WE’RE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!
FOR THE SEVENTH YEAR IN ROW, THE HORSHAM FILM FESTIVAL WILL BE SHOWCASING AMAZING FILMMAKING TALENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INCREDIBLE EVERYMAN CINEMA, HORSHAM!
The 2024 Horsham Film Festival was an amazing event, with a huge amount of submitted films as well as a sold-out Awards Night plus screenings of the shortlisted films at the Everyman Cinema in Horsham! Along with support from our fantastic sponsors, industry talent, local educational talent and other Horsham Businesses, HFF24 was the best one yet!
But let’s top it for 2025!
Starting in 2019 as part of the Horsham District Year of Culture, the Horsham Film Festival has run in-person events every year since, baring a virtual Awards Night in 2021 due to Covid.
The Horsham Film Festival screenings are spread across an entire week and there’s something for everyone within the different screening categories! HFF was created to celebrate local filmmaking talent within the Horsham District, however we also celebrate wonderful filmmaking from further afield. Everyone is welcome! No matter your age, there is a category for you with our Over 18s category and a Student category which caters to children and those still in education learning the craft, regardless of their age.
We are extremely excited to back, so get involved and help us celebrate the art of Filmmaking!
With that, we’re pleased to be able to say now that we will be having screenings of the shortlisted films at the Everyman Cinema in Horsham on the following dates…
- August 27th (times TBC)
- August 28th (times TBC)
…and our Awards Night will be taking place on Friday August 29th 2025 from 7pm for networking and the main event from 8pm.
But first…we need your help. There is no Horsham Film Festival without your films!
The Horsham Film Festival 2025 is now open for submissions!
To enter a film, filmmakers need to head to FilmFreeway, sign up and submit there – www.filmfreeway.com/horshamfilmfestival
So, let’s get down to the important details!
The festival has two age groups for filmmakers to choose to enter into – there’s the Over 18s and Student groups. The Student group is for filmmakers under 18 or those still studying. Proof of student status will need providing when you submit a film.
There are five categories to enter films into – Best Drama, Best Documentary, Best Comedy and Best Animation. Films can be entered into these categories from anyone, anywhere in the country.
The fifth and final category is the Your District Award which goes to a film of any genre in each age group, that was filmed in (fully or partly) or is about our local area-Horsham District/West Sussex. Please only enter films made within West Sussex into this category!
Films will be accepted up to 15minutes in length.
Entry into the festival via FilmFreeway comes with a flat-rate submission fee all the way through to our submission deadline on July 15th 2025. Over 18 entries cost £15 and Student films are £5 to enter. Gold FilmFreeway members get a discount on submission too.
Another essential part of the Horsham Film Festival is our amazing judges, who put so much time and effort into watching your films:
This year, HFF25 films will be judged by director Geoff Cockwill and Assistant Director Elodie Davies from Silvertip Films who will be joined by returning judges Pete Levy – producer on Doctor Who, Casualty and VFX producer on the new series of Walking with Dinosaurs, and will bring his extensive industry experience to the panel, plus Rebecca Moon (Head of BTEC Creative Media) and Stuart Andrews (Head of Film Studies) from Collyers College in Horsham who will add their experience and knowledge of working with talented young filmmakers.
Each and every one of our judges love filmmaking, it’s their job!
They judge the films on how the films make them feel, whether that’s joy, shock, wonder, curious, or even terrified! No matter, the equipment quality, budget or production value. They want to see what you’ve made!
The Festival especially welcomes first time filmmakers so if all you have is your phone, get out there and make a film to wow the judges!
Each winning film within a category will be presented with a physical award at the Awards Night as well as a selection of prizes from various event sponsors. Previous sponsors have included Manfrotto and Dorling Kindersley and local businesses like South Lodge, Macman and Firebird Brewery.
Pete Levy, producer on Doctor Who and Casualty said of the event:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the festival last year, I watched some amazing work and met some hugely talented storytellers. I’m absolutely thrilled to be invited to take part again this year.”
Elodie Davies from Silvertip Films, the organisers of the event, said:
“This is my first year judging the Horsham Film Festival and I cannot wait to watch all the amazing films! From sitting in the audience to now being part of the Film Festival team- I know this year’s festival is going to be the best yet”
Rebecca Moon from Collyers College said:
“Rock on Horsham film festival 2025! Looking forward to viewing the new talent on the block and celebrating at the big screen in August! Get entering everyone – no one is too young or old! If you have a great concept, we want to see it! It’s your time so let’s bring these films to life!!”
So, share your story! Whether it’s a horror, comedy, personal documentary or even a home-made animation, we want to see it. Grab a camera, get your creative mind flowing and celebrate the incredible art that is filmmaking with us at the Horsham Film Festival!
Submissions accepted from: March 3rd 2025
Submission deadline: July 14th 2025
Judging decisions made: August 1st 2025
Screenings and Awards Night: August 27th, 28th and 29th 2025
Submissions accepted via Filmfreeway - www.filmfreeway.com/horshamfilmfestival