Film festival offering 'diverse' experience returns

Sunrise Film Festival founders Patrick Johnson and Joshua Freemantle with Marina Theatre general manager Sam Vallerius and programme and marketing manager Natalie Hewis

A short film festival which promises a “diverse range of cinematic experiences” and is considered the biggest of its kind in Suffolk will return to the county this summer.

The Sunrise Film Festival, supported by the British Film Institute (BFI), starts on 1 August at the Marina Theatre and Sams Cafe in Lowestoft.

Over the course of the four-day event, 124 short movies will be screened, including three which have been filmed in East Anglia.

There will also be special Q&A sessions which will give budding directors the chance to pick the brains of filmmakers about their creative process.

Backed by Lowestoft Town Council, the festival will also have free exhibitions, family-friendly and interactive screenings suitable for children, and outdoor cinema events.

Last year’s event attracted more than 1,800 movie buffs and saw 460 short films submitted from across the country.

Joshua Freemantle, event co-founder, said: “We are incredibly excited about this year’s lineup and the new experiences we are bringing to our audience.

“We are set to deliver a festival that not only showcases the best in short films but also fosters a vibrant community spirit.”

A festival pass costs £5 and can be purchased by visiting the Sunrise Film Festival website.