Good morning and welcome to the inaugural year of Bournemouth International Film Festival.

We'll have a quick introduction to the festival and a key note from a special guest - stay tuned on our social channels for announcements.

A curated selection of Student Films.

What we imagined 02:42
Director Shubhavi Arya

HIM 05:50
Director Lucas Reinke

Small I's 6:10
Director Tonie OW

Acronymity 08:37
Director Andrew Imai

An Absent Mind 07:45
Director Daniel Davies

Spectacle 10:00
Director Shantelle-Ellysé English

The Hatch 12:00
Director Suzanne Curtis

Machine of Quiet Killing 9.58
Director Raphael Allason

Directed by - Thomas David Beatty

A family band. 3 burnt out brothers, an undervalued sister, a cornucopia of addictions, oversized ego's, murderous resentments, delusions of grandeur, washed out morals and rapidly fading success culminates in a whirlwind dark comedy.

The Hook is a portrait of chasing success in the music industry, exposing the toll of addiction and the mental battles that come with the price of ambition. 

How To Get An Agent — with James Little (Screen Talent)

Ever wondered what it really takes to get signed by a crew agent? In this insightful session, James Little from Screen Talent shares his journey, the ins and outs of representation, and what agents are really looking for. Whether you're a director of photography, production designer, or up-and-coming crew talent, this talk breaks down the types of clients agents work with, how to stand out, and what makes a lasting impression.

Bring your questions – there’ll be time for a live Q&A at the end.

Unspoken
Directed by Maciej Adamek

A portrait of 26-year-old Matthew - a young man who stutters and wants to realise his childhood dream. He wants to become a Polish champion in acrobatics.

Director Nima Tabandeh

Nowruz (Nowruz is the Iranian New Year) is near. The old man is busy doing things to welcome spring, but the old woman is desperate for life and keeps grumbling that she will die soon and why no one is with them and they are alone. But the old man says that they should live with hope as long as they are alive. One morning, when the old man was painting the fences of the porch, he had a stroke and died. Now the old woman has to decide whether to continue to live hopelessly or... she looks at the things in the house and the old man's finished and unfinished works and decides to finish the old man's unfinished works.

An exclusive stand alone viewing of The Barn.
Director Jonathan P. Brooker
A girl dressed in 16th century garb is discovered asleep in a darkened farm barn. Adopted by the farmer and his family, the girl begins to notice something strange. She doesn't appear to get older! Upon the death of her adopted parents, she is driven from the village. Some years later she is discovered again in a barn, but in a different era. She doesn't remember her life before, but some years later she is again driven by scared and angry villagers from her home. Questions begin to creep in to her life!!!

A selection of films from the Arts University - not all are in competition

1. Chickenshit
Runtime - 8mins 15sec
Director - Ellie Rogers
Genre - Drama/LGBTQ+/Coming-of-age
 
2.Limbo  - Director Bethany Barr - Official Selection
 
3.Inebriated
Runtime - 11mins 35sec
Director - Max r Lincoln
Genre - Horror
 
4.Mother of Mine
Runtime - 13mins
Director - Jesse Lewis-Reece
Genre - Drama
 
5.Realness With A Twist
Runtime – 12mins 14sec
Director - Cass Virdee
Genre - Drama/LGBTQ+

In this session, we’ll explore how Tide is reshaping the way entrepreneurs and small businesses manage their finances. From streamlining everyday banking to automating key admin tasks, Tide offers a fully integrated platform designed to save businesses time, reduce costs, and simplify financial management.

We’ll discuss how our tailored business banking solutions go beyond just a current account — offering tools like invoicing, expense tracking, instant savings accounts, credit score access, P&L and tax insights, and much more — all within one powerful app.

Whether you’re launching a startup or scaling an existing venture, Tide is built to support your journey and help you focus on what really matters: growing your business.

BCP Film Office is proud to support Bournemouth International Film Festival 2025, taking place on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th October at the Hilton Bournemouth; and skilfully curated by tv/film pro and local expert, Steve McCarten.

