The idea of a film festival in Ilkley struck me when I was walking through the town one afternoon during the annual Literature Festival; the buzz and the excitement of the crowd and the diverse range of events on offer showed me the potential was there to make it a popular annual event.
Once I saw the inside of the King’s Hall, I was convinced this would be a success - it’s such a beautiful venue and perfectly crafted to transform into a cinema. I love film and the opportunities it gives us to learn, be entertained and be taken on a journey, the festival is a chance to bring eclectic and interesting films to Ilkley and to hopefully inspire a younger generation into film. As a secondary school teacher, it is important to me that the festival inspires and educates people but that it also allows opportunities for audiences to be entertained and enhances their love of cinema, something I think about a lot as I programme each event.
The festival is approaching its third year and has so far screened events to over 10,000 people, something I am immensely proud of and I cannot wait to see it grow even further over the coming years. Thank you to everyone who has come to a festival event and helped make it the success it is, I really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again at any future festival events.
Once I saw the inside of the King’s Hall, I was convinced this would be a success - it’s such a beautiful venue and perfectly crafted to transform into a cinema. I love film and the opportunities it gives us to learn, be entertained and be taken on a journey, the festival is a chance to bring eclectic and interesting films to Ilkley and to hopefully inspire a younger generation into film. As a secondary school teacher, it is important to me that the festival inspires and educates people but that it also allows opportunities for audiences to be entertained and enhances their love of cinema, something I think about a lot as I programme each event.
The festival is approaching its third year and has so far screened events to over 10,000 people, something I am immensely proud of and I cannot wait to see it grow even further over the coming years. Thank you to everyone who has come to a festival event and helped make it the success it is, I really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again at any future festival events.
2015 Festival
The 2015 festival took place from the 18th – 22nd February, an increase from three to five days and an increase of five events to 27 in total.
We opened our doors to over 4600 people, an increase of over 1400 people in comparison to last year showing real growth.
The programme of events ranged from previews, local cinema, British films, foreign cinema, documentaries and live music and film events. We were delighted to welcome British Sea Power, Asian Dub Foundation and Summer Camp to perform live in the beautiful King’s Hall. We also had some fascinating special guests including Elaine Constantine, Harry Macqueen and Celyn Jones who all took part in some brilliant Q&As.
We were delighted to screen a wide array of films including a regional gala screening of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. We had eight sell out events which also included The Theory of Everything, The Imitation Game, Paddington and Boyhood.
The stage is now set as we look towards 2016 with real ambition and anticipation as our dates are confirmed as the 17th – 21st Feb 2016 – we’ve got some great ideas and can’t wait to tell you all about them.
We opened our doors to over 4600 people, an increase of over 1400 people in comparison to last year showing real growth.
The programme of events ranged from previews, local cinema, British films, foreign cinema, documentaries and live music and film events. We were delighted to welcome British Sea Power, Asian Dub Foundation and Summer Camp to perform live in the beautiful King’s Hall. We also had some fascinating special guests including Elaine Constantine, Harry Macqueen and Celyn Jones who all took part in some brilliant Q&As.
We were delighted to screen a wide array of films including a regional gala screening of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. We had eight sell out events which also included The Theory of Everything, The Imitation Game, Paddington and Boyhood.
The stage is now set as we look towards 2016 with real ambition and anticipation as our dates are confirmed as the 17th – 21st Feb 2016 – we’ve got some great ideas and can’t wait to tell you all about them.
2014 festival
The first Ilkley Film Festival took place 14-16 February 2014 welcoming over 3200 film fans to 22 film events across two venues: King’s Hall and Winter Gardens, and Ilkley Playhouse.
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Staging a film festival in a town without a cinema proved to add to the popularity and interest in the event as it captured the imagination of
the national, regional and local press. 22 events were programmed across two venues, which included a rich range of previews, local interest films, documentaries, anniversary screenings and musical events. Over 3200 audience members attended the first festival which puts us down as one of the most popular first-time film festivals in the country. The festival programme was acknowledged by press and public alike as being versatile, interesting and dynamic as we attracted Paul Merton and Neil Brand with their popular Silent Clowns event, British Sea Power performing live to From the Sea to the Land Beyond, the regional premiere of the acclaimed The Book Thief alongside six national previews. We look forward to growing bigger and better in 2015 as the festival returns for an expanded five day run from 18-22 February 2015. |
We are extremely honoured to have an elite member of film royalty as our official festival patron...
Dame Judi Dench “Even though I am unable to attend this year’s event, I am looking forward to seeing the Ilkley Film Festival grow. Film plays such an important part in our everyday lives and the opportunity to celebrate it through film festivals such as Ilkley is something to be grasped. I’m extremely proud not only to be the official patron of the festival but also to see such an event taking place in Yorkshire. I will be keeping my eye on the festival and hope to make it to one in the future.” Dame Judi Dench |