New Film Festival Alert! Introducing UK Film Review Festival
As the threat of another lockdown looms, it seems that by and large everything that’s fun has been put away in a big cupboard, locked up and someone has thrown away the key. Say goodbye to music festivals, kids. Ta-ra, the Edinburgh Fringe. Auf Wiedersehen, film festivals.
Sure, many things have been replaced by a low-key online format, but it certainly feels like this year has taken too much away rather than given back. But the lockdown hasn’t been all doom and gloom; occasionally there is a silver lining. The UK Film Review Festival is such a silver lining. Without lockdown, this year’s hot new indie film festival wouldn’t have been born.
Uniquely, this is a film festival really for indie filmmakers in mind. Rather than have the profits from the sales split equally between the big bosses, at UK Film Review Festival; 50% of the sales go to the filmmakers; hopefully enabling them to continue doing what they love. And what great films do they bring to the festival. There are over thirty films to choose from, playing over the course of three days ranging from short films, full-length features and documentaries. It is here where you will be able to see the burgeoning talent that you haven’t heard of yet.
Not only will the UK Film Review Festival show over thirty features, but they also aim to create an experience as good as the real-life one. Yes, we may all be confined to our homes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a fun and collective experience. The showings will be communal so that you can watch the films the same time as other people – and even though we’re leagues apart, it will feel like a connected virtual cinema (minus the annoying whispered chattering and shuffling of popcorn). And, don’t feel like you have to be relegated to your laptop to watch the movies– they’re all suitable to cast onto your TV via Chromecast so you can get that real cinema experience. UK Film Review Festival also aims to have subtitles for all of its films so the festival will be fully accessible for those who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Aside from the films themselves, many events are going on to replicate a real film festival right in your living room. There will be access to a virtual pub to hang out with other attendees - sorry, BYOB - and there will be exclusive Q&As, interviews and trailers and exclusive content. You will quickly fill up your weekend and maybe left falling down a rabbit hole of a new love for a previously unknown work. Each day there will be a headliner event and live events too – so you will really feel part of something.
Pencil the 13th- 15th of November in your diaries. To access all of the good stuff, tickets are just £5 and apply to the whole event, so no need to figure out which events you can and can’t attend. Everything will be accessible via the UK Film Channel website. To find out more information and how to get your passes; click here!
Written by Lucy Clarke
Lucy Clarke is studying her Masters at Edinburgh University, and an avid film lover and writer. When she’s not watching or writing about film, you can find her attempting to become Nigella Lawson by baking another banana bread or singing Eurovision classics. You can find her blog here: lucyatthepictures.com and you can also find out what she’s up to on her twitter