As part of the Festival, meet with other industry professionals at the BCP Film Office Business Lounge on 3rd October.

The session will feature:

Short presentations between 13:15 and 14:45 with an introduction from Claire Main (Economic Development Officer at BCP Council); and talks from leading local business figures, including David Mutton (Evolve), Liam Winn (More Milk), Dan Pringle (BH Movies), Danny Stack (Nutmeg), Luke English (Luke English Media Law) and Fiona Bavinton (Compos Mentis), exploring how the region’s growing film and TV industry can directly benefit you.

Networking opportunities with key stakeholders and BCP Film Office representatives.

A BCP Film Office “Gather Zone” for informal meetings throughout the festival

The BCP Film Office Business Lounge is a key component of the festival's professional offer (part-funded by UK by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund) but there’s plenty more to explore with a range of ticketing options to suit your needs.

Directed by Harry Tomlin

An intimate conversation with Nicole Fry & Julian Butterworth creators of The Lace.

Nicole Sarah Fry is a 25-year-old neurodivergent British director and writer based in Dorset. She specialises in period films, from the Regency-set "Desires and Delusions" (2022), 1960s-set "Lies on the Line”(2023) and now “The Lace” (2025), set in the 1880s. She delights in many aspects of filmmaking, from garment-making to production design, where she uses her attention to detail to bring the characters' world to life.

Julian Butterworth is a german/british cinematographer with a passion for elevating visual storytelling and technical expertise for the entire production pipeline from shoot day to final delivery. His experience in editing, colour grading and vfx has allowed him to produce several award winning short films.

Hosted by Christie.

A curated selection of short films from the UK Short Film Category

The Red Veil 05:28
Director Callum Brown 

Paranoyya 18:09
Director Mike Glover

Graded 09:00
Director Toby Martin Hughes

The Weight of a Post-it 08:33
Director Danielle Reid

This fireside conversation is designed to feel like a creative deep-dive — not a panel, not a press event. Just two chairs, an audience, and the kind of candid reflection that only happens in the room.

We'll explore:

• His approach to building stories with longevity
• The leap from writer to showrunner
• How Broadchurch was built and cast in the South Coast
• What Doctor Who taught him about legacy
• The realities of running a production company in 2025

Whether you’re a writer, producer, lifelong fan or just love hearing how great stories come to life — this is for you.

A session on the UK Tax credits available for productions in the UK, including the new Enhanced rate for Independent film of up to nearly 40% credit. Delivered by BFI and Entertainment Partners.
 
Want to understand the process and how the UK Tax credits works then session is for you.

Quiet On Set: The Class Division in the Film Industry?

Written & Directed by Mark Forbes, this film examins classism that has plagued the UK film industry for decades and through the lens of individuals from working-class backgrounds as we observe the challenges they encounter when attempting to enter the field.

A Sketch of a Temperament: The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved
Run time: 35mins
Dir. Prod: James Fair
Stars: Rose Goldthorp, Ann-Marie Goldthorp, Robin Lee, Poppy Hardwicke
Synopsis: The Goldthorps' are breaking every rule in no-budget filmmaking: big cast, multiple locations, period drama. Nevertheless, they are determined to make a faithful adaptation of Thomas Hardy's final novel, The Well Beloved. This documentary follows the production, encouraging brave filmmakers to question their assumptions and get making.

Marooned on the island once inhabited by Prospero, washed up silent film star Clarke Andrews (Charlie Coldfield) finds himself enchanted by the residual magic of events long forgotten. But he is not alone…
Watched over by the impish spirit Ariel (Jim Causley), Clarke’s memories, dreams, hopes and fears are revealed as fragments of Shakespeare’s last play unfold accompanied by song, silent film and physical theatre. Clarke Andrews Tempest features songs written and performed by renowned singer songwriter Jim Causley.

