Blackpool Film Festival began as a project of voluntary arts organisation Aunty Social CIC.
The festival has run since 2014 bringing a diverse range of film experiences and artist-led events to Blackpool.
Formerly known as Winter Gardens Film Festival, our initial aim was to create an annual event that encouraged people to explore the wealth of black and white film and to actively engage with the wonderful Grade II* listed Winter Gardens complex.
In 2024, the festival rebranded as Blackpool Film Festival, expanding across new venues to host a wider variety of events and showcase Blackpool’s growing cultural scene. We’re proud of our diverse programming and in recent years, we have experimented further with artists’ moving image and commissioning new work; testing ideas around creative production with artists.
To maintain the year-round impact of the Blackpool Film Festival, Aunty Social delivers film experiences through their community cinema programme. Notable activities include sold out screenings of Oxide Ghosts – The Brass Eye Tapes at Blackpool Central Library with a Q&A from director Michael Cumming and Britain on Film: Black Britain, a collection of archive films focusing on the UK’s Black communities.
Over the last 14 years, we’ve built a core audience of people who are traditionally less likely to engage with cultural film. We are run and led by people from marginalised backgrounds and generally attract and maintain similar audiences. We love to share films and experiences that resonate with our lived experience, get us thinking or bring us joy.
In recent years, Blackpool Film Festival has worked to deliver a wide range of events and activity, including:
BFI Film Academy
A short programme for 16-19 year olds run by Aunty Social CIC. Aspiring young creatives explore the world of filmmaking, learning valuable filmmaking skills from industry professionals through a mixture of hands-on workshops, insightful online sessions, producing their own unique short film.
What Can I Do When I Can’t Do That!?
An in-conversation event with Grammy Award-nominated and U.K. Music Video Awards-winning director David Wilson. Wilson’s notable work includes music videos for Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, David Guetta and Paloma Faith. This event was delivered in partnership with Queer Amusements arts festival.
Filmmaker Socials
Mixer events for local creatives to connect with other Blackpool-based Film and TV professionals. Events include work in progress feedback sessions and informal hangouts.
Access NFTS
Access NFTS is the Outreach and Inclusion programme from the National Film and Television School. Run in partnership with Netflix, the programme is designed and delivered to encourage and support young people wanting to follow a career path into industry.
The festival is directed by Aunty Social founder Catherine Mugonyi, and supported by a Festival Coordinator and a dedicated team of volunteers who contribute to specialised programmes and manage Front of House activity.
Blackpool School of Arts (Blackpool and the Fylde College) is a key festival partner with students from the BA Filmmaking degree playing an important role in event development.