JOHN HURT HEADS ALL STAR LINEUP AT BIFF 2010 (03/03/2010)
The full programme details for the 16th Bradford International Film Festival (18 - 28 March) have now been announced, revealing an incredible line-up of special guests, premieres and films from all around the world. For the first time, the festival will extend to venues throughout Yorkshire, though The National Media Museum in Bradford will continue to be the festival hub. To coincide with the first weekend of the Festival, the city of Bradford will be hosting a multitude of events to celebrate its designation as the world's first UNESCO City of Film. The festival will open on 18th March with the UK Premiere of Perrier's Bounty, directed by Ian Fitzgibbon and starring Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent, Jodie Whittaker and Brendan Gleeson.
The Closing Night Gala will be the World Digital Premiere of the late Lionel Jeffries' classic The Railway Children. BIFF will host a unique reunion screening to celebrate the 40th anniversary with the stars of the film attending to enjoy the new restoration; Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett and Bernard Cribbins are all expected in Bradford on Sunday 28 March.
In addition to the special guests previously announced - Academy Award® winning actor John Hurt; Academy Award® nominated actress Imelda Staunton; BAFTA nominated director Nicolas Roeg and Academy Award® nominated director Fernando Meirelles, each of whom will be receiving awards or career retrospectives, there will be an array of filmmakers and actors in Bradford during the Festival attending the premieres and screenings of their films. 
Guests are expected to include Golden Globe® nominated actor Cillian Murphy for Perrier's Bounty and BAFTA award-winning writer and director Chris Morris and producer Mark Herbert for the UK Premiere of Warp Films' Four Lions (filmed in Sheffield), which will be followed by a Q&A on 25th March.
For those interested in getting behind the camera, the Industry Weekend (19th - 20th March) features two full days of sessions and masterclasses for anyone working in film. This year's theme: Strategies for Survival, will focus on how filmmakers and organisations are creating new business models to, including how different platforms are enabling filmmakers to get their work to new audiences.
Speakers already confirmed include award-winning screenwriter and film producer Dean Cavanagh (cult internet series Svengali), producer Piers Tempest (feature film Like Minds)and writer and producer Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentlemen). Masterclasses with leading industry professionals, including Barry Hanson (The Long Good Friday), allow for an even more thorough discussion about their experiences working in the industry.
The Festival will showcase over one hundred and twenty features from countries all over the world including Mexico, Switzerland, USA, Japan, South Korea and Sweden. The hub of the Festival will remain the National Media Museum which will be joined by an additional nine venues, each with its own exclusive programme. Canadian cinema will be featured in the new strand introduced this year titled, Hollywood North: New Canadian Cinema; a focus on North America's third largest film centre behind Los Angeles and New York. Other programmes highlights include: Uncharted States of America, the Widescreen Weekend and The Shine Short Film Award.
Tony Earnshaw, Artistic Director Bradford International Film Festival said; "I am particularly pleased with our programme this year, it shows our diversity and really demonstrates our commitment to unveiling authentic independent cinema. We are proud to be celebrating our new status as City of Film and look forward to welcoming guests and audiences at the National Media Museum and our satellite venues throughout the Festival."
For further details on the full programme, screening dates, venues, strands and guests please go to: www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/biff /Box office 0870 7010200
The Bradford International Film Festival is supported by Screen Yorkshire through the RIFE Lottery Fund.
Confirmed venues for BIFF 2010 (18-28 March 2010) joining the National Media Museum are Cineworld Bradford, Bradford Playhouse, Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds, Markaz Restaurant, Bradford, Victoria Hall in Saltaire, Ilkley Playhouse, Hebden Bridge Picture House, Otley Courthouse, Pocklington Arts Centre and Leeds Trinity University College. All will be showcasing their own exclusive films and programmes as part of BIFF.
