Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) students and local creatives have enjoyed a weekend of inspiration as the Bournemouth International Film Festival (BIFF) returned for its second year at the Hilton Hotel.
As a key sponsor of the festival, AUB continues to play a central role in nurturing regional screen talent and supporting independent cinema. Following a launch event hosted at AUB’s Palace Court Theatre earlier this summer, BIFF brings more than 60 independent films to the coastal town, selected from over 300 international submissions.
A major highlight of this year’s industry programme was a panel session sponsored by Virtual Story Lab, bringing key insights from filmmakers working at the intersection of cinema and emerging technology.
AI-Enabled Filmmaking and Storytelling featured Clare Cahill, Senior Lecturer on BA (Hons) Film Production at AUB, alongside Fiona Bavinton, co-founder of Compos Mentis Productions and Virtual Story Lab and a doctoral researcher in creative computing at AUB, specialising in AI and emerging forms of storytelling.
Rather than focusing solely on conventional software tools, the session explored the emerging possibilities of AI-enabled filmmaking and storytelling. Clare and Fiona examined how generative AI is transforming what can be made, who can make it, and the new production models opening up for independent filmmakers, alongside the crucial creative, authorship and ethical questions that follow.
This year’s festival took on the core theme of Social Realism – Real Stories. Real Cinema, with the two-day event focusing on character-driven narratives exploring community, identity, work, and everyday lived experience.
The programme featured a rich mix of feature films, shorts, documentaries, and animation from emerging and established filmmakers across the UK and worldwide.
For students and early-career filmmakers at AUB, the festival serves as a vital platform to engage directly with industry professionals through screenings, Q+A sessions with directors, and structured networking events.
Highlighting the growing stature of the event, BIFF recently announced a major partnership with independent post-production company DISAUTHORITY to offer a £15,000 post-production prize for standout talent.
Additionally, lead sponsor Not Just Travel and local cultural partners are backing the event to strengthen Bournemouth's position as a regional hub for the screen industries.
The event culminated on the Saturday night with the BIFF Black Tie Awards Night, celebrating excellence in filmmaking, acting, writing, and production across the independent cinema sector.
