THE FESTIVAL IS BACK – a new programme of UK Premieres and award winning films

The Ramsgate International Film & TV Festival is back. In seven years, it has accomplished its goal to be the biggest of its kind in the South East and has now had interruptions during the COVID pandemic.

Four days of screenings and special events will take place in various venues across town.

The Opening Gala, which will take place at the Palace Cinema in Broadstairs, features the UK Premiere of the new Jacqueline Bisset film, LOREN & ROSE, directed by Russell Brown.

Friday will see the popular screening event of Kent’s best work followed by a special networking eveving  in partnership with Kent Film Makers, animated by rapper Morrison Ford and his band. The night is bound to be packed. This year the feature film ESTATE OF MIND, a visceral, hard-hitting piece from Drew Cox, a filmmaker based in Westage-on-sea, on mental health and drug addiction will start the evening.

The festival will close with the UK Premiere of the amazing film PIERRE ET JEANNE, the first outing behind the camera by accomplished award winning French actress Clémentine Célarié. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Clémentine and the Producer, Matthieu Rubin.

Countries represented this year will also include South Korea with the remarkable feature MY DAUGHTER about the topical subject of Artificial Intelligence mixed with loss, bereavement, and mental health. Korean nationals will no doubt recognize leading cast members Park Sung-hoon and Jeon So-min, who won the South Korea TV BAFTA equivalent for the film.

A pléthore of work from new and returning directors will entertain the festival goers. Previous alumni Alexander Milo Bischof, who previously won Best Screenplay in Ramsgate for his first film, TROUBLE WILL FIND US has come back with his new picture, TYGER.

Documentary fans will no doubt appreciate the selection with THE BALLAD OF BESSIE MAE, from other Ramsgate alumni, Oliver Guy-Watkins, who showed WHO’S JAMES PAYTON? during the COVID online edition.

A total of 11 Feature Films and 65 shorts films in four categories, narrative, documentary, animation and experimental from the five continents. The festival can confirm attendance of many directors, who will conduct Q&A following the screening of their film.

The Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday 25th June, with the presentation of the Anchor Award a solid bronze award designed by the late Dominic Grant to the Best of the Fest and other prizes for all winners. Once again, Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning actress and the festival’s Patron Brenda Blethyn will judge the Best First Film. Judges this year include notably, acclaimed actor/director David Leon, Jane Sanger and Baz Russell.

The festival is starting on a new journey in partnership with the Kent Film Foundation. That will enable the offering of more events and courses for the most deprived youth of our community.  Curation of the festival shall be in partnership with Violet Pictures, who have successfully curated the Folkestone Documentary Festival now in its third year, a partnership that shall lead to all year-round screenings.

It is proud to include in its main Short Narratives in competition, the BBC commissioned short film THE BODY WITH NO FACE, by disabled filmmaker Owen Tooth.

The programme is completed by a series of industry talks encouraging new vocations amongst young people.

The Ramsgate International Film & TV Festival is THE festival where diversity and inclusion are a matter of fact.

The majority of events are PAY WHAT YOU CAN tickets in order to allow all levels of society to access cinema and culture.