Lancashire Firestorm Film Festival launches for the first time at this Preston cinema
The Lancashire Firestorm Film Festival launches its first public showcase later this month in Preston.
Curated by festival director Ed Greenberg, the launch event at the Arc Cinema on March 27 marks the beginning of a bold new initiative to strengthen and connect Lancashire’s creative communities.
It will bring together a selection of Oscar‑nominated, BAFTA‑winning, and award‑winning local short films, followed by a live panel discussion exploring how a broader Lancashire Film Network can support creatives across the region.
Firestorm sits alongside the award‑winning Lytham International Film Festival and Fleetwood’s CineWyre Festival as part of a growing county‑wide movement to expand opportunities, celebrate local talent, and give audiences greater access to independent screen culture. Each festival offers something unique, but all share a commitment to collaboration, not competition.
“Firestorm isn’t here to compete with what already exists - it’s here to complement it,” said festival director Ed Greenberg. “Lancashire is full of brilliant filmmakers, students, storytellers, and audiences who deserve more opportunities and more connection. Firestorm is a step towards building a county‑wide creative ecosystem - one that strengthens our shared identity and brings our towns together.”
The panel discussion will bring together filmmakers and industry voices to explore how Lancashire can build a more connected creative future, with a focus on skills development, visibility for emerging talent, and year‑round opportunities across Preston, Blackpool, Wyre, Fylde, and beyond.
Featured films include:
Rock Paper Scissors (UK) – Franz Böhm – BAFTA 2025 Winner/OSCAR 2026 Nominee Jane Austen’s Period Drama (USA) – Julia Aks & Steve Pinder – OSCAR 2026 Nominee Welcome to the 70s (Germany) – Gretta Sammalniemi The Man That I Wave At (UK) – Ben S. Hyland Benji (UK) – Oscar Garth Bonfire (UK) – Jake Mark Blackpool (UK) – Stephen Gallacher Wired (UK) – Will Jewell
The festival launch begins at 7pm on March 27. Tickets are on sale now at: ArcCinema.co.uk
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