There is a saying among film industry folk that film festivals do well to last more than five years. Doing so sets them apart from other ventures that quickly rise and just as quickly disappear. This year the Bradford International Film Festival notches up 13 years – longer than some, not as long as others, but a healthy age for any growing festival.
Since the festival began, the number of screenings and special guests have increased year-on-year. In 1995 we were proud to welcome Alan Bennett when he accompanied the opening night screening of The Madness of King George. Twelve years later he’s back amongst a line-up of filmmakers and celebrities that includes Ken Loach, Michael Parkinson, Euan Lloyd, Trudie Styler, David Arnold, Denis Dercourt, Patrick Keiller and Godfrey Reggio.
And in keeping with our tradition of digging up new and exciting talent we are delighted to unveil Uncharted States of America, a strand dedicated to emerging talent
from the American independent circuit, while CineFile, our annual trawl through documentaries about movies and filmmakers, also makes an appearance.
Tony Earnshaw,
Artistic Director