An independent cinema in Bury St Edmunds is giving the silver screen a regional twist — and film lovers across East Anglia are here for it.
Abbeygate Cinema has unveiled plans for a 20-day celebration of storytelling rooted in the East of England, through its first-ever Made in East Anglia Film Festival. Running from August 22 to September 10, the event is all about honoring the places, accents, and cinematic moments that capture the soul of the region.
A Love Letter to East Anglia, Told in Frames
The festival isn’t just about rolling reels; it’s about rolling out the red carpet for local culture. Films selected for the event were either shot in East Anglia, inspired by it, or steeped in its stories and landscapes.
One of the biggest draws? A special screening of The Dig, the Netflix drama set against the iconic Sutton Hoo archaeological discovery — and filmed right in Suffolk. The film’s blend of historical reverence and local detail makes it a perfect headliner.
Gareth Boggis, Abbeygate’s general manager, said the idea had been brewing for a while. “It’s a real celebration of the region,” he said, adding that he hopes the films not only entertain, but also help audiences connect with their heritage.
A Festival with a Local Flavour — and Local Voices
This isn’t your average movie marathon. The festival is lining up guest speakers, special talks, and behind-the-scenes stories that dig deeper than your standard Q&A.
Charlie Haylock, the dialect coach who helped Ralph Fiennes sound just the right kind of Suffolk in The Dig, is scheduled to give a talk. That alone is worth the ticket — Haylock is a treasure trove of regional nuance, known for decoding accents with both humor and historical insight.
Also joining the festival is Suffolk filmmaker Tim Curtis, who’s carved out a niche telling hyper-local stories with heart and honesty. These are the kinds of events that make a small cinema feel like the center of the storytelling universe — at least for a few nights.
And just to give you a taste of what’s coming, here’s what audiences can expect during the 20-day run:
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Special screenings of The Dig, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, and more
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Live talks with industry professionals with East Anglian ties
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A chance to explore how filmmakers captured the region’s identity on film
Bringing Alan Partridge Home (Sort Of)
No East Anglian film fest would be complete without a nod to its most iconic fictional son: Alan Partridge. Steve Coogan’s painfully hilarious broadcaster is forever associated with Norfolk, and his 2013 film Alpha Papa will be screened as part of the festival.
It’s the kind of inclusion that walks the line between local pride and affectionate self-mockery — something East Anglia is uniquely good at. And yes, expect laughter, awkwardness, and probably some Partridge impressions in the aisles.
There’s something disarming about seeing a fictional caricature like Partridge surrounded by real East Anglian countryside and voices. It reminds audiences that comedy, like drama, thrives on place.
Beyond Hollywood: Giving Indie Voices a Chance
While the Netflix productions and studio-backed comedies will grab headlines, Boggis says part of the festival’s aim is to elevate voices not always seen on big screens.
“We’re always looking at ways to broaden what we show here,” he said. That’s not lip service. Abbeygate has a track record of bringing indie films, foreign-language gems, and community-driven events to its screens. This festival is just the next step.
The hope is that by anchoring a festival to a specific geography — not London, not Manchester, but East Anglia — it builds a deeper relationship between the stories and the audience watching them.
A brief look at what the festival’s planning beyond screenings:
| Event Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Film Screenings | Regional classics and recent features with local ties |
| Live Q&As | With filmmakers, coaches, and behind-the-scenes talent |
| Educational Talks | Insights into filmmaking, dialects, and local history |
| Community Panels | Discussing East Anglia’s influence in film and media |
Making the Cinema a Cultural Hub Again
In an era when streaming is king and cinemas are constantly trying to reinvent themselves, Abbeygate’s approach feels refreshingly simple: bring the stories closer to home.
By highlighting films made in the audience’s own backyard, the festival hopes to remind people what cinema can be — not just spectacle, but shared experience. A place where people gather to see their world on screen.
It’s not just about watching a movie. It’s about recognizing a field you’ve walked through, a pub you’ve sat in, or a dialect you grew up hearing. That kind of intimacy can’t be downloaded.
And who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire the next generation of filmmakers to look out their window for stories, not just to Hollywood.
