Diving into the Ocean for our Opening Gala 

Our sold out opening gala this year was the epic documentary Ocean with David Attenborough. This breathtaking environmental film was followed by a riveting panel discussion featuring a diverse group of speakers from across the local environmental sector. Our strand partners Net Zero Stratford and River Hope did a brilliant job at facilitating an expansive, thorough conversation that not only reflected on the issues raised in the film but also probed for wider accountability and hopes for the future. The panel consisted of Ed Green (Warwickshire Wildlife Trust), Mary Manandhar (River Hope), Paul Twiney (Greenpeace) and Veronica Nanton (Warwickshire Food Champions) and was facilitated by Janet Palmer and Stephen Norrie from Net Zero Stratford. Check out our Environmental Aims page to learn about what we are doing as an organisation to help heal the planet.

Any Questions?

False Starts and Surprises was a talk by BAFTA-winning brothers Greg and Myles McLeod and was a unique standout at the festival, offering a refreshingly honest look into the unpredictable journey of ideas. Their warmth and wit made the event feel more like a conversation among a theatre full of friends. Laughter filled the room as they revealed their blush-making early work, quirky creative missteps, flukes, surprising successes and embarrassing photographic proof that they are indeed brothers! We loved this event, which came with some genuinely helpful creative takeaways and left audiences inspired and with a deeper appreciation for the muzzy and magical nature of creativity.  

Arabian Nights Brought to Life 

Our live score screening of Lotte Reiniger’s The Adventures of Prince Achmed proved to be a genuinely spellbinding experience. Audiences were swept up into an intoxicating world of silhouette animation and mythic storytelling, as the oldest surviving animated feature aroused the screen with breathtaking elegance and epic set pieces. Before the film began, ticket holders took part in a hands-on shadow puppet workshop delivered by festival team member Emily Bennett, which offered a tactile connection to Reiniger’s pioneering technique and helped set the tone for a wonderful afternoon. As the lights dimmed, Oxford based group Flights of Helios at the Midnight Riyaz took to the floor to perform their original score, an ethereal and richly textured musical odyssey, which wove seamlessly into Reiniger’s intricate visuals. Many left the theatre visibly moved, remarking on the emotional depth, power and technical brilliance of both the film and the live score, which breathed new life into this 1926 masterpiece. 

Talking Activism and Human Rights with the London Recruits 

We closed the festival on a powerful and poignant note with the screening of Comrade Tambo’s London Recruits, an award-winning documentary that captivated the audience from start to finish. The film’s gripping narrative, chronicling the covert missions of ordinary British people who risked their lives to fight apartheid in South Africa was met with reverence and fascination by our audience. Following the screening, director Gordon Main and London Recruit Sean Hosey took to the floor for an engaging Q&A with festival team member, Brian Harley. Gordon shared insights into his filmmaking, interview process and the moral complexity of telling this story while Sean’s reflections of his lived experiences added depth and urgency to the evening, as he detailed the impulse and courage that fuelled him to get involved. The atmosphere in The Bear Pit Theatre was electric, with many attendees visibly moved by the film’s raw honesty and historical significance.   

Ella Glendining Encourages Reflection and Change 

The theme of this year’s festival was met head on with our screening of Is There Anybody Out There?, a deeply intimate first-hand account of living with disability and confronting ableism in society. Our audience engaged with film’s direct storytelling, which blended personal narrative with broader questions of identity, representation and the systemic barriers that affect disabled people. Following the screening, festival team member, Brian Harley, welcomed BAFTA nominated filmmaker Ella Glendining up for a Q&A, in which they talked about the film’s success and impact as well delving into the function and accountability of problematic archive materials used in the documentary and representation on screen. The Q&A also inspired a thoughtful dialogue between Ella and audience members too, who asked great questions and shared their own experiences, making for a well-rounded, meaningful and educational afternoon. 

A Poetic Reflection on Climate and Compassion 

We knew this screening of Flow would resonate deeply with audiences. Co-Presented by Net Zero Stratford, Welcome Here, River Hope and Stratford Amnesty, the event brought together a diverse community around the shared theme of “Climate Refugees.” Held at the Holy Trinity Parish Centre, this Oscar-winning animated feature, made entirely with open-source software, moved and inspired the audience to reflect on climate justice, refugee support, stewardship of water and overall environmental responsibility.  

New filmmaking Talent platformed at our Short Film Competition Awards 

With the festival’s theme of Connection & Disruption as the creative compass, the winning films of our popular short film competition showcased a remarkable range of interpretations - from high concept sci-fi, tender and poetic lyricism and larger than life comedy. The top prizes went to works by filmmakers from across the UK and the Midlands. Festival team member Chris Davis hosted a wonderful awards ceremony and multi-media Q&A screening with the prize winners Kane Wilson, Emma Hodgkinson, Joanna Suchomska and Dale Forder, who earned an honourable mention in the competition.

Brown Paper BAFTAS 

“You’ve got to get to the truth quickly.” - Geoff Thompson 

Another sold out event at the festival was Brown Paper BAFTAS with screenwriter Geoff Thompson, director Michael B. Clifford and producer Natasha Carlish. We were extremely proud to reunite this legendary trio of BAFTA winners for an archive screening of their acclaimed and remastered short films, Bouncer, Brown Paper Bag followed by a screening of their new short film Bardo: A Rogue and Peasant Slave. Between the screenings we enjoyed a compelling and inspirational conversation with them. Hosted by festival team member, Brian Harley, Geoff, Michael and Natasha reflected on the highs and lows of short filmmaking at the highest standard, writing, directing and producing, as well as risk taking and the life altering magic of chance encounters. 

Thone Alone 

In what has quickly become a fun little custom, members of our hard-working festival team each took a moment to sit in the box office throne at The Bear Pit Theatre. We need to find a crown next...

Post credits Surprise! The festival is now on Instagram! 

While the festival is just one of many great projects delivered by Live & Local, we recognise it could be easier for audiences to locate our festival on social media - so we’ve listened to your feedback and we’ve now launched an Instagram page for the festival! 

Head over now and follow us in time for next year!