The latest series of the popular ITV television drama The Bay set in Morecambe will premiere at the town’s month-long celebration of TV and film this November.
The Bay International Film Festival - now incorporating the Morecambe Film & TV Festival - opens with the premiere of series 5 of ITV drama The Bay on 8 November.
Building on last year's success, The Bay International Film Festival will take place every weekend in November, closing with an awards ceremony on 1 December.
The programme will feature independent, arthouse and documentary films including a focus on films made by regional talent, an international short film programme, women in film, family friendly animation, a ‘Best of Morecambe Bay’ photo exhibition and community film clubs along with free tickets and bursaries to make it accessible to all.
As well as The Bay premiere, there will be a Q&A with series showrunner Daragh Carville, who is supportive of the festival’s aim to nurture a creative community in the region.
Daragh said: “Morecambe is the home of The Bay so we’re delighted to be presenting the premiere of series 5 there. We’re thrilled too to be a part of the festival, a celebration of this brilliant place and its vibrant artistic culture.
“When I started developing The Bay, part of my motivation was to highlight a place that I felt had been unfairly overlooked for too long. I hoped to put Morecambe on the UK TV map. Five series later, I think we can safely say we’ve managed to do that.
“Morecambe has played host to the filming of The Bay for five series now, and it’s been a joy to see how the community has taken us to heart, in spite of road closures and traffic delays and all the hassles of a busy filming schedule. We literally couldn’t make this show anywhere else and we couldn’t do it without the support of the local community. So thanks so much for all your warmth and generosity in putting up with us!”
The festival is building on the success of last year - which saw 416 short films submitted, an appearance by acclaimed Stanley Kubrick producer Jan Harlan and more than 1,000 attendees - as it aims to become a creative hub for filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike in the north west of England.
Anna Henderson, festival producer and Lancaster University film tutor, said: "We're excited to launch the largest filmmakers' networking event for Lancashire and Cumbria this November. For too long, our local talent has had to travel to big cities for industry events, feeling isolated and disconnected. We're changing that. By creating this film industry hub right here in Morecambe, we're not just connecting filmmakers - we're nurturing a vibrant, local film community that can thrive together."
Daragh added: “Since we started shooting here, a host of other productions, including the high profile Harlan Coben adaptations for Netflix, have filmed in Morecambe and the wider Bay area. Long may it last. The creative industries are among the UK’s most successful exports - The Bay has been sold to over 140 territories worldwide - and every corner of the UK deserves to benefit from this success. My hope is that in the future Morecambe will become the hub of a vibrant Film & TV culture.”
Film producer Philip Herd, who is originally from Morecambe, is the festival patron. His credits with Chromatic Aberration Pictures include Unicorns (2023), My Policeman (2022), Archive (2020) and We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011).
Philip Herd said: "I am thrilled and honoured to be a patron of the festival. As a film producer originally from Morecambe, the prospect of being part of a new film festival in my hometown is just brilliant. I’m so excited to help build something that will continue to grow as a major event for film-makers and film-lovers alike."
Last year, almost 50 percent of tickets were provided free to local communities and festival volunteers helping to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and support accessibility of the arts. A Childcare Bursary - to provide a complimentary screening ticket for single parents together with three hours of childcare support - is on offer this year with 10 available, thanks to support from Lancaster City Council.
Anna said: “We're all about making cinema accessible to everyone. We know times are tough, so we will be offering free tickets, community screenings, and childcare help for single parents. Our goal is simple: we want everyone in Morecambe to enjoy great films, regardless of their budget. By bringing people together through cinema, ."
A photo competition is accepting entries to the Best Morecambe Bay Photo with up to 15 winners to be selected for the photography exhibition to run during the festival, with cash prizes supplied by EDF Energy.
Sponsors include Film Hub North, BFI, Lancaster University, The National Lottery, Lancashire County Council, The Granada Foundation, Morecambe BID and Lancaster City Council, with opportunities for local businesses to get involved. For sponsorship and partnership opportunities, please contact festival director Darren Henderson at info@thebayfilmfestival.com
The festival takes place each weekend from 8 November to 1 December, with free and ticketed events at the Reel Cinema, West End Playhouse, More Music, King’s Arms and Johnny’s Warehouse Bar.
For more information about The Bay International Film Festival and to buy tickets, please CLICK HERE
