Hundreds attend expanded film festival

The Wolverhampton Film Festival has become a significant event in the local community, and this year it was even bigger and better than before. For the first time, the festival was held over five days, allowing more films to be showcased and more people to attend. The festival took place at the University of Wolverhampton's screen school and also expanded to the Arena Theatre, which provided additional space for the many films that were submitted. This year, over 160 films were entered into the festival, with some of the filmmakers having impressive backgrounds, including connections to Bafta, BBC, and Apple TV. The festival was co-founded by local filmmakers Arun Kapur and Gurjant Singh, who expressed their excitement about the high quality of films presented this year. nnOne of the most notable aspects of this year's festival was the support it received from the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This funding is designed to help improve communities and support local businesses, which is exactly what the festival aims to do. By showcasing films and bringing people together, the festival helps to promote Wolverhampton as a vibrant cultural hub. The festival also included various workshops and Q&A sessions, where attendees could engage with filmmakers and learn more about the art of filmmaking. Mr. Kapur highlighted the diversity of the films shown, stating, 'With a mixture of local, regional, and international films, this year saw an increase of calibre when it comes to the quality. ' nnThe attendance at the festival was impressive, with more than 500 people participating, including filmmakers and local residents from various community groups. This increase in attendance not only showcases the growing interest in film but also helps to support local businesses as visitors come to Wolverhampton for the event. As the festival looks forward to its fifth anniversary next year, the organizers are determined to continue promoting Wolverhampton and bringing people together through their shared love of film. The festival is not just about watching movies; it is about creating a sense of community and celebrating the art of storytelling through film.