Between the Lights headlines at Keswick Film Festival

Between The Lights received its European premiere at the Keswick Film Festival on Thursday, February 29.

A magical realism feature from brothers Michael Groom (writer, director, co-producer) and David Groom (producer), Between The Lights opened the 2024 Keswick Film Festival as the festival’s headlining presentation. 

An image from Between The Lights (Image: Laal Blue Dot)

Thursday’s screening was a triumphant return home for the brothers Groom, who are originally from Wigton. Michael now resides in West Yorkshire, while David currently lives in New York.

Between The Lights, which features Christmas themes, is expected to be released later this year in cinemas across the UK, and is negotiation to be on a streaming service.

Ian Payne, director of Keswick Film Festival, said: "We’re delighted to have had Michael and David’s Between The Lights headline and open the Keswick Film Festival.

"The hairs on the back of my neck stood up while I was watching!"

Audience members at KFF spoke very highly of Between The Lights, which tells the story of Alice, a sceptical scientist who falls for reluctant medium Jay, before being taken on 'an odyssey of love, loss and discovery'. 

Sheena Teasdale, 62, said: "We weren’t sure what to expect from Between The Lights when we sat down. But we’ve been coming to the Keswick Film Festival every year for about ten years or so. Between The Lights blew us away."

Claire O’Dea, 39, said: "It was great to see a film featuring so much of Keswick headline the festival. It looked superb."

Isla Bonita, 20, said: "Loved seeing Keswick and Cumbria feature so much in a feature film. And the supernatural love story really captivated me."

Some of Cumbria's beautiful scenery features in the film (Image: Supplied)

Reviewers have also been complimentary, with one saying: "Between the Lights is a nuanced, supernaturally tinged romantic ghost tale with echoes of A Ghost Story and Truly Madly Deeply.

"You really feel like you've been on a meaningful journey by the end."

The KFF’s Osprey Short Film Awards will be presented by Michael and David Groom on the afternoon of Saturday March 2, following the extra Keswick Alhambra screening of Between The Lights at 11am.