Challenging Times call for Fearless Filmmakers.
Film connects with audiences in a way few other mediums can. Throughout the history of cinema, regardless of genre or style, the stories we tell have the ability to comment on and reflect society, revealing truths and informing the viewer. In this session, five very different practitioners and academics will explore the idea that challenging times calls for fearless filmmaking.

Directed by Stefania Montesolaro

In the year 2026, in a nameless metropolis, RIC, a young man plagued by inner turmoil and a constant need for validation, seeks to achieve financial success in the stock market, driven by a deep desire to earn recognition from his emotionally distant and disapproving father.

A curated selection of documentary shorts.

She fishes 15:00
Director Sabine Gilley

Brewed by the coast - 23:49
Director Ariana King

More Like Paul - 22:22
Director Damian Sciberras

In conversation with Access Coordinators Beth Matthews and Leah Rachel. Both have been Access Coordinating across film and TV, come hear them talk about their experience as DDN individuals in the industry and what the role of AC entails on a production. 

Where are we with AI in screen production,? This session dives lens first into how the screen industries are grappling with, experimenting with, and making with the rapid evolution of AI.

We begin by unpacking three persistent myths: that AI will replace human creativity, that solving the skills gap means funnelling everyone into STEM, and that its only impact is job automation. These narratives gloss over a much more complex landscape, one that includes urgent questions around ownership, authorship, and creative agency, but also new opportunities for experimentation, expression, and access. As this conversation unfolds, it is essential that everyone working in and around the screen industries contributes an informed and imaginative voice.

Next, we explore the models. We look at how generative AI actually works and reflect on what the BFI reveals in its newly released report AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward. The report highlights a sector alive with experimentation, yet still navigating challenges around infrastructure, ethics, equity, and readiness.

Then comes the making. We show how we are using AI in our own work, from changing the weather or blowing things up with VFX, to extending sets, to fixing it in post by rescuing exposure and sharpening soft footage. We are also exploring entirely new ways of making screen-based content. Through a series of short films and hands-on experiments, we ask what it means to create with, and sometimes against, systems we do not fully control.

#RevolutionAnyone is a positive, incredibly timely documentary that says ‘yes we can' change our society to better reflect the needs of all its citizens.

#RevolutionAnyone draws out information/inspiration from those on the frontline of fomenting change in the UK; draws on comparisons with Robert Tressell's seminal Socialist text 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' (120 years later, inequality and the Ruling Class still reign) and draws conclusions leading to our MANIFESTO FOR A MODERN REVOLUTION.

Esteemed interviewees: MPs JEREMY CORBYN, JOHN McDONNELL, RICHARD BURGON, MHAIRI BLACK; comedian JO BRAND; journalist/sociologist GARY YOUNGE; social cinema guru KEN LOACH; economists PATRICIA PINO & CHRISTIAN REILLY; political marketing expert DR MAGGIE SCAMMELL; Amazon USA union organiser CHRIS SMALLS; and more.

Directed by Luke Tedder

A special selection of award winning films that we have selected to screen at the festival.
OF ALL THE THINGS
BANJO BOYS - Announcement Teaser
OLYMPUS LOST
KER
SISTER WIVES 

🎉 BIFF x B-Reel: The After Party 🎶🍹

When the credits roll on Day 1 of BIFF 2025, the night is just getting started…

Join us and the B-Reel crew for an unforgettable Friday night takeover — a mashup of good vibes, great music, and Bournemouth’s creative crowd all under one roof.
Expect:
✨ DJs spinning until late
✨ A buzzing atmosphere with filmmakers, students & festival-goers
✨ Drinks flowing, conversations sparking, memories made

This isn’t just an after party, it’s where the festival family comes together to celebrate cinema, creativity, and community.

🎟 Open to BIFF ticket holders, bring your festival pass and your best Friday night energy.

A private detective uncovers a web of corruption and blackmail involving a priest and a brothel, leading to a dramatic confrontation at his daughter's wedding.

