BRADFORD International Film Festival launched with the 1981 classic American Werewolf in London at Pictureville Cinema in The National Science and Media Museum, to an audience excited to see this film which was lauded for its special effects when it was released and still stands the test of time after more than 40 years.
But this festival - which took place last month - was primarily designed to give an opportunity for emerging and established independent filmmakers to have their work screened: over the course of the week 55 films were shown, culminating in an awards event at The Light Cinema.
The event also included an industry day at the Great Victoria Hotel, with speakers from the British Film Industry.
The organisers, writer Jan Ruppe and producer and director at Northern Fortress Films, Louisa Rose Mackleston, have spent the last year planning the festival to showcase filmmaking talent from Bradford and beyond. They plan to make the festival an annual event. “It was fabulous to see such a range of diverse and original films all of a very high standard” was just one of the many comments the festival received from those attending.”
Despite being its inaugural year, the festival attracted more than 400 attendees which the organisers believe shows the need for an international film festival in the city. As the first UNESCO city of film since 2009 it is only fitting that such a festival should exist.
Among the visitors was Jakub Zajac who travelled from Vietnam to take part. Jakub ‘s film Lust For Freedom won Best International Film which was one of eight awards handed out at the sold-out awards ceremony on Sunday evening.
Awards were also given for best animation, best documentary and best narrative short film. The festival featured films by filmmakers under the age of 25, highlighting the fact that Bradford is the youngest city in Europe.
There was also an award for best film by a filmmaker over the age of 50. Bradford filmmakers were at the heart of this event and the Best of Bradford Award was given to Kamal Kaan, the Bradford writer of the tender film All The Lights Still Burning.
There was also a Judges’ Choice Award for Imagine if Black Boys Just Smiled At Each Other, a drama-documentary from Bradford filmmaker Kenton Joseph Thomas.
It is intended that this film festival will grow over the next few years and incorporate more features while continuing to give opportunities to emerging filmmakers, finding their voices through short film production.
If this year is anything to go by, it will be a continued success for years to come.
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