Manchester Film Festival announces 2023 line up showcasing amazing talent from the North West

This year's edition of the Manchester Film Festival will feature over 140 short films, many of which are being seen in the UK for the first time and feature plenty of talent from the North West.

Written by Thom Bamford
Last updated 1 year ago
Community, Culture, Exhibitions, Festivals

Manchester Film Festival 2023 will take place 10th-19th March at the Odeon Great Northern, with an incredible 32 world premieres on show for this year’s edition.

All of the films being screened are being shown in the city for the first time, with an impressive 140 short films to choose from.

You can check out the full line up here.

And for those who want to keep tabs on Cinema in the North West, the festival will showcase three sessions of North West Shorts – short films celebrating the best talent from our area.

Here are some of the highlights from the 17 UK premieres taking place at the festival:

EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED TO TELL MY DAUGHTER ABOUT MEN, a collection of 23 short stories, directed by 23 female directors in support of Survivors of Abuse.

Horror film ANACORETA starring and produced by Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor, Misfits)

JILL – LIFE WILL FIND YOU YOU starring Juliet Rylance (Sinister) and Tom Pelphry (Ozark).

RYE LANE will be opening the festival: a romantic comedy about two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups, who connect over the course of an eventful day.

Rye Lane will be making its world debut at the Sundance film festival before having its UK Festival premiere at MANIFF on Friday 12th March at 7PM.

Cast and crew will be in attendance for a post screening discussion and audience Q&A after the screening.

Of the feature film selection, six of these will be world premieres.

Stockport actress Kelly Wenham stars in Dan Clarke’s A KIND OF KIDNAPPING, about a young, broke couple who kidnap a sleazy politician who decides he can spin the story to his own advantage.

Manchester based production company Old Hall Films present WAIT FOR ME, about a young woman dragged into a life of crime after arriving in England from Ireland.

LOVE WITHOUT WALLS about a young couple who, after struggling to pay their rent, find themselves lost in the underbelly of life on the streets.

BOLAN’S SHOES, starring MANIFF alumni Timothy Spall and the directorial debut of Ian Puleston-Davies (Coronation Street, Tin Star), captures glam rock mania through the experiences of a group of kids before a road accident changes their lives.

Years later survivor Penny takes best friend and fellow Marc Bolan fan to visit his shrine in London, but a chance encounter catapults her back to the horror she had tried to forget.

Rounding out the narrative world premieres is SNORKELING, which sees a teenage romance blossom just as a new hallucinogenic drug hits the streets. The film is the feature debut of renowned music video director Emil Nava, who has shot videos for Ed Sheeran, Eminem, Calvin Harris and more and stars Funny Pages Daniel Zohlgari.

In the documentary section there will be the world premiere of THE ROAD OF EXCESS, which follows the stars of early noughties cult TV show DIRTY SANCHEZ and examines the consequences the show had on their lives.

Here’s the full breakdown of what’s showing – please click the title to book tickets:

World Premiere

Wait For Me – United Kingdom

Love Without Walls – United Kingdom

Snorkeling – United States

A Kind of Kidnapping – United Kingdom

The Road of Excess (Documentary) – United Kingdom

Bolan’s Shoes – United Kingdom

International Premiere

Lakelands – Ireland

UK Premiere

White Berry – Netherlands

Something you Said Last Night – United Sates

Blazing Neon – France

Shut Eye – New Zealand

Hunting in Packs (Documentary) – United States/United Kingdom

The 9th Step – Lithuania

To the North – Romania

Every Day in Kaimuki – United States

Mascot – Netherlands

Sam Now (Documentary) – United States

Flowing – Italy

Anacoreta – United Kingdom/Canada

There’s Always Hope – United Kingdom

Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men – United Kingdom

JILL – Life will find you – United States

Dreams Live in Trees – Italy/United Kingdom

UK Festival Premiere (First screening outside of London)

Rye Lane – United Kingdom

Manchester Premiere

Medusa Deluxe – United Kingdom

New Normal – Republic of Korea

A Life on the Farm (Documentary) – United Kingdom

Godland – Denmark

If the Streets were on Fire – United Kingdom

Rodeo – France

Butcher’s Crossing – United States

Cerebrum – United Kingdom

Sick of Myself – Norway

We Might as Well Be Dead – Germany

Did we miss something? Let us know: [email protected]

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