THE Branchage International Film Festival, which drew to a close yesterday amid general praise, is steadily growing in stature and popularity. Indeed, it can now be mentioned in the same breath as the Battle of Flowers, the International Air Display and Jersey Live, other attractions which do so much to put Jersey on the map.

Between Thursday and the concluding show last night, no fewer than 62 events were held at 16 venues, including Mont Orgueil, the War Tunnels and the Opera House. That such a programme ran with scarcely a hitch is evidence of the dedication, enthusiasm, expertise and sheer diligence of the festival’s director, Xanthe Hamilton, and her team.

All those who had a hand in making the festival such a success will be delighted with reactions not only here in the Island, but further afield. A national newspaper even said that Branchage had the potential to make Jersey the new Cannes – though it noted that we have better beaches than those of the French resort.

Such favourable publicity, which simply cannot be bought, will help the festival to prosper and to fulfil the organisers’ hopes of making it even bigger and better next year. It will also be of benefit to the Island as a whole – not least because the festival is an excellent new focal point for the event-led tourism which is capable of bringing whole new categories of visitor to our shores.

Although film was clearly the main business at the festival, it also featured plenty of music. A highlight, for example, was yesterday afternoon’s showing of Man of Aran, a classic documentary about life on the rugged isle off Ireland’s west coast, which was accompanied by a live soundtrack played by acclaimed UK rock group British Sea Power.

But the festival was concerned with more than classic cinematography and big-name musicians. It also provided a showcase for Jersey film-makers aspiring to make an impact in the industry. Film is without doubt a hard business to break into, so opportunities such as those offered by Branchage are invaluable for those eager to see their work shown to mass audiences.

It is no far-fetched hope to envisage professional film-making developing as a significant economic activity through the efforts of local talent and by attracting production companies eager to use the
Island as a location. The Isle of Man has successfully trodden this path, and there are no obvious reasons why we should
not follow suit.