Derby Film Festival is one of the leading regional film festival in the UK. Bringing together film fans, filmmakers and industry figures, Derby Film Festival is four days long and will run from 17th to the 22nd November 2021.

The patrons of Derby FIlm Festival are actor/director David Morrissey (The Walking Dead) and Anwen Hurt.

Screenings, previews and showcase events with major figures from the world of film will be accompanied by panel discussions, workshops and masterclasses. There is also a specific Paracinema strand for the best genre cinema.

In 2020, we went online for the first time with a very successful festival showcasing the best in cinema from around the world.

In previous years we have welcomed:
Actors :Toyah Willcox (Quadrophenia, Jubilee), Sir Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3, Sexy Beast)
Actor and author Simon Callow (Amadeus, Doctor Who) Julie Peasgood, Sir John Hurt, Jenny Agutter, Phil Davis.

Directors Mark Herman, Jake West, Peter Sasdy, John Hough, Waris Hussein, Mandie Fletcher and Michael Armstrong

In 2020, we awarded:
Best Film - The End Of Heroes
Best Genre Film - Anonymous Animals
Best Short Film - Kilt
Best Genre Short Film - Progeny
Best Mid-Length Film - Medulla

In 2019 we previewed the films: Judy And Punch (2019), Madness In The Method (2019), Ordinary Love (2019), System Crasher (2019), My Extraordinary Summer With Tess (2019), The Biggest Little Farm (2019), The Wedding Present: Something Left Behind (2019) and Shooting The Mafia (2019) alongside a robust programme of new submitted films.

Our genre strand featured previews of - Koko-DI Koko-Da (2019), Artik (2019), Mutant Blast (2019), and a retrospective screening of the classic 'bad' film Troll 2 (1990).

In 2019, we introduced a Mid-Length Film category for films that run between 30-60 minutes.

2019 Derby Film Festival Awards
Hero Of Cinema Award - Ken Loach
Best Feature Film - The Wisdom Tooth (Dir: Gregorio Sassoli)
Best Genre Feature Film - Artik (Dir: Tom Botchii)
Best Short Film - Burqa City (Dir: Fabrice Bracq)
Best Genre Short - La Llarona (Dir: H. J. Leonard)
Best Mid-Length Film - Delta7even (Dir: Rosie Baldwin)
Best Mid-Length Film - Hackney Studio (Dir: Jonny Stearn)

Awards & Prizes

Best Film (feature)
Best Genre Film (feature)
Best Film (short)
Best Genre Film (short)
Best Mid Length Film
Best Mid Length Genre Film

Rules & Terms

Derby Film Festival vis hereby granted the right to utilise an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorised to commit the film for screening (s) during the film festival dates, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Derby Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to legal fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joseph Archer

    Great festival with wonderful organisers!

    December 2020
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  • Stephen Coltrane

    We were delighted to have our world premiere screening of 'Give Me a Name' at Derby, even though it had to be moved online because of Covid. This was a friendly festival with great communication, and a strong selection of films in our category.

    December 2020
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  • maryam esmikhani

    The Best festival Derdy film

    November 2019
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  • Ibrahim Clayton

    A superbly organised and executed festival, from start to finish. The Derby Team are film lovers with the experience and administrational skills that enable them to host one of the UK’s top festivals. The programme was superb, the Industry speakers first class (Ken Loach and Jason Mewes among others this year), the website and social media top-notch and the venue fantastic. It was an extremely enjoyable experience screening at Derby Film Festival, and we’d love to come back.

    November 2019
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  • Black House Pictures

    Superb from start to finish, Derby Film Festival is one we will come back to even on the years we don't have work to submit to.

    Firstly, the festival team were incredible, always reachable and always with the response you needed. Secondly, the presentation is top notch, with 4K in the main screen and 2K everywhere else- best sound we've heard so far from the mix on our feature.

    Finally, this is a festival for everyone. The audience wasn't just filmmakers, it's a festival for the people out there, the audiences we are always striving to reach.

    Bravo Derby, same time next year?

    November 2019
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