Bolton Film Festival

17/04/2026

Meet the 2026 WeAreDN Awards Jury
..including our very own Zoe Rothwell !!

⚖️ For our 20th anniversary, we’ve assembled a powerhouse jury of visionaries to select this year's winners.

✨ CATH LE COUTEUR ( Co-Founder)
✨ ZOE ROTHWELL ( Producer & Programmer)
✨ MIRANDA STERN (BAFTA-nominated Writer/Director)

CATH LE COUTEUR
Cath is a filmmaker and cultural producer, co-founder of Shooting People, the UK’s long-running indie filmmakers’ network that supported thousands of creatives over 27 years. Her work spans residencies with Sundance, Cannes Cinéfondation, MacDowell and Bellagio, and includes (with Nick Ryan), a multimedia exploration of space junk exhibited internationally.

ZOE ROTHWELL
Zoe Rothwell is an alumni of the University of Bolton where she studied a Masters in Multi Media Journalism, she went on to be an independent film maker & photographer before working in education for ten years. She co-founded the Bolton International Film Festival to address cultural imbalance in the working-class North, creating an international platform for independent short films that has since achieved BAFTA qualifying status.

MIRANDA STERN
Miranda is a BAFTA-nominated and BAFTA Scotland–nominated director who explores the thresholds between various genres. Her debut short film milk was recognised by a triple win at the WeAreDN Awards 2025. She’s also received three Royal Television Society awards, a National Film Academy Award, the Best Scottish Short award at GSFF, Grierson and IDA nominations. Screen Daily recently described her as one of 15 emerging UK writers and directors with global appeal.

🏆 Join us in London at on 7th May to find out which films our mighty jury crown as winners for this extra special 20th year of Directors Notes.

Tickets available at https://filmfreeway.com/DirectorsNotes

07/04/2026

Check out the competition for Merch at the upcoming LA1 Shorts...

22/03/2026

At -20C the temperature can get quite frosty in Chicoutimi, but the warm welcome I received from , its audience and residents was unprecedented and it soon warmed my soul. Such energy and joy runs throughout this festival , a cultural delight and spectacular celebration of short film and culture, but also a celebration of community and the joy of coming together. I am truly inspired by this magnificent festival and return to the UK with so many learnings. Thanks to Mireille, all the festival team, and the volunteers for their generous invitation. I hope to return and again "to crack the ice" at this amazing place!!

17/02/2026

Call for Entries for our 2026 edition of Bolton Film Festival

Submit your short film today on FilmFreeway for a chance of joining us on the red carpet in October.

Five days of short films, industry talks, networking and socialising - a BAFTA & BIFA qualifying short film festival.

https://filmfreeway.com/BoltonFilmFestival

13/10/2025

The two-day event aims to support the careers of a new generation of filmmakers in the short film industry, while taking a look at current trends in (short) film and strengthening ties between the Baltic and wider international short film communities. The event will be filled with masterclasses, pan...

11/10/2025

Thanks to the filmmakers who left a review on FilmFreeway this week and helped to place us in the Top 10 Best Reviewed Festivals from over 15,000 worldwide.

10/10/2025

09/10/2025