The festival, organised by the amazing Bank of Dreams and Nightmares, was held at venues across Bridport last week (9-11 Oct) including the Electric Palace, Bridport Arts Centre and the Literary and Scientific Institute. 

More than 30 students enjoyed inspiring talks from industry insiders like Ben Willbond from Ghosts and Horrible Histories, as well as Joe Cornish of the Adam and Joe Show, who also wrote for Antman’s Marvel and TinTin for Stephen Spielberg and Peter Jackson.  

On the first day students got to work with award-winning playwright Aaron Kilercioglu, communications expert Paul Trueman and TV screenwriter Chesca Forristal, who has worked for Disney, Netflix and Amazon Prime on big budget productions like ‘Marie Antoinette’.     

Other fascinating speakers included Rap star Isaiah Dreads, journalist Isabel Brooks, who writes for leading newspapers like the Guardian and runs creative writing projects in prisons, award winning novelist Evie Wyld and poet, writer and memoir author Chimene Suleyman. 

Students from Years 10, 11 and the Sixth form went to three inspiring talks each day, where they also got the chance to go on stage and help lead a question-and-answer session with the speakers, well done to our students Toby, Lily, Chandler, Robert, Emily, Ash, Addy and Alfie for taking to the stage! Students then got the opportunity to attend different workshops with the speakers, which gave them insights into the industry, as well as opportunities to write and work with successful and famous creative people.     

Seren, age 14, said: ‘Bankfest was exciting. I loved getting to meet everyone and hearing about their jobs and thoughts. I found it really inspiring.” 

Elijah, age 14, said: “I really enjoyed Bankfest, it was an amazing opportunity to learn new writing skills and meet some really cool people.” 

Robert, age 15, said: “Bankfest was an exciting experience, I’m so glad to have met and learned from some of the most talented people.” 

Kitty, aged 14, said: “Bankfest was great it has rekindled my love for creative writing.” 

Blanche, age 14, said: “I really enjoyed it because I found out about more jobs to do with English, the workshops were really interesting.”  

Chris, age 14, said: “I loved Bankfest, it was very cool to meet all of the writers and hear about their jobs, it gave me a great view of the jobs writing can lead to.”   

Neve, age 14, said: “I loved it because we were educated in a fun way, I’d go again!” 

Ash, age 16, said: “Bankfest was a very slay (impressive) experience, I loved interviewing author Evie Wyld.” 

Lily, age 15, said: “Bankfest was 10 out of 10, would recommend, Chesca is an icon, Ben Willbond was very sigma (cool) also Joe Cornish, I really enjoyed it, grew-up on the Adam & Joe Show, so loved it!”     

Adam Shelley, Headteacher of the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: “This was an inspirational experience for our students, it was a brilliant festival and the students’ feedback shows how they enjoyed it and got a lot out of it.    

“We are incredibly lucky to have the Bank of Dreams and Nightmares, huge thanks to them and to Festival Curator Rebecca de Pelet,  for creating such an amazing experience for so many of our students.”