This week (17-20 September 2026) Luke Myer MP and his wife Beth visited Women X Film Festival, a popular Tees Valley event they have supported for a number of years.

This year’s festival is a landmark one, with Women X now BAFTA-qualifying for British Short Film as it continues to grow its national profile. The 2026 festival is taking place across Darlington from 17-20 September, showcasing more than 150 independent short films alongside workshops, talks and industry events.

The festival featured local talent, including films made by Teessiders such ‘GRLHOOD‘, ‘Clocked Off!‘ and ‘Lucky Penny‘.

Luke and Beth have supported the festival’s growth over several years and attended again this year to support the filmmakers and organisers behind it.

Luke Myer MP said:

“This is a fantastic festival for the region. It is brilliant to see how far the festival has come – it’s now the leading women’s film festival in the UK, and reaching BAFTA status is a huge milestone.

“There is so much creative talent here in the Tees Valley, and festivals like this give people the chance to showcase it, build connections and take the next step in the industry.”