The Bolton International Film Festival returns for its sixth edition next month with hundreds of flicks on show.

Taking place between Wednesday, October 5 and Sunday, October 9, the BIFA and BAFTA-accredited short film festival will be screening more than 300 short films, which will include 29 world premieres and 61 UK premieres.

Held at multiple venues across the town, the festival's audiences will be given the opportunity to see work from some of the world’s most exciting filmmakers, and to participate in Q&As and masterclasses with highly respected figures from within the film and television industry.

Comedian Joe Lycett joins the festival on Thursday, October 6 in the special programme called Multifarious Mixtape.

Bolton-born writers Michael and Paul Clarkson, aka The Clarkson Twins, will also be making a return to the festival, to discuss their experiences of co-writing for television, including on Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor and the newly-released BBC Three horror series Red Rose, set and filmed in Bolton.

The Bolton News: Paul and Michael Clarkson at the Red Rose premiere at The Light cinema in BoltonPaul and Michael Clarkson at the Red Rose premiere at The Light cinema in Bolton (Image: Public)

Adrian Barber, the festival director, said “There’s a tangible energy building around this year’s festival.

"Filmmakers are flying in from all around the world, it’s great to see so many people getting in touch about their travel plans to Bolton.

"For many of them it’ll be their first time here – and that goes for many of our UK filmmakers too.”