Online Community Film Festival 2026
An online film festival celebrating the arts and community within Bridport and West Dorset as captured on film by local filmmakers. Each Friday in January we shall be releasing a new short film about one of Bridport Arts Centre’s inspiring peers and partners to this online festival website.
Our fifth film from Alice Colfox is a short portrait of boat builder, Gail McGarva who trained with Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy. Gail’s beautifully hand-crafted, wooden boat, Georgie McDonald is named after her two grandmothers. Gail’s craft and passion for the ocean is weaved together with glimpses into her workshop and thoughts out at sea. Both boat builder and boat are seen to co-exist in perfect union with the gentle summer waters of Lyme Bay.
Click the play button on the image below to watch this week’s video.
Our fourth film is from Chasing Cow Productions who are a West Dorset arts and filmmaking collective. The film is of a live performance in St Mary’s Church, Bridport of the song ‘Crow Call’ by Dorset poet and singer, Aidan Simpson from the album, Chamber Music, and also featuring Lucy Roberts on fiddle, backing vocals by Yada Cashmore and harmonium (and crow sounds) by Sammy Hurden.
Click the play button on the image below to watch this week’s video.
Our third film is about life at Hazelmead, Bridport Cohousing Community which is the largest cohousing project in the UK. This multi-award winning, pioneering community-led endeavour comprises 53 affordable, neighbourly and sustainable homes designed and delivered by local people working together with Barefoot Architects. Cohousing is a way of living which brings individuals and families together to share common aims and facilities, whilst also enjoying their own self-contained accommodation and personal space.
Click the play button on the image below to watch this week’s video.
Our second film is from B Sharp who work with children and young people to access the power of music to help them grow, connect and thrive. This film tracks the journey of young musicians through B Sharp’s Music Futures project. From workshops and performances to behind-the-scenes stories, the film celebrates the transformative power of music for the next generation. The film is by local filmmaker, Ryan Halsey.
Click the play button on the image below to watch this week’s video.
Our first film celebrates some of the work of The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares who deliver creative writing workshops for children aged between 7 and 18 in West Dorset. In the film, The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares team up with Mountjoy School for National ‘Kids in Museums’ Takeover Day at Bridport Museum. Together, they explore local history through interaction and imagination– turning artefacts into stories and the museum into a playful space for creative expression. The film is by local filmmaker, Ryan Halsey.