Bolton International Film Festival is the largest short film festival in the North West of England and sits amongst the Top 10 short film festivals in the UK. Located in Greater Manchester the festival holds accreditation from both BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts) and BIFA (British Independent Film Awards).
The festival is a member of the Short Film Conference who's activities range from organising industry events to researching the short film industry, informing its professionals & lobbying for the rights of short films and their creators.
In October the festival opens its doors to a diverse and vibrant audience, drawing filmmakers, students, industry professionals, and a broad spectrum of the public. Every screening is followed by engaging Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.
Celebrating films from home and abroad the festival acts as an amplifier of emerging and established talent. Through its screenings, industry talks, masterclasses and networking sessions it aims to break open the door to a creative industry that many filmmakers find difficult to access and navigate. Bolton Film Festival helps springboard its filmmakers, connecting them not just to their peers but to the talent executives, producers, funders, sales agents and distributors who can take them to the next level.
WHEN YOU SUBMIT TO OUR FESTIVAL, A SINGLE ENTRY SUFFICES FOR ELIGIBILITY ACROSS ALL RELEVANT CATEGORIES (refer to Frequently Asked Questions for details).
The festival delivers a hybrid experience, with in person screenings for five days from Wed 2nd Oct - Sun 6th Oct and a secure digital platform (*geo restricted to UK) to catch up on films and masterclasses from 9th to 20th October.
Note: * Please note that online screenings are an optional feature for selected filmmakers, it is not compulsory. Choosing to participate provides an opportunity for you and your fellow filmmakers to connect with audiences, sales agents, distributors, and approved industry contacts from around the world.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Do you require a Premiere?
A: No it's not particularly a focus for us, but we were still pleased to see we had 74 UK Premieres, 32 European and 24 World Premieres last year.
Q: Do you accept films that are already available online?
A: Yes, we don't require any kind of premiere status, so online films are eligible.
Q: If my short could fit into two categories, such as an animated documentary, how do I choose which category to submit to?
A: Submit to the category that you feel best represents your short. If accepted into the Official Selection, our programmers will find the best place for the film. You DON'T need to enter multiple categories.
Q: Am I eligible for all the awards?
A: Yes, if its appropriate. For example you could win the Documentary award and the Women in Film award if you had made a documentary and you are a woman.
Q: Are student shorts eligible for non-student awards?
A: Yes, student shorts are eligible for all the awards.
Q: Do you accept works-in-progress?
A: Yes we accept a work-in-progress that is picture locked but it must include an opening slate listing what still needs to be completed (color-correction, sound mix, special effects). Programmers only watch submissions once, so we only recommend a WIP entry if you are going to miss the final deadline.
Q. Do I have to include my film in the online aspect of the festival?
A. No, it's optional. If selected for the festival, we will send you a form to fill in which includes the option to opt out of the online aspect if you want to.
JURY PANEL:
Amy O'Hara - Talent Executive - Film4
Simon Nelson (BBC Drama Development Executive)
Producer Colin Pons (33 Features and 2 x BAFTA winner)
MarBelle (Co-Founder of Directors Notes)
Maggie Ellis (Producer/ Film London (FLAMIN) / Jarman Award)
Rob Speranza (Producer / Programmer@ Aesthetica Film Fest)
Isabelle Croissant (Talent Developer @ HOME Manchester)
Kim Hopkins (Grierson Nominated Documentary Director)
Anna Price (RTS winner & BAFTA nominated Doc Editor)
D J Clark Multi Media Doc Journalist (National Geographic, Asian News)
Chris Lunt 2 x BAFTA nominated writer ("PREY", BBC, ITV, Canal +)
Writers - The Clarkson Twins (Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix)
Loran Dunn (Producer at Delaval Films)
Caroline Bottomley (Shiney Awards)
Animation/Producer Aaron Wood (Slurpy Studios / Skwigly Magazine)
Animator Steve Boot
Animator/Producer Jon Turner (Kilogramme)
Animator Sarah Anne Kennedy (UCLAN Course Leader in Animation)
Rob Scott (VR Manchester)
Annabeth Robinson (Electronic Artist/Salford Animation Course Leader)
Actor Gerard Kearns (Shameless, Last Kingdom, Looking for Eric)
Supported by The Light Cinema Experience, Bolton Council, Bolton at Home, The Market Place, Holiday Inn, Bolton University, Film Hub North and BFI Audience Network
The festival will be competitive with the awards presented on the night by sponsors and industry representatives.
Best International Short
Best UK Short
Best Made up North
Best Documentary
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Experimental
Best LGBTQ+ short
Best Horror
Best Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Best Three Minute Quickie
Best Immersive Experience (360/VR)
Best Women in Film
Best Fashion Film
Best Dance Film
Best Music Video
Best Animation (Student)
Best Student Post Graduate (M.A)
Best Student Under Graduate (B.A)
Lens For Change Award