By Georgiana Watt, Third Tear, Film and Television
The Bath Film Festival is back for its 35th edition! Between the 17th to the 26th of October, our neighbouring city will be host to over 50 different films, events and immersive experiences.
At the core of the festival is accessibility, which is reflected across all its operations; there will be several accessible screenings, the F-Rated Retro strand (a selection of six films directed, written and/or produced by women), and three different pricing options available at every event. Moreover, as all the venues are within a fifteen-minute walking radius from Bath Spa train station and Bath Bus Station, you can easily catch these events after lectures, or as an easy (and cheap) day-trip on the weekend.
After scouring the line-up, I have picked out the five most unmissable events. To see the full programme, buy tickets, or request accessibility accommodations, visit FilmBath's website here: https://filmbath.org.uk.
1. The Invisible Woman and Q&A with Ralph Fiennes
This extra-special screening of The Invisible Woman (2013, dir. Ralph Fiennes), a period drama about the tumultuous affair between young actress Nelly Ternan (played by Felicity Jones) and Charles Dickens (played by Ralph Fiennes), will be followed by a live Q&A session with the director and award-winning actor Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Schindler's List). This is an amazing and rare opportunity to hear first-hand about Fiennes’ creative processes and work as both an actor and a director. Plus, it isn’t often that one event is at the crossroads of so many different subject areas, namely film, literature, history and drama.
Date & time: 17/10/2025, 13:00-16:00
Location: Komedia Bath (BA1 1EP)
Tickets: Open Concession £13, Standard £17, Pay It Forward £21 (+ booking fee)
2. Wings (1927) and Live Organ Score by Dr Rebekah Okpoti
This whole event is hands-down iconic. Firstly, Wings (1927, dir. William A. Wellman), which stars silent film actress and OG 'It Girl' Clara Bow, won Best Picture at the first ever Oscars, held in 1929. Secondly, not only will this screening be accompanied by a live organ performance, composed and performed by Dr Rebekah Okpoti, AKA The Girly Organist (what an iconic stage name!), but also an art installation inspired by the themes of Wings. Thirdly, you will be watching, listening and admiring all of this whilst sat in the gorgeous Bath Abbey. Need I say more?
Date & time: 18/10/2025, 18:30-22:00
Location: Bath Abbey (BA1 1LT)
Tickets: Supported £19, Standard £24, Pay It Forward £29 (+ booking fee)
3. IMDb Awards Ceremony
The IMDb Awards Ceremony is a celebration for two different filmmaking competitions that aim to uplift new talent in the film industry: the Script to Screen Award, a screenwriting competition, and the New Filmmaker Award, a short film competition. Five finalists from both competitions will have their works either screened or acted on-stage by drama students from Bath Spa University, all of which will be judged live by a panel of industry leaders. A must-attend for student filmmakers!
If you can't attend in-person, Bath Spa University will also be live-streaming this event.
Date & time: 22/10/2025, 18:00-22:00
Location: Komedia Bath (BA1 1EP)
Tickets: Supported £13, Standard £17, Pay It Forward £21 (+ booking fee)
Ella Robertson
4. Wild Swimmers behind The Colonnades
Written and directed by Bath-based filmmaker Ric Rawlins, and filmed in locations around Bath and the River Avon, Wild Swimmers (2025) claims to be the world's first 'river vampire' horror film. The film follows trainee journalist Deji (played by Valerie Kwok) as she investigates a series of mysterious disappearances along the Avon. If that wasn't already spooky enough, Wild Swimmers will be premiering outdoors under the Colonnades, where the Avon flows only meters away...
Date & time: 25/10/2025, 17:00-19:10
Location: The Colonnades (BA1 1LP)
Tickets: Supported £13, Standard £17, Pay It Forward £21 (+ booking fee)
5. Bugonia (2025, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)
Fans of Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, you can catch their newest collaboration two weeks before it is fully released in the UK! Bugonia is a wacky dark comedy that manages to combine aliens and a criticism of Big Pharma and corporate America into one film. It is also an adaptation of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! (dir, Jang Joon-hwan), now infused with Lanthimos' distinctive directorial look and humour.
Date & time: 26/10/2025, 12:00-14:15 (matinee), 20:30-22:45 (evening)
Location: Little Theatre Cinema (BA1 1SF)
Ticketing: Open Concession £7, Standard £13, Pay It Forward £18 (+ booking fee, same for both showings)
Featured Image: Filmhub South West / Bath Film Festival, 2021
What are you going to see at the Bath Film Festival?
