LSH Auto BYD Announced as Sponsor of Manchester Film Festival 2025

25.03.2025

LSH Auto BYD is delighted to announce its sponsorship of the 2025 Manchester Film Festival (MANFF), the city's premier celebration of new and independent cinema.

Now in its 11th year, the festival will showcase an array of inspiring films, bringing together film enthusiasts and industry professionals for ten days of screenings, Q&A sessions, and red-carpet glamour from Friday 14^th to Sunday 23^rd March.

As one of the festival’s four main sponsors, LSH Auto BYD had a strong presence at key venues, with vehicles on display for the launch night at Aviva Studios. VIPs attending the festival were chauffeured to Q&A sessions and red-carpet events in BYD’s cutting-edge electric vehicles, ensuring they arrived in style while promoting sustainable transport solutions.

Benny Li, Head of Retailer Marketing at BYD UK, said: “As pioneers in the electric vehicle market, BYD shares the festival’s passion for innovation and creativity.”

Vaughan Blackman, Managing Director of LSH Auto, added: “We are really pleased to support the Manchester Film Festival and celebrate the art of storytelling through film. The festival attracts visitors from all over the country, so this sponsorship underscores our commitment to bringing sustainable mobility to Manchester and beyond.”

As one of the first UK dealers to represent the BYD franchise, LSH Auto is committed to making sustainable motoring accessible to all. With local BYD dealerships in Bury, Stockport, and Macclesfield, as well as in Tamworth and West London, LSH Auto offers the full range of BYD models.

The newly launched BYD Sealion 7 is the fourth model in BYD’s Ocean Series and will be on display at the festival. With the Ocean Series featuring models such as the Dolphin, Seal and Sealion, it seems only fitting that the festival’s opening film continues the aquatic theme. The event commenced with The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring Manchester’s own Steve Coogan. Based on the Sunday Times bestselling book, the film tells the heartwarming true story of an English teacher’s unlikely bond with a penguin, set against the backdrop of Argentina’s political turmoil.

MANFF 2025 featured 37 outstanding feature films, including 15 UK premieres and four world premieres, showcasing cinematic excellence from around the globe. Acclaimed films from Sundance, Cannes, and SXSW, such as Good One (India Donaldson) and My Dead Friend Zoe (Kyle Hausmann-Stokes), made their Manchester debuts, while A24’s highly anticipated horror-comedy Y2K and Cazzie David’s directorial debut I Love You Forever promised to captivate audiences.

A strong focus on Northern talent remains central to the festival, with world premieres of Departures and Kid, as well as the Manchester premiere of Treading Water, highlighting the region’s creative brilliance. The North West Shorts strand also celebrated emerging local filmmakers.

In addition to the stellar lineup of films, the festival offered an Industry Programme featuring insightful panels and workshops for filmmakers and enthusiasts. The event culminated in the Annual Awards Ceremony on 23 March, recognising the standout films and talents of MANFF 2025.