The Hebden Bridge Film Festival

From this coming Friday 22^nd March, the first annual Hebden Bridge Film Festival will get under way. Created by Louise Wadley and Jay Rutovitz, the festivals first theme is ‘The Other’.

From the 22^nd to the 24^th, the festival will celebrate films by, or about, those who ‘dare to be different’, whether they exist in the margins, sit outside the mainstream or just plain don’t fit in.

The festival will take place at the recently restored Hebden Bridge Picture House cinema with the Hebden Bridge Town Hall serving as the Film Festival Hub where filmmakers and film lovers can come together.

The festival opens on Friday with Wild Rose, from director Tom Harper (“War & Peace (TV)”, “The Woman In Black 2: Angel Of Death”) and written by Nicole Taylor (“Three Girls (TV)”, “The C Word”). It stars the great Julie Walters (“Billy Elliot”, “Mamma Mia!”), Jessie Buckley (“War & Peace (TV)”, “The Woman In White (TV)”) and Sophie Okonedo (“After Earth”, “Christopher Robin”).

This will be followed by the short film, Time Away, directed by Maxine Peake (“The Theory Of Everything”, “Shameless (TV)”), who is also the patron of the Hebden Bridge Film Festival.

On Saturday you can enjoy a production design masterclass with Jane Morton (“Ratcatcher”, “Movern Caller”). Film wise you have: Lane O: The Lane Of Dreams, The Last Goldfish, Birds Of Passage, Naila And The Uprising, Being Frank, Rude Boy and Carmen & Lola.

The final night begins with a Script to Screen Industry panel featuring Nicole Taylor, writer of the opening night film Wild Rose, Gaby Chiappe, a Leeds based writer with over 20-years in the industry and festival guest of honour, Sheila Munyiva, lead actress in Rafiki.

Films on the final day are as follows: Eighth Grade, Seats At The Table, Rafiki and then a short film competition featuring some nine short films including one world premiere.

Completing the festival will be The Fight, the highly anticipated directorial debut of Jessica Hynes (“Shaun Of The Dead”, “Spaced (TV)”), who also takes the lead role alongside Russell Brand, Anita Dobson, Christopher Fairbank, Alice Lowe and many more.

We are delighted to be granted access to the first annual Hebden Bridge Film Festival and will be bringing you all the news, reviews and interviews from across the weekend.

The Hebden Bridge Film Festival will bring you a dazzling programme of World cinema, UK and US independent film, as well as supporting and fostering new talent.

It’s sure to be a packed weekend of exciting new films, to engage, challenge and delight.

More information about the festival can be found on their website here.

Tickets can be purchased here.