Re-Story Your Life - 09:33
Director Susanna Wright

Tidal Roots - 14:48
Director Edward Peter Weller

"CHIKUWACCHA! "

Kai and Hiro, elementary school brothers living in Tokyo, are going to spend their summer vacation at their aunt's house in Shimonoseki.
Their aunt lives on Futaoi-Island in Shimonoseki, known as the "Island where gods dwell in the forests."
Amidst the rich nature, the two brothers begin to grow little by little as they interact with the local people and learn about various values. One day, Kai meets a girl named Kino singing by the sea on the island, which makes him start to think about his own dreams. After tasting the delicious chikuwa (fish cakes) made by Kino's grandfather, Shigeru, Kai is so moved by the flavor that he decides to create a live-streaming show with the local people to share the deliciousness of chikuwa with the world.
On the night of a spectacular drone show, Kai makes a decision that he plans to tell his mother.
Dir: Chieko MISAKA

No 34915

As a British music video director based in the US with a background in creating innovative narratives for artistes such as Steve Aoki and The Smashing Pumpkins, I have ventured both in 2d art and now a short film (No 34915) which deals in more social themes. The film draws parallels between forgotten stories of historical prisoners; colonial penal colonies, internment camps and the ongoing struggle of modern migrants navigating uncertain horizons. I hope this short film challenges the viewers to reflect on these patterns of displacement persist and evolve, asking questions about human empathy, policy and potential utopian or dystopian outcomes. The short film (9 min) is shot in black and white, features no dialogue relying instead on an evocative score and sound design. I hope you find this film both immersive and thought provoking. 

Dir: Robin Antiga

“No time” to write that script?

No more excuses – you can get it done in 10 weeks

Did you know that in Hollywood you get 10 weeks to write the first draft of a script? Here, we will show how we can break down those 10 weeks into 10 steps. The focus is on writing genre scripts or commercial mainstream stories. Screenplays that will sell or be great spec scripts. By the end you will be equipped with the knowledge on how to move from a blank page to a first draft in 10 weeks, whether you are an experienced writer or a just starting out and writing in your spare time.

Limbo

All Hail The Duck King - Animation

They Made You into a Weapon and Told You To Find Peace - 25m 13s

Puddles 4.45

Directed by Ben Ryder

Diverse Hire 05:42

Directed by Dominic Alexander Christopher

The Breakdown of a Toxic Relationship as Told by Fluffmeister, a Poodle of Questionable Heritage 13:22

Directed by Peter Fellows

Conveyance 14:50

Director Gemma Creagh

Mein Surname 22:45

Director Adam Cowie

We wrap up our selection of short films with 2 comedies and a special mention for the final International drama film of the festival, "Blood Like Water".

Brown Trousers 10.07

Directed by Jim Eaves, Glen Yard

Blackpool 13.20

Directed by Stephen Gallacher

Blood Like Water 14.24

Director Dima Hamdan

A deep dive into the world of a working director with local filmmaker Dan Pringle.

Signature

Director Nick Zerafa

Y Crwydryn

Directed by Rhys Edwards

In this intimate Welsh-language documentary, singer Wil Tân embarks on a poignant road trip across Wales to uncover the deep connections between country music and the timeless themes of love, heartbreak, and death. Winding through rugged landscapes and quiet towns, Wil meets with old friends, fellow musicians, and ordinary people whose lives echo the stories found in the songs he loves. As he delves into the roots of a genre far from its American birthplace, Y Crwydryn becomes a lyrical meditation on identity, memory, and the universal power of music to heal and connect.

Never Came Back 04:00

Directed by Dave Young, Ciaran Jamie Parsons

Bluff 09:47

Directed by Naomi Wright

Broken Bird 5.33

Director Sheherazade Bodin

Ice Cream Headache 17.06

Director Benjamin K. Dyson

Unseen Scars 23.54

Director Carl Mackenzie

A seminar with Gina Lyons to enlighten and enthrall. A session about the role of the Producer hosted by Christie Fewry.

