Hebden Bridge Film Festival returns with a diverse programme of high quality films

The festival’s theme this year is Hope and Resistance and that thread runs throughout the programme with films celebrating humanity’s resilience and optimism in the face of great challenges. “With the cost-of-living crisis and increasing inequality all around us that theme seemed very fitting,” says Wadley. “We wanted to give our audiences the chance to gain new perspectives from groups and individuals around the world who are holding onto hope and fighting back.”

The theme of hope is very much present in the festival’s opening film A Good Person, written and directed by Zach Braff, and starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman. “This is a film about a young woman spiralling into addiction after a terrible personal tragedy who ends up in an unlikely friendship with her would-be father-in-law,” says Wadley. “It is a beautiful film about where you find hope when you feel everything is hopeless, about translating an experience that is heart-breaking into something hopeful – it is a good film to open with.”

Another high-profile film in the programme is the BAFTA-nominated British drama Blue Jean which tells the story of a lesbian PE teacher who is forced to live a double life following the 1988 introduction by Margaret Thatcher’s government of Section 28, legislation that prohibited “the promotion of homosexuality”. It has received great critical acclaim and has taken the international festival circuit by storm. There will be a Q&A following the screening with actor Kerrie Hays, producer Hélène Sifre as well as Catherine Lee and Sarah Squires whose real-life story inspired the film. “We know there are going to be many people in the audience whose lives were profoundly affected by the legislation at the time,” says Wadley. “We think that it can’t possibly happen again but given events in the world right now… I think that is why it is resonating with people.” There will also be a screening of the multi-award-winning documentary Lyra, an intimate portrait of the life and death of Northern Irish journalist and LGBTQ+ activist Lyra Mckee who was shot dead in 2019 while reporting on a riot in Derry. “It is an incredibly powerful, moving film,” says Wardley. “We have the director Alison Millar, producer Jackie Doyle and Lyra’s partner Sarah Canning coming to speak. That will be very special.”

Other highlights include director Becky Hutner’s documentary Fashion Reimagined about young designer Amy Powney’s quest to create a completely sustainable collection and the UK premiere of feelgood British action comedy Polite Society from filmmaker Nida Manzoor. “It’s is a mash-up of martial arts movies and Bollywood about a young Muslim woman who wants to become a stuntwoman,” says Wadley. “It is so funny and uplifting.” International films include Winners set in a small town in Iran and Moroccan title The Blue Caftan described as ‘a work of handcrafted beauty.’ The festival’s patron actor, writer and director Maxine Peake will be appearing, taking part in a Q&A following a screening of her short film Incompatible, shot in and around Hebden Bridge. She will be joined by fellow cast and crew members to discuss a film which highlights choice in a world where women are still fight for autonomy over their bodies.

“Many of the films in our programme have been shown at the likes of Cannes, Venice and Sundance festivals so we are very lucky to be able to screen them here,” says Wardley. “I hope people will come and join us, be inspired by the films and enjoy being at one of the friendliest film festivals there is.”

Hebden Bridge Film Festival, March 24-26. Full programme and to book hebdenbridgefilmfestival.org