2026 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Saturday 24 January | MORE MUSIC | 10:00

What if the filmmaker who directed splinter unit on Mission: Impossible and whose books have sold over 200,000 copies worldwide could spend two hours transforming your filmmaking career? Chris Jones – born in Wigan, now working between Ealing Studios and Hollywood – brings his legendary Guerilla Filmmakers Masterclass back North. This isn't just theory. This is battle-tested wisdom from someone who's cracked the code to making award-winning cinema on shoestring budgets. Oscar-shortlisted. 55 festival wins. 3,000+ filmmakers trained. One morning that could change everything. Light lunch included.

Saturday 24 January | MORE MUSIC | 12:30

Mark Brennan, Festival Director of BIFA-qualifying Exit 6 Film Festival and strategist at Festival Formula, brings insider knowledge to demystify the film festival circuit. Learn strategic submission planning, discover which festivals are right for your work, get the truth behind selection processes, and have your burning questions answered in a live Q&A. Whether you're submitting your first film or refining your festival strategy, this essential masterclass offers unparalleled industry insights to help you maximise your success on the festival circuit. Light lunch included.

Saturday 24 January | MORE MUSIC | 14:30

This powerful programme showcases the real North through nine heartfelt stories from across the region. From family struggles to workplace challenges, these films capture what it's really like to live in Northern England today. You'll recognise the humour, the honesty, and the way people look out for each other when times get tough. Each story celebrates the strength and spirit that makes Northern communities special, told with the warmth and wit that locals will know well.

Saturday 24 January | MORE MUSIC | 17:40

Experience two acclaimed films from BAFTA and Oscar-nominated director Mark Gill, followed by an exclusive Q&A with Mark and his feature co-writer Will Thacker. From the darkly comic short that took him to the Academy Awards to his evocative debut feature about the young Morrissey in 1970s Manchester, discover the journey from Northern England to international recognition. A must-attend event for film lovers and aspiring filmmakers alike.

Saturday 24 January | THE EXCHANGE | 20:30

Tired of feeling isolated as a filmmaker in the North? Lancashire and Cumbria are brimming with filmmaking talent – we just haven't all met yet. Join us for the networking event that's already sparked real collaborations: previous attendees have found crew members, short film teams have formed, and creative partnerships have been born at our previous gatherings. Whether you're an established filmmaker or just starting out, connect with fellow creatives, industry professionals, and international festival guests through speed networking, open mic project pitches, and genuine opportunities to build your Northern film community. Your next collaboration starts here.

Saturday 24 January | MORE MUSIC & THE EXCHANGE | all day

Immerse yourself in a full day celebrating Northern filmmaking talent, craft, and community - a day packed with professional workshops, inspiring screenings, and vital networking opportunities for filmmakers at every stage of their journey. Your festival pass grants access to ALL events throughout the day - both workshops, screening programmes, Q&A sessions, awards ceremony, and the networking event. Northern Day is your opportunity to learn from industry professionals, discover exceptional Northern cinema, celebrate regional talent, and connect with the creative community shaping the future of Northern filmmaking. Don't miss this intensive day of inspiration, education, and celebration.

Sunday 25 January | MORE MUSIC | 11:00

Watch 10 heart-warming films celebrate friendship, courage, and growing up through imaginative tales - from grumpy animals learning to trust, to children navigating big emotions and family changes. Join teddy bears finding hope, pigs seeking freedom, and dreamers discovering that magic exists in everyday moments, no matter how small. Children of all ages are welcome (this is baby-friendly screening!), so bring the whole family! During the morning there will be a breakout space for parents and children if needed, refreshments and activities will be available to keep the young ones entertained.  

5 films Universal rating followed by 5 films PG rating. 

Sunday 25 January | MORE MUSIC | 13:30 & 15:30

We are looking for budding young filmmakers to come and join us on our short stop frame animation sessions on Sunday 25th January! This is your chance to take part in the making of a short animation that will be screened at the end of the festival. You'll have the chance to work with industry professionals who will guide you through the model making and character development stages, teach you stop motion animation techniques using professional software and be able to voice your own character. So, if you want to get creative and see your name in the credits on the big screen, sign up now!

Session A: 1:30-3pm: for 6-12yrs | Session B: 3.30-5:30pm: for 13-17yrs 

Tuesday 27 Jan | THE EXCHANGE | 7pm

A vibrant showcase of 11 short films by emerging filmmakers from Morecambe and Lancaster. This collection celebrates the diverse voices of our local creative community. Featuring professional, student, and grassroots talent exploring themes of love, identity, dreams, and belonging through distinctly Bay Area perspectives.