Gabrielle Wood - Script Supervisor 
Gabrielle Wood is best known for her work on Black Mirror, Horrible Histories, The Old Guard, Mr Bigstuff, Railway Children Return and more. She’s taken care of continuity on various sets from sci-fi’s to horrors to westerns. “One minute you’re telling an Alien they held the weapon in the left hand, the next minute, you’re watching all the dead bodies get up for lunch. As a Script Supervisor, you get seated right next to the director, carefully watching the monitor, flagging inconsistencies and listening to hear if actors are saying the right lines. If Sherlock Holmes worked in the film industry, he’d be a script supervisor. And surprisingly not a lot of people even know the job exists!” Come find out more.

Tunnels 13.09

Director Paul Bloomfield

Same difference 14.39

Director Declan Slattery

The Removed 08:38

Director Rebecca Rose

Seeking Thomas 03:32

Director Julia Lisa Zlotnick

Hide 19:30

Director Ian Curtis

In this session, we’ll explore how Tide is reshaping the way entrepreneurs and small businesses manage their finances. From streamlining everyday banking to automating key admin tasks, Tide offers a fully integrated platform designed to save businesses time, reduce costs, and simplify financial management.

We’ll discuss how our tailored business banking solutions go beyond just a current account — offering tools like invoicing, expense tracking, instant savings accounts, credit score access, P&L and tax insights, and much more — all within one powerful app.

Whether you’re launching a startup or scaling an existing venture, Tide is built to support your journey and help you focus on what really matters: growing your business.

In this deep dive we speak to Imogen Cooper - seasoned Producer for Cineflix in Canada, US and UK. Now founder of the genre video on demand platform Yoreflix and product sponsor of our Genre Award. Hosted by Christie Fewry.

Our only Russian feature film Seems Like Love.

Liza, a young and optimistic woman, arrives in Saint Petersburg for the first time, enchanted by the city's poetic bridges, legendary embankments, and vibrant bohemian parties. Her adventure begins when she meets a free-spirited artist named Vasya and his musician friend, Viktor. Together, they embark on a whimsical journey through the city, involving the sale of an antique bed, spontaneous conversations, and the magic of white nights. As the day unfolds, unexpected connections form, leading Liza to discover that love might be found in the most unforeseen circumstances.

Directed by Yana Klimova-Yusupova

Joining us from Manchester over a video feed, we take a deep dive into using Social Media as a tool for individuals and Business from Claire Hoang an expert in the field of Social Media.

Hand bag 7.42

Director Em Robinson

The Duke Of Wentworth 8.47

Director James Lockey

Cherry B 12.03

Directed by Ornella Hawthorn Gardez

The Lace 14:54

Director Nicole Sarah Fry

The Pearl Comb 20.00

Director Ali Cook

Luke English is a media lawyer and has been in the entertainment industry for over 25 years. He has worked for the biggest broadcasters such as Disney and the BBC. He was legal and business affairs for a Blu-ray/DVD selling over 1 million copies worldwide and has an Oscar winning client. Luke now runs his own law firm, English Media, and represents actors, directors, producers, production companies, DOP's, writers and musicians in the film and TV industry.

Henry 11:03

Directed by Tommy Edward Balmont

Jord 1:52

Directed by Nicholas Mitchell

Ghost Country 6.42

Directed by Kheyal Roy-Meighoo

Voicemail 02:03

Director Iona Menzies

Make a wish 4.23

Director Justyna Green

Grave 02:54

Director Oz Durose

If I Raised My Mother 02:18

Directed by Bhavna Madan Mohan

Gentle, Angry, Women

Director Barbara Santi

Three young female activists embark on a journey of discovery, following in the footsteps of over 30,000 women who united in peaceful resistance at Greenham Common, UK, forty years earlier.

