Prize winners, bargain tickets, and shedding light on local film talent
Manchester Film Festival is back with over 130 film screenings and a packed itinerary of indie cinema at The Great Northern. The festival will run from Saturday 12 March 'til Sunday 20 March.
We’re really excited to be back 100% in-person and in cinema
The full lineup has now been announced with an official selection that includes 27 world premieres and 74 UK premieres across the entire week-long film fest. Many of the filmmakers, directors and producers will also be hosting live Q&A sessions, so you can pick their brains and fangirl in person throughout the whole thing.
Big names and big venues
Also included in the 2022 line-up are premieres of award-winning productions from Cannes and BFI London, including the winner of the Cannes Grand Prix Award Compartment Number 6. Other big-boys and prize winners include Best Film winner at the BFI Film Festival Hit the Road, and winner of Best Actor at Cannes Nitram. These big names contribute to the “most expansive and diverse line-up of films” that the Manchester festival has ever seen as the event announces “its biggest edition ever” for 2022.
The c-word meant that last year the festival had to be enjoyed on a laptop screen with some Butterkist and the blinds closed for an “authentic experience”. A proper trip to the cinema to see some artsy reels is definitely in order.
Festival Director Neil Jeram-Croft said: “After being forced online last year we’re really excited to be back 100% in-person and in cinema at the fantastic Odeon Great Northern. We have our most expansive and diverse line-up of films ever, with award winners, world premieres and loads of local talent on display. Manchester Film Festival is back with its biggest edition ever!”
Northern shorties
Also shedding some light on the talented filmmakers of the North, there will be two whole sessions of North West Shorts on Tuesday 15 March and Sunday 20 March. These sessions are set to feature work from the likes of Manchester-born Natalie Kennedy, a creative who has previously been nominated for the Manchester Theatre Awards thanks to her original production Parents Without Children. This year’s contribution comes in the form of her directorial debut Blank, a complex and twisted tale about a writer who enlists the help of AI to help with her writer’s block (maybe we should take some notes).
All the deets
The full official selection for this year’s Manchester Film Festival can be found on the booking site with a schedule of showings, dates, and ticket prices.
The festival is open to everyone and all films will be shown at the Odeon in Great Northern.
Cop yourself some tickets and treat yourself to some proper popcorn, a Northern shortie, or a documentary on Clitheroe’s greatest UFC champion.
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