Wednesday 28 Jan | PLAYHOUSE | 7pm 

Nine compelling short films exploring how ordinary people navigate extraordinary moments of crisis, comedy and revelation. From bureaucratic nightmares to boxing rings, wedding disasters to email struggles, these films from around the world capture the absurd, heartbreaking, and transformative experiences that define our humanity.

Thursday 29 January | PLAYHOUSE | 7pm

These eight short films traverse the spectrum of LGBTQ+ experience - from historic activism and teenage awakening to the complexities of love across generations. Journey through stories of self-acceptance, identity, and connection that challenge heteronormative expectations while celebrating queer resilience, humour, and the transformative power of authenticity.

Friday 30 January | REEL CINEMA | 6.30 pm

Experience the ground breaking Oscar-nominated 1985 adventure of Young Sherlock that made cinema history – now back on the big screen where it belongs. Join us for this special screening featuring a live Q&A with Roger Ashton-Griffiths (Inspector Lestrade). Share the magic with a new generation or relive the wonder that captivated you as a child. Produced by Steven Spielberg, written by Chris Columbus, directed by Barry Levinson. Featuring the first-ever CGI character.

Saturday 31 January | MORE MUSIC | 10:00

Join us for this vital forum exploring mental health representation on screen and wellbeing behind the scenes. Essential for filmmakers, industry professionals, and film audiences alike, this event examines how mental health is portrayed in cinema and addresses the real-world challenges facing those working in the screen industries. Talk with distinguished Film & TV industry professionals. Lunch provided.

Saturday 31 January | MORE MUSIC | 12:30

Nine powerful films explore the remarkable ways people adapt, survive, and grow through life's challenges. The programme blends dark comedy, intimate drama, and heartfelt storytelling to celebrate human strength, vulnerability, and the unexpected paths we take to heal and move forward. Whether exploring grief, identity, memory, or self-acceptance, each film celebrates our human capacity to keep going.

Saturday 31 January | MORE MUSIC | 14:45

This hands-on workshop brings together film lovers to explore mental health representation in cinema. Using clips from popular films, we'll experiment with collage and storyboarding to reimagine key scenes and create alternative posters. Through shared viewing and creative work, we'll discuss how authentic storytelling can challenge stigma, build empathy, and foster more inclusive film culture.

Saturday 31 January | MORE MUSIC | 16:30

The In Between is a poetic, playful conversation between UK artist Byron Vincent (AuDHD) and Turkish architect-academic Elif Simge Fetahoğlu (ADHD), exploring the lived experience of late neurodivergent diagnosis. Filmed in Istanbul and originally intended as a neat, linear documentary, the project was joyfully hijacked by the very brains it sought to examine. Drifting through psychogeography, time dysregulation and masking, it occupies the liminal space between neurodivergent and neurotypical worlds.

Saturday 31 January | MORE MUSIC | 18:00

These 8 films plunge into the darkest corners of human experience - from body horror and supernatural terror to dystopian futures and psychological dread. Journey through stories of survival, desperation, and impossible choices that challenge our assumptions about safety and control while exploring grief, obsession, and the monstrous transformations lurking beneath everyday life.

Saturday 31 January | THE BOARDWALK | 21:00

Northern talent meets global vision. Our networking events have already sparked real collaborations locally – now we're expanding the circle. Connect with filmmakers from Lancashire, London, and across Europe through speed networking and project pitches. Whether you're showcasing Northern grit or bringing international perspectives, this is where borders dissolve and opportunities emerge.

Sunday 1 February | REEL CINEMA | 12:30

These 9 films celebrate the resilience of the human spirit through stories of unlikely connections, personal transformation, and quiet acts of defiance. From classrooms to bakeries, war zones to skate parks, witness ordinary people navigating extraordinary circumstances - finding hope in friendship, pursuing dreams against impossible odds, and building communities that champion belonging, dignity, and the courage to keep moving forward despite life's devastating blows. 

Sunday 1 February | MORE MUSIC | 15:00

Get ready for Morecambe's very own 'Oscars'! Join us for the 3rd TBIFF Awards Ceremony, the spectacular closing event of our festival. Exclusive performance by PQA students, the world premiere of TBIFF's eco-animation, exciting awards ceremony celebrating extraordinary talent from across the globe and surprise special moments throughout the evening. Dress to impress and walk the red carpet like the star you are! Whether you're a die-hard film buff, an aspiring filmmaker, or just after an unforgettable afternoon out, this is THE event not to miss.