2025 English Riviera Film Festival celebrates 10th anniversary launch

The 2025 International English Riviera Film Festival has been launched. 

Film producers and enthusiasts gathered at the Mercure Hotel in Paignton to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this annual festival.

The launch took place on Thursday, February 27 and was sponsored by the Mercure Hotel.

Since its beginnings as a one-day event in 2015, the festival has grown into a year-round programme of film screenings, workshops, panels, and networking opportunities, all leading up to the English Riviera International Film Awards.

Above: Location shot from Award Nominee Amuse - Bouche - Director by Matthew Turner 

Previous award winners have hailed from the USA, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan, as well as from the UK and the South West.

Films and filmmakers featured at the festival have achieved international success, with one filmmaker going on to produce Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

Carolyn Custerson, Chief Executive of the English Riviera BID Company, which oversees tourism in the Bay, opened the event with a speech highlighting the importance of festivals like this. She described the English Riviera as one of the UK’s leading resorts, saying: “We’re seeing a lot of confidence in the destination, and that’s really exciting.”

Above: Carolyn Custerson during her talk at the Mercure Hotel 

Speaking about tourism from a film perspective, Mrs Custerson said: “An interest in visiting film locations has never been so strong. The UK, outside the US, has more Oscar wins than any other country, but we often get overlooked.”

Mrs Custerson also mentioned the potential impact of The Roses, an upcoming film starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, as scenes were filmed at Elberry Cove in Paignton.

She added: “Films tell stories, and they can add that extra dimension to enhance the visitor experience. Grassroots events like the English Riviera Film Festival are vital for the future of this resort and for keeping the film industry alive.

“I remember meeting John around 10 years ago when this was a fledgling project, and he was looking for support. There’s something about John—he’s infectious, and his smile is very infectious. He has a very nice way of asking people to get involved, and that’s paid off. So reaching the 10th anniversary is a really great achievement.”

John Tomkins, Director of the English Riviera Film Festival, previewed this year’s programme, featuring 52 films from 12 countries across three venues.

Above: John Tomkins

John said: We’ve got filmmakers coming from across the UK who work for television that you watch all of the time, including Netflix, Amazon, and Disney Plus. The brilliant thing about the 15th of March is not only do you get to watch the film, but then you get to meet the filmmakers behind it. If you’ve ever wanted to be a Hollywood star, they’re right there to meet.”

Hollywood stars in attendance included siblings Anthony and Claire Bueno, who grew up in Torbay and produced the successful Ghostbusters documentary, Cleanin' up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters.

Claire has interviewed Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Sigourney Weaver, and Nicole Kidman, among many other Hollywood stars.

She said: "If you've got a dream, just go ahead and do it. We had no connection to the film industry; we were just two people that grew up in Devon and dared to dream. We did it, and we lived it, so hopefully our story is one of optimism."

The evening also included a presentation by Matt Newbury, Creative Director of the Agatha Christie Festival.

Above: Matt Newbury during his talk

He outlined its upcoming events, including the unveiling of an Agatha Christie statue on the Strand in Torquay, champagne dinners, afternoon soirees, and murder mystery shows—including one at Paignton Zoo.

 Tickets for the festival are available at ticketsource.co.uk. 

The Royal Lyceum Theatre, home to Unleashed Theatre Company, will host its monthly Silver Screen and Retro Film Clubs in the lead-up to the  International English Riviera Film Festival.

On Thursday, March 13, the 1969 biographical film Isadora, starring Vanessa Redgrave and filmed at Paignton’s Oldway Mansion, will screen at 1.30pm. The 80s cult classic Labyrinth, featuring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, will be shown at 7.30pm.

Above: Isadora film poster

Paul Martin, operations manager for Unleashed Theatre, said: “When we launched the film clubs, these were two of the most requested movies by our members, so we waited until the right time to screen them. 

“With the recent optimistic news about the future of Oldway Mansion, it will be great to see it in its heyday to remind us of why it’s such a much-loved building. As for Labyrinth, it’s one of my personal favourites, and you can’t have a retro film club without screening this classic.”

All tickets are £4.50 and are available via the box office on www.unleashedtheatrecompany.com.