Whitley Bay Film Festival Needs You!

Whitley Bay Film Festival is inviting everyone to pitch in after getting the go-ahead for this year’s event.

The event, which screens classic movies at site-specific locations, offers a wide range of opportunities for everyone to get involved, from residents and local businesses to film-makers and artists.

This year’s festival will run from August 17 to September 2, and organisers want to ensure the involvement of the local community as the event enters its third year.

Organiser Lucy Harland said: “There are all sorts of ways people can get involved. For example, last year we partnered with local businesses to provide catering for events. The help of local people was also essential – they helped make it a reality by volunteering their services. Residents helped put up flags, dish out popcorn and dressed up to steward events. Some people even offered the windows of their properties for screenings.

“Whatever you have to offer, there will be a way you can help make this year’s event better than ever and help put Whitley Bay on the map.”

Whitley Bay Film Festival is also calling for film entries, offering film-makers an opportunity to screen their films to untapped audiences. Meanwhile, the festival’s Arthouses programme is also on the lookout for high quality artists’ film, video and site specific installations.

Submissions are split into several categories, including shorts of up to 20 minutes and community films of up to 30 minutes. And this year organisers have added a new category requesting people to submit ‘spoof’ films which parody classic films, trailers or adverts.

Fiction films, documentaries and animations are all welcome, and submissions can be made on DVD, Quicktime mov or Mini DV. Full entry criteria and an online submission form are available at www.whitleybayfilmfestival.co.uk.  This year’s submission deadline is July 29