Embedded Files
The Bay International Film Festival believes that a festival should leave Morecambe better than it found it — not just for the duration of the event, but for the community that lives here all year round. We're at the start of this journey and know there's more to do — we welcome ideas from our community and partners on how to go further.
Climate
All TBIFF tickets are digital, eliminating paper waste at the point of sale.
Printed programmes have been reduced year on year since our first edition, with audiences directed to our digital programme.
All festival venues are within walking distance of one another, removing the need for inter-venue transport during the festival.
For travelling guests, we actively advise and subsidise public transport - particularly rail - over car travel wherever practical. We recognise that guest travel is our most significant unavoidable environmental impact, and we work to minimise it.
Circular economy
Our hospitality uses only paper plates and cups and wooden cutlery, avoiding single-use plastics.
Our award trophies are made from recycled plastic bottle caps, reclaimed wood and metal — reflecting our wider commitment to circularity rather than single-use event merchandise.
Place-based
Our sliding-scale ticket system (Community Access, free; Community Supporter, £3–5; Community Champion, £6–10) has delivered free admission to over half of all festival-goers in every edition to date, in an area ranked among the most deprived 0.4% of neighbourhoods in England.
We work with local venues (More Music, Reel Cinema Morecambe, Alhambra Theatre, King's Arms, West End Playhouse) and local partners including Lancaster University and Lancaster & Morecambe College.
We are building deeper community partnerships with local community organisations to reach residents who don't traditionally engage with cultural events.
Our programming actively champions Northern and local filmmaking talent, giving the region's own stories and communities a platform on screen.
Looking ahead
Sustainability remains a standing consideration in our venue choice, hospitality and guest travel decisions. A future festival edition will use its annual theme to explore climate and biodiversity more directly through film, with dedicated programming and post-screening discussion - using storytelling to engage audiences with these issues in a way that statistics alone cannot.
Check the trailer of the documentary film our film festival produced - promoting sustainable practices for festival trophies.
FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY
We are working hard to make cinema accessible to all. We firmly believe in the empowering, healing, and transformative power of film. Our mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances, can experience the magic of cinema at our events. While none of our screenings or events are free to produce, we are committed to making them free for those who need it most. Through the support of our funders, sponsors and community, we strive to create a festival where everyone feels welcome and included. Our sliding scale ticket system works on trust - choose the price that honestly reflects your circumstances. We never ask for proof or explanations.
Three ticket tiers: Community Access (£0) for anyone experiencing financial hardship or for whom cost is a barrier, Community Supporter (£3–5) for those who can contribute but are mindful of their budget, and Community Champion (£6–10) for those who can comfortably afford to pay and want to support community access.
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