Bradford Internation Film Festival - A Preview

Image taken from: http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/

Growing up between Leeds and Bradford, Bradford has always felt like Leeds’ younger brother. In the late-90s, as New Labour began the process of regenerating the Northern cities, Bradford was left behind. Where Leeds graduated and got a PhD in Business and Economics, Bradford was left to fester. The city where building projects were began but never finished, the city where charity shops replaced local businesses, the city where racial tensions led to race riots.

With this stagnation, Bradford threatened to become a cultural wasteland. It is thanks to the work of individuals who believed in the city and refused to accept it’s negative public-image that Bradford has sustained a cultural vibrancy. Beyond the Brontes and Hockney- it’s National Media Museum promotes the cities historic connections with the film industry- some of the first films having been made in the city.

Since 1995 the Bradford International Film Festival has championed films from around the world as well as the best of British cinema, with previous festival selections having included: Sexy Beast, Four Lions and Trainspotting.  Held this year across three venues: the National Media Museum, Hyde Park Picture House and Impressions Gallery, the BIFF will celebrate it’s 20th anniversary  this year.

The anniversary is a testament to the tenacity of it’s organisers, organisers who felt the city deserved the recognition an international film festival would bring. Throughout its tenure the festival has been set against adversity. In the summer of last year there were fears host-venue the National Media Museum would be forced to close, it’s future only secured following a petition. And the city centre has had continued problems: namely the 15 year-old ‘hole’ in the city centre- the result of  council/developer disputes over  the construction of a Westfield shopping centre.

Yet in spite of these problems the BIFF has thrived. Partnered this year with Virgin Media and linked with Leeds Metropolitan University's Northern Film School, the festival has attracted a wide-variety of films and industry speakers.

This years lineup promises a varied selection, with Sally Potter and Brian Cox’s set to collect the BIFF Fellowship and BIFF Lifetime Achievement award respectively, the programme will feature screenings of their best works. They’ll also be retrospectives of Yoshitara Nomura’s post-WW2 crime films and particular anticipation will greet the festival’s closing feature Locke, directed by Steven Knight on the back of his debut Hummingbird, and starring Tom Hardy and Olivia Coleman.

One of Bradford's premier annual events, the BIFF once again promises to attract film-lovers to the city. 2014 has begun as a year of growing optimism for Bradford. With long-promised regeneration coming to the city centre and the Media Museum’s future having been secured, Bradford is seeing the beginning of a well overdue resurgence .  As the BIFF’s 20th annual festival commences, the younger brother steps out of its Northern sibling’s shadow.

The Bradford International Film Festival begins on the 27th of March and continues until the 6th of April. Listings for screenings and events can be found on the website and bookings can be made here.