The Swansea Bay Film Festival was a film festival organized by The Academy of Media, Recording, Interactive, Television and Stage Arts that took place in Swansea, Wales, between 2006 and 2011. It ended in 2011 after significant criticism of their treatment of entrants

Festival mission

The festival promised to "honour the individual voice". Its goal was to provide a worldwide public forum for independent and experimental film makers and to offer educational outreach. The Swansea Bay Film Festival was a qualifying festival for the British Independent Film Awards. The Academy of Media, Recording, Interactive, Television and Stage Arts (AMRITSA) organized the event and the festival's "Special Selection Committee", composed of seasoned filmmakers, representatives from The City and County of Swansea, The Dylan Thomas Centre, and The Department of Adult and Continuing Education at Swansea University.

Critical response

Director Michael Attardi said that, "The Swansea Film Festival is better than Cannes."*

Criticism

The festival was described by participants as "a sham" and "the worst film festival.". In June 2011 The Guardian headlined the Swansea Bay film festival as a 'disaster'. Filmmakers described an empty festival where they were expected to do all of their own promotion. Catherine Zeta-Jones has resigned as patron of the Swansea Bay Film Festival and Michael Sheen has resigned as vice president following criticism of the festival. Festival organiser Binda Singh has been singled out for the most criticism.

Winners

2010 – main categories 2009 – main categories 2008 – main categories 2006 – main categories