Berwick News
Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival
03 October 2013
9th Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival celebrating its best edition to date: North by Northeast
Last week's Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival welcomed more people to the town than ever before, attracting over 7,500 audiences from across the UK, and nearly 500 young people as hands-on participants.
Using the historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed as one big cinema screen, the programme featured 77 new films and moving image art installations, with 13 world premieres and 12 UK premieres - all presented across 12 unique locations ranging from Festival hub, The Maltings, to heritage sites including Bankhill Ice House, and the Town Hall Prison Cells, across the town and along the town walls. Over 40 artists and filmmakers in the programme travelled to Berwick from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, as well as across the UK.
The BBC's Film programme presenter Danny Leigh was one of the many Festival guests this year, describing the Festival as "Joyous, inventive and thought provoking a film festival as any town could wish for - it felt like all of Berwick was filled with things to see, and everything I saw was enthralling."
Says Festival Director Melanie Iredale:
"I'm overwhelmed with the incredibly positive feedback I've had from audiences on this year's programme. The theme North by Northeast seems to have captured everyone's imagination, and we're so pleased to have been able to bring so many artists and filmmakers from around the North Sea rim to Berwick."
At last night's closing night Melanie Iredale, Festival Director, said "I'm delighted to report that this has been the most successful Festival to date, as we look forward to our 10th birthday celebration edition next year."
Plans are already underway for the Festival's 10th anniversary edition - a significant achievement for the Festival and town - with dates confirmed as Wednesday 17th - Sunday 21st September 2014. Look out for an open call for submissions and calls for proposals for a new commission, plus a residency opportunity in partnership with Berwick Visual Arts. To get involved in the Festival or to make a donation to the 10th Birthday Pledge campaign please visit www.berwickfilm-artsfest.com/pledge and pledge a tenner for the Festival's 10th Birthday or give what you can to support us to reach this milestone.