Bournemouth International Film Festival Line Up Confirmed

The Bournemouth International Film Festival (BIFF), taking place at the Hilton Bournemouth in the UK on 3rd and 4th October 2025, has now confirmed its lineup, including over 70 films to be shown over the 2 days, 14 workshops to attend, and a concluding black-tie awards night.  The Festival Patron is acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston, who will be opening the film festival on 3rd October.  Over 175 projects were submitted for the Bournemouth International Film Festival, including 117 films and 58 scripts.   The films have now been reviewed and curated, with over 70 shortlisted films to be shown over the course of the two days, including 6 feature films and 67 short films, documentaries and animations.  Alongside the films, there are 14 workshops, seminars and fireside chats to attend.  Each shortlisted film is judged by a panel of award-winning judges.  The winners in each of the 55 categories, including the best of UK and International films, directors, editors, writers and sound, will receive their prestigious awards at the black-tie ceremony on the evening of Saturday 4th October, which will conclude this year’s Film Festival.      Highlights of the festival include: 

• Festival Patron, acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston, will be opening the festival 
• There will be a world premiere of the feature film, The Hook, directed by Thomas David Beatty.  The Hook is a portrait of chasing success in the music industry, exposing the toll of addiction and the mental battles that come with the price of ambition.  
• Hide, a short film submitted by BAFTA and EMMY award-winning director Ian Curtis, who also contributed as a director to the children’s series, Horrible Histories.  
• Chris Chibnall, screenwriter, creator of Broadchurch, and former showrunner of Doctor Who, will be talking in a fireside chat 
• Documentary feature film, Quiet on Set: The Class Division in the Film Industry, directed by Mark Forbes, examines classism that has plagued the UK film industry for decades 
• Access Coordinators Beth Matthews and Leah Rachel talk about their experience in the industry and what the role entails on a production 
• Workshop session diving into how the screen industry is grappling with, experimenting with, and making with the rapid evolution of AI.  Festival Director Steve McCarten says:  “The quality of all the submissions has been exceptional, which made the process of shortlisting them one of the hardest things I have had to do!”   Steve goes on to say “The film festival is creating a global buzz, with filmmakers flying in to attend from countries including Ethiopia and Japan.  We also received submissions from filmmakers in USA, Iran, Australia, Turkey, Ireland, Switzerland, Palestine, Luxembourg, Jersey, India, Egypt and Germany.”  Steve added “As well as the global buzz, there is a Doctor Who theme, with acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston, the Ninth Doctor in Doctor Who,  joining the festival as Festival Patron.  Chris Chibnall, screenwriter, creator of Broadchurch, and former showrunner of Doctor Who, will also be talking in a fireside chat.”  Christopher Eccleston joins a growing roster of supporters and collaborators, including the BFI, NFTS, Arts University Bournemouth, Chine Financial, My Little Teddy, Adventure Attractions, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.    Tickets for the Bournemouth International Film Festival 2025 are available from bournemouthfilmfest.co.uk