Short Takes: LYIFF x The Flower Bowl - the best bits from the indie film nights

As a lot of our readers know well - we’ve been incredibly proud here at TheJackSmit.com to be associated with the Lytham International Film Festival since day one in August 2023, so when their Independent Film Nights launched at the boutique Flower Bowl cinema just outside Preston, well, a piece had to be done following the first visits to yet another ‘new to the blog’ venue.

JANUARY

The first ever LYIFF Independent Film Night, like a traditional session at the Lowther Pavilion itself, consisted of 90 minutes of shorts followed by a Q&A afterwards with an industry professional (this month, anchored by film producer Richard Albiston) - some of the shorts picked for Flower Bowl audiences are ones we’ve covered from the main festival, but they’re all picked to be a gateway into the worlds away from the mainstream films on offer in the other two screens.

Now due to licensing restrictions we can’t feature the highlights in THIS post specifically - but they were all from the 2023 Festival selection which you can read all about here.

FEBRUARY

Headlining this month’s session were two shorts and a Q&A from writer/director Chloe Ireland - just days before she would work on ITV’s coverage of the Oscars - and this is what she brought along that evening.

ROBBIE WRECKED THE BAND

This one tells the story of a neurodiverse boy who wants to be part of his school band, albeit for his hypersensitivity to loud noise presenting some complications. It’s a really, really sensitively done piece, and talking to Chloe in the Q&A afterwards, the amount of research and insight she got to make this feel authentic needs to be applauded.

BEACHED

And completing the collection from Chloe was Beached, a very on the nose take on influencer culture and relationships set in Blackpool. Anyone who knows social media will know what happens when 'doing it for the 'gram’ becomes your life, and this short (along with its characters) showcases what happens when a girl has to make the choice between the stability of life offline, or following a friend into stardom. Two incredibly strong films, made as part of UWE Bristol studies, that hold their own in a proper cinema setting.

Now I know a thing or two about what’s in store for the March edition (namely who’s doing the Q&A) - I cannot wait to see this screning because when his short film Unconquered screened in 2023… the festival would then name their Music Video award in his honour because he is, after all, a Man in Motion… LYIFF events are always great for this reason because you get to talk and network with the people behind the films (both on and off screen), so if you’re a film student or just curious about the behind the scenes world, it is worth dipping your toes in to these kinds of events.

The next LYIFF Independent Film Night will be on March 25th at 7.30pm in The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre - you can book tickets at cinema.theflowerbowl.uk.