Blogs.
Lights, camera, action! Highlights from this year’s Leeds Film Festival 2024.
30th October 2024
Lights, camera, action! Highlights from this year’s Leeds Film Festival 2024
From 1 to 17 November Leeds International Film Festival returns to the city for it’s 37th year. One of the UK’s best-loved film festivals, it presents an opportunity to see over 250 feature films and shorts across several iconic Leeds venues, including the iconic Hyde Park Picture House opened in 1914 (and the last remaining Gas-lit Cinema in Europe) and Cottage Road Cinema opened in 1912, all in the city where the moving picture started. Here are some amazing facts about LIFF:
- LIFF is the UK’s largest regional film festival and the leading one in the North of England
- LIFF has two competitions for feature films and eight for short films
- LIFF receives over 5000 film submissions from filmmakers and film organisations from more than 120 countries
- In 2023, the total submissions received by LIFF amounted to 136,862 minutes of viewing
- LIFF is one of the world’s most popular film festivals for submissions
- LIFF screened over 250 films from 82 countries in its 2023 edition
- LIFF is a qualifying festival for the BAFTAs and British Independent Film Awards, which means that films selected for LIFF can be considered for nomination for their awards and the Oscars for 2024.
- In addition to 1000s of individual tickets sold every year, over 1000 passes are sold with many audience members taking two weeks off work and seeing more than 50 films
- LIFF is the UK’s longest film festival, expanded to 17 days since 2023 due to audience demand
- LIFF is a major supporter of new filmmakers and has supported them in the early stages of their careers. Quote: ‘Leeds International Film Festival has been key in the support and promotion of international filmmakers, including myself, throughout its history. The quality of films and commitment to film makers has been paramount to the success of the festival’ – Francis Lee, British filmmaker from West Yorkshire and writer/director of God’s Own Country and Ammonite
The festival is a must for aspiring filmmakers, as well as cinema lovers and anyone with a passion for film and the big screen. We’ve shared some of our chosen highlights from this year’s programme below:
Time Travel seems to be a popular theme this year, with several movies on our watchlist exploring the idea from sci-fi to comedy.
The 80s animated classic Time Masters has had a 4k digital restoration and playing at Hyde Park Picture House. Definitely a must for fans of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.
For a comedic take on time travel then A Samurai In Time or Escape From The 21st Century will be on your list or another of our picks Tim Travers and the Time Travellers Paradox, featuring legendary cinema villains Danny Trejo and Keith David. Mad scientist Tim Travers has built a time machine to test a paradox: can you really travel two minutes back in time and kill your younger self? There is even a chance to have a Q&A with the composers.
Leeds born artist & filmmaker Stuart Croft will be honoured with an exhibition of his work at the Leeds Art Gallery as well as several movies he was influenced by throughout some of the venues like Le Samouraï and Singin’ in the Rain.
Highly anticipated is the movie Flow, an animated family adventure where there is no speech at all, currently winning awards across several film festivals and critically praised. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, it finds refuge on a boat populated by various species and will have to team up with them despite their differences.
Paranormal horror comedy Dead Talents Society is a great homage to Asian ghost movies, where in the afterlife you must compete for fame or be condemned to eternal damnation. This will be the first showing at Day of the Dead – an all day horror marathon.
Edward Berger’s stunning adaption of Robert Harris’ high-stakes drama Conclave starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci will be a tense cinematic experience, from the same director as 2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front.
Constellation is the new name for the main programme section, previewing many of the most talked about films of the year and presenting UK Premieres of films from exciting new filmmakers in our feature film competition. One we are looking forward to is British drama Hard Truths, a candid yet moving and empathetic portrayal of untreated suffering. The trailer at the Leeds International Film Festival launch had us excited for Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s performance.
Other movies on our watchlist: Grand Theft Hamlet, Layla, The Ties That Bind Us, All We Imagine As Light and Nightbitch.
LIFF 2024 offers several passes and with an Explorer Gold Pass you have limit on what you can see, receive merchandise and discounts on food and drink at many venues such as Sela Bar, Laynes, Headrow House and Bundobust.
Whilst in Leeds why not explore many of our filming locations like Harewood House (ITV’s Victoria, Downton Abbey), City Varieties Music Hall (Peaky Blinders) and Greek Street (Marvel’s Secret Invasion). Visit the Royal Armouries to see several weapons and props from the movies including a helmet from Monty Python’s Holy Grail and a pulse rifle gun from Aliens or just stroll through the Victorian arcades and areas like Kirkgate Market and the Corn Exchange for some shopping and architectural views.