Inaugural edition of The British Film Festival, Poznan, Poland (13 - 17 November 2024)

Billinghham's feature debut 'Ray & Liz' was screened at the British Film Festival, (13th - 17th November 2024), at Muza Cinema in Poznań, Poland. It was part of the 'Mind the Gap' section. This festival was the inaugural edition of the British Film Festival, the first of its kind in Poland, and one of the few in Europe dedicated entirely to British cinema. The festival programme aimed to celebrate the culture of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and highlight the diversity of regions and social classes, as well as the context of colonial and post-colonial countries. There were nearly sixty films across nine thematic sections. There were screenings in unique locations as well as international guests and exclusive collaborations. The festival included two retrospectives (Alfred Hitchcock and Lynne Ramsay) that juxtaposed the history and modernity of British cinema. The Hitchcock retrospective marked the 125th anniversary of his birth. The screenings, from digitally restored copies, showcased the early works directed in Britain. The second retrospective spotit the work of Lynne Ramsay (two-time BAFTA winner). Her feature films were shown alongside her lesser known short films. A number of her collaborators (Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara etc) attended in person and participated in screenings and audience special events. Thematic sections included 'First things First'; 'Classics'; 'Mind the Gap'; 'The 5 O'clock'; 'Outside the Box'; 'Never Grow Up' and 'The High Season'. 'First Things First' showcased films soon to debut in Polish cinemas and Polish premieres of films that have just made their mark at major international festivals. It featured 'On Falling' by Laura Careira (awarded Best Director at the San Sebastián Film Festival, Best Debut at the London Film Festival, and the opening film for BFF); 'We Live in Time'; 'The Outrun'; 'Kneecap' (Irish Oscar contender); 'Last Swim' and a host of other Polish premieres, including 'Sebastian'; 'The WItches'; 'Reawakening', and the first-ever BAFTA Shorts screening in Poland, organised in collaboration with the British Council and BAFTA. The 'Mind the Gap' section aimed to put the United Kingdom under a Critical Lens through Social Realism. Social realism is fundamental to the tradition of British cinema, providing a lens through which diversity, individual agency, and identity are explored while offering commentary on the socio-political past and present. In this section, besides Billingham's film 'Ray & Liz', other films included 'Made in Britain'; 'My Beautiful Laundrette' and 'This is England'. The section’s title nods to the iconic “Mind the Gap” warning, first broadcast on the London Underground in 1969. Using colloquial and metaphorical language, the phrase highlights the gaps that define social divisions in British daily life. 'The Five O'Clock' section honoured Britain’s 'heritage cinema', steeped in the country’s imperial and colonial past. This included period dramas, adaptations of classic literature, and the evocative nostalgia of bygone eras. It included 'Room with a View'; 'Orlando' and 'Chariots of Fire.' The 'Outside the Box' section included screenings that took place in unconventional venues such as a church, a museum, a car workshop, or a post-industrial photo studio. For example, 'The Lodger' was screened at an Evangelical Methodist Church, accompanied by live music from Michał Jacaszek. Hitchcock's' 'The Birds' was screend in the industrial setting of a former factory in the Poznań Stomil area and 'The Italian Job' was screened in the MINI car Inchcape Poznań service bay. The film 'Trainspotting' was screened at the iconic club Tama. 'Mr.Turner' was screened at the National Museum in Poznań. The 'Never Grow Up' section highlighted recent productions for younger audiences, as well as family-friendly films that resonate emotionally, entertain, and create lasting memories. The title of the section references the iconic character of Peter Pan, the boy who never wanted to grow up, created by J.M. Barrie. 'Paddington in Peru' was screend along with a special live appearance from 'Paddington himself' at Kino Muza! The programme also featured the animated film 'Kensuke's Kingdom', the premiere of Robin and the Hoods', and a selection of British short films. ‍The 'High Season' section screened 'cinematic gems' from the past year. This segment showcased intriguing British films in cinemas from 2023 - 2024. ‍

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