Lowestoft's first community film festival reveals line-up

A film festival designed to highlight local talent and support vulnerable people will take place in Lowestoft.

The Lowestoft Film Festival hits town from October 22 to 28 and follows more than a year of planning.

Founders Joshua Freemantle and Patrick Johnson from Sunrise Studios, which supports young people from rural communities enter the arts and film industry, came up with the idea last September.

They launched their plan in February with the aid of regional charity Access Community Trust.

Freemantle said: “We’re so proud of what we’ve been able to put together and we can’t wait to welcome audiences across the venues in the town in October.

"The full selection features a range of bold and innovative stories from around the country, with the subject matters catering for audiences of all ages and tastes."

He added that the festival will show off local talent and support independent film in the region.

All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the charity.

Venues for the event have already been selected.

Screenings at Lowestoft Library & The Grit Arts Centre will happen on the weekend of October 22 and 23, alongside an exhibition at Lowestoft central train station.

The exhibition will document the history of film in the town.

Special screenings at the recently revamped East Point Pavilion will showcase coastal themed shorts in the evenings of October 24 to 28.

The festival's owners said there 'should be something for everyone' among the 89 planned films.

This includes two special programmes of family friendly animated shorts, and topics ranging from thrillers, family comedies and action-packed shorts.

They also promise more relateable content for both 'new and old times'.

All planned screenings are available to view on the film festival's website.

Co-founder Johnson added: “The last couple of years have been difficult for creatives in our region, especially the upcoming generation that might not have been able to utilise their studies or the creative freedom that comes with being a young filmmaker or creative."

He concluded that festivals such as this provide an opportunity for the public to engage with people involved in the arts scene.