Unaware of the longest female-led protest in British history, a new generation of young female activists are standing up to fight for the issues of their time, as well as being teenagers and finding their place in a turbulent world. We meet Poppy (16), Xanthe (17), and Evie (19) as they discover the largely overlooked Greenham Common Women's Peace Movement, a 19-year protest against nuclear missiles. Retracing their steps on a 110-mile march, the young women embark on a unique intergenerational exchange with their counterparts, revealing a journey of self-discovery and a timely narrative of feminist activism.

This coming-of-age documentary, driven by intergenerational dialogue, speaks to the need for action and change. The film is a timely reminder of the urgent need for nuclear disarmament, confronting the contemporary issue of rising global threats and the power in collective resistance.

Gentle, Angry Women invites viewers to witness how historical activism resonates with today's generation - a bridge between past courage and present hope. 

From Myths To Models To Making, or There and Back Again with AI Where are we with AI in screen production?

This session dives lens first into how the screen industries are grappling with, experimenting with, and making with the rapid evolution of AI. We begin by unpacking three persistent myths: that AI will replace human creativity, that solving the skills gap means funnelling everyone into STEM, and that its only impact is job automation.
These narratives gloss over a much more complex landscape, one that includes urgent questions around ownership, authorship, and creative agency, but also new opportunities for experimentation, expression, and access. As this conversation unfolds, it is essential that everyone working in and around the screen industries contributes an informed and imaginative voice.
Next, we explore the models. We look at how generative AI actually works and reflect on what the BFI reveals in its newly released report AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward. The report highlights a sector alive with experimentation, yet still navigating challenges around infrastructure, ethics, equity, and readiness.
Then comes the making. We show how we are using AI in our own work, from changing the weather or blowing things up with VFX, to extending sets, to fixing it in post by rescuing exposure and sharpening soft footage. We are also exploring entirely new ways of making screen-based content. Through a series of short films and hands-on experiments, we ask what it means to create with, and sometimes against, systems we do not fully control.

Mother Country 16:48

Directed by Moges Ababu Belachew

Waiting for the Man 04:17

Director Gerard Lambkin

Darcines Day 16:30

Director Aaron Goffman

Mr Lonely 11.03 - Student Film

Director Daniel Noonan

Ayomikun 10.20 - International Short Film

Director Euphemia Olaiya

The Case Of The Dirty Dishes 4.46 - Student Film

Director Joe Rider

Bolbol 19.08 - International Short Film

Directed by Lucianna Kyriacou 

Collapse 16.20

Director Elizabeth Van Der Weele

A NICE LADY 16:04

Director Jessica Weber Kass

Bluebottle Theory 09:37

Directed by John J. Sanders, Luke Roberts

Lest We forget 16:00

Director Scott Newman

Following a vicious hate crime, three siblings come face to face with the man who killed their mother, but when tensions are high, can they find the closure they seek?

Directed by Danny Jeffs

BIFF 2025 Awards Night 🎬✨

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the incredible filmmakers and screenwriters of the inaugural Bournemouth International Film Festival.

📅 Saturday, October 4th
📍 Hilton Bournemouth
🕢 Doors open 7:30pm | Awards start 7:45pm sharp

What to expect:

• 55 awards presented in a fast-paced, no-speeches format

• A possible intermission with a 5-minute comedy set by Sally Hawkins 🎤

• Black Tie / SMart Suit dress code — let’s make it a night of style and celebration

• Please note: no dinner is served — eat beforehand

• The celebration continues immediately after with our exclusive After Party at Eden 🥂🎶

This is the night where we honour the best of independent cinema — then dance, drink, and celebrate into the early hours.

The BIFF 2025 Awards After Party 🎶✨

The red carpet may be rolled up, but the celebration is only just beginning.

Straight after our Black-Tie Awards Night, join us for the official BIFF After Party, a night of drinks, music, and dancing with filmmakers, nominees, winners, and special guests.

✨ Exclusive access for Awards Night pass holders
✨ Limited standalone After Party tickets also available via our website
✨ The perfect way to close out BIFF 2025 in style

This is the party where the stories, the celebrations, and the connections keep flowing long after the final trophy is handed out. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.