Bath Film Festival was established in 1991, in Bath, England, by members of the Bath Film Society.
Bath Film Festival is one of the most popular events on Bath's festival calendar; showcasing a wide range of film genres, styles and directors, with everything from future blockbusters to documentaries to sing-a-long's, there's something to suit everyone.
Established in 1991 by members of the Bath Film Society, local film fans and the three cinemas in the city at the time, the festival has expanded in duration, venues, and titles.
Over the past twenty years, the festival has continued to grow thanks to contributions from local authorities and other arts bodies. In 1997, it was registered as a non profit-distributing company and, in 2000, as a charitable organisation.
Bath-based celebrities such as Ken Loach and Peter Gabriel have joined the festival as Patrons and regularly attend. The festival has also expanded its programme to include workshops for festival-goers, live music accompaniments to silent cinema, and more recently, has explored the excitement – and pitfalls – of open-air cinema. Starting in 2003, in partnership with The Holburne Museum, 600 people turned up to enjoy the screening of Steven Spielberg's ET, with picnicking on the lawn before the start of the film, the outdoor screenings always have a unique atmosphere.
Since its foundation, Bath Film Festival has screened over 1000 films, most of which would not have made it to Bath were it not for the festival, and though it remains fully committed to its community oriented roots, it is the intention to make Bath Film Festival a nationally recognised event that other film festivals will aspire to.
As of the Bath Film Festival 2010: