filmmakers and focus on local communities.
Peter Taylor, Director of Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival, said: "We could not be more excited to welcome audiences back to our fully in-person festival this year. As our new Spring festival dates promise, the festival has a new energy and a new lease of life and one which is reflected in a programme of screenings and events which is just as eclectic and exciting as ever.
"Across the town, we look forward to collectively sharing these new and retrospective works with cinema-lovers as well as offering up more than a few surprises along the way."
The Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival takes place from March 3 - 5 2023. For more information and a full programme, visit the website.
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