Film festival set to host 80 screenings over a week

An organiser of a film festival said visitors could choose from more than 80 screenings during the week-long event.

The Northampton Film Festival, now in its fourth year, begins on Friday with a gala event at the town's Delapre Abbey.

There will be a variety of films, from feature-length to shorts and animations, as well as those made by school pupils.

Organiser Becky Carrier said the festival had "really grown" since it launched in 2019.

The first festival had 14 events with about 700 people attending, while this year they are hoping for more than 1,200 admissions.

Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, Mrs Carrier said: "We are about shouting about the county.

"Northamptonshire has uniqueness flowing out of us, in our history, now and in the future.

"Films are a way to shout about that."

But she added submissions for the festival were not restricted to the county - with filmmakers from around the UK taking part.

As well as Delapre, the festival will be hosting events at the University of Northampton, the Northampton Filmhouse, the town's Guildhall and its own Creative Space on the Market Square.

The festival also has three international Women's Day events including a women in TV and film people library, where those in attendance can have a one-on-one conversation with someone from the film industry.

Despite still adding the finishing touches to this year's event, which finishes on 15 March, Mrs Carrier said she was "already starting thinking of next year" and doing "something special" for the fifth edition.

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