CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – 2020
Honorary Patron – Simon Pegg
Cheltenham International Film Festival (CIFF) launched in 2019, supervised by the Trustees of Cheltenham International Film Trust Ltd. and with the support of the British Film Institute (BFI). The Festival seeks to attract new and diverse audiences to independent cinema. Integral to our artistic programme is to give voice to emerging filmmakers, screening independent films that meet high standards of creativity and reflect the times we live in – culturally, socially, politically and artistically.
Integral to the Festival is “Open Call”, a series of master classes and workshops in the arts & crafts of filmmaking, including cinematography, music, casting, special effects and the business of film production and raising finance conducted by respected and well-known film industry professionals. In 2020, the organisers will introduce Cheltenham Youth International Film Festival alongside the main event, to include workshops and special screenings to put film at the heart of social development and to inspire young people to consider a career in films.
Festival Programme:
The Festival screens films from around the world in and out of competiton. Films screened in competition are judged by a jury of film industry professionals and representatives of arts and the entertainment industries led by figures such as Ged Doherty (co-founder of Raindog Films with Colin Firth), Oliver Clarke (deputy director Göttingen Lumiere), BBC journalist, Steve Knibbs, BBC writer, Maurice Gran, TV personality Dom Joly and filmmaker, Esther May Campbell, among others.
The Festival also pays tribute to celebrated directors whose body of work has contributed to the legacy of great cinema. In 2019, the Festival welcomed British director Mike Leigh to the Festival and screened two of his early films. Among other directors we hosted in 2019 were: Josie Rourke (director of Mary Queen of Scots), Steven Berkoff, Stephen Cookson and Carl Hunter, whose first film, Sometimes Always Never, starring Bill Nighy opened the Festival.
And every year we select a “Country Focus”- in 2019 it was Poland. We screened five films from emerging Polish directors. A number of Polish filmmakers came to Cheltenham including the highly-regarded filmmaker, Jan Komasa, whose latest film, Corpus Christi is officially shortlisted for the Oscars in 2020 as Best International Film and is one of the Cheltenham International Film Festival 2020 jury.
Cheltenham:
Cheltenham is synonymous with arts festivals starting with Performing Arts (1926), Music (1945), Literary (1949), Jazz (1996), Poetry (2011) and Film (2019). Through the decades, the world’s leading filmmakers, actors, musicians, writers, artists, poets and respected figures from politics, science and even astronauts have come to Cheltenham: Mike Leigh, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dame Judy Dench, Bill Nighy, Roger Daltrey, David Attenborough, Prince Charles, Salman Rushdie, Van Morrison, Hilary Clinton, Michael Palin and Bob Geldof, among them. And, most recently, former British Prime Minister, David Cameron and the singer, Debbie Harry.
The Film Festival complements a full schedule of arts festivals in 2020 from the Poetry Festival at the end of April, through to the Jazz Festival 5th – 10th May; the International Film Festival on 26th May – 1st June; the Music Festival from 3rd – 12th July and concludes with the Literature Festival from 2nd – 11th October.
We have received numerous emails with comments about the Festival. The following are extracted quotes from a selection of these emails.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my few hours at Cheltenham. I hope the rest of the festival went splendidly”.
Mike Leigh – film director
“I did enjoy the festival very much and have no doubt it will be a very special feature in the future Cheltenham artistic landscape.
Steven Berkoff – legendary actor, director and writer
“It was a huge pleasure to be part of your Festival……. I wish your festival will remain for years to come in such a prestigious place like Cheltenham. I’m proud to attend its first edition. Hope to be able to visit you sometime in the future again”.
Jan Komasa – film director
“You achieved something extremely impressive for a first festival……”
Tiffany Holmes - British Film Institute
“Congratulations on a wonderful first year for the festival. I thoroughly enjoyed the masterclasses…”
Natalie Spencer – Co-founder Tout Court Film Festival International Film
“I've been hearing very positive reports of the festival. Bravo”.
Andy Freedman – Festival Director Stroud Film Festival
“Congratulations again on a fab festival.
Oliver Clarke - Cinema Lumiere in Goettingen
“Congratulations on pulling it all together in such an impressive way…..I think you were fortunate to have such a dedicated team of volunteers and helpers”.
Chris Baker – Co-founder Film Bath
“Well done for organising such a successful first festival. Onwards and upwards”.
Michael Bourne – President Cheltenham Film Society
“Congratulations on organising the Cheltenham International Film Festival. Another great cultural string to our town's bow”.
Alex Chalk MP
“There was an excellent selection of films and talks. The number of 'big names' you managed to get to attend the festival was astounding - most festivals are only able to do this after about 10 years”!
Katie O’Toole – Theatre Producer and Judging Panel
“Thank you for putting it on. It was a tremendous effort and I enjoyed it enormously.
John Morrish – Writer
“I appreciate the opportunities and guidance you provided me throughout my time working with CIFF….some great names and events. I can't wait to see what its future holds”.
“Abbey Wilson – Final Year Film Student University of Gloucestershire
“The selection of films screened at the event were brilliant and the feedback received about the films was all very positive . A lot of attendees were raving about how good it was for a first time festival”.
Amber Maher – Eight PR/Co-founder Slime London
“It was excellent having the opportunity to join in with the festival and its programming - something which I would love to do again”.
Jacob Ward – Actor and Filmmaker
“Thank you for hosting the festival……. It went down well and thought it was a success”.
Max Wilkinson – LibDem member of Cheltenham Borough Council
The brand name “Cheltenham”, recognised for its high-profile, international arts festivals, brings prestige to the awards handed out by the Festival to Best Feature Narrative, Best Feature Documentary, Best Short Narrative, Best Short Documentary, Best Experimental. The Festival may add awards during the run up to the Festival.
In 2019, award winners ranged from celebrated British actor/director/writer, Steven Berkoff and director, Stephen Cookson, for their documentary Shakespeare’s Heroes and Villains, through to students of film for My Dad Is Orange, directed by final year film student, Elle Ralph.
Best Feature Film – Narrative
Best Feature Film - Documentary
Best Short Film - Narrative
Best Short Film - Documentary
Audience Award
