HBFF is back! Friday 15th to Sunday 17th March 2024. Our 2023 festival was a great success. We are excited to bring another amazing programme of films, events, and special guests to the Calderdale valley and welcome our wonderful filmmakers, supporters, sponsors, and audiences in person on March 15th, 2024.
We will be celebrating films by or about those who dare to be different, whether they exist in the margins, sit outside the mainstream or just plain don’t fit in.
We will be accepting submissions for HBFF 2024 for feature length and short films, both drama and documentary. We particularly encourage submissions from women directors and narrative films rather than experimental and generally don't take horror genre films although there are always exceptions.
HBFF partners with the beautifully restored, state-of-the-art Hebden Bridge Picture House cinema and with the Hebden Bridge Town Hall as our Film Festival Hub where Filmmakers and Film lovers can come together and experience the wonderful community spirit our historic town is famous for.
HBFF will show a programme of World cinema, UK and US Independent features and shorts, as well Q&As, masterclasses, and panel discussions with the film makers.
We cannot wait to welcome filmmakers again to the beautiful Calder Valley.
See what filmmakers who attended HBFF say about their experience over the last few years.
Marnie Baxter Winner Best Short 2023 - I had a fab time at Hebden Bridge Film Festival, it was such a friendly, welcoming and vibrant festival! Thank you so much for having me, and my accomodation hosts were so lovely too. I was thrilled to win the Vocation Award for Best Short Film at Hebden Bridge Festival, the shorts programme was beautifully curated with such a broad selection of work, it was truly an honour to win. The award will not only elevate our film's profile, but the prize money will go towards the development of new work, so thank you to the Vocation Brewery and all at Hebden Bridge!
Scott and Natasha - Winner 2nd Prize - We're so thankful you helped arrange accommodation for us, please thank all the team from us. We had a great time and it was lovely to receive the runner up prize for Finding 'Appiness in HBFF 2023. We'll look forward to next year's festival!
BAFTA winner Nicole Taylor writer of the smash hit Wild Rose said “The friendliest festival on earth! We were made so welcome by everyone involved in the Festival and indeed the whole town. The atmosphere on opening night was electric and ever since I’ve been looking for an excuse to return to Hebden Bridge!”
BIFA nominee Steve Sullivan, winner of HBFF Audience award for Being Frank said “HBFF is simply the friendliest festival I’ve ever been too. The festival and cinema staff went out of their way to make my screening a success, from getting a near capacity audience to attend through to even helping me run my merch stall. It’s a beautiful town, populated by passionate cineastes and I can’t wait to return.”
2021 Short Film 1st Prize winner Hannah Currie with 'We Are All Here':
Screening at Hebden Bridge Film Festival was such a warm, welcoming and positive experience that was so appreciated after a difficult year. Despite the pandemic they made amazing efforts to get our films seen and to connect us with other filmmakers - a stand-out experience that I won’t forget! Louise and Jay’s passion for film is so clear and I was inspired to be amongst so many other incredible films in the short film competition. The festival really reminded me of the importance of independent film and cinema and why we must fight to keep it alive.
And from Iranian filmmaker Marziyeh Riahi the Shorts 2nd prize winner for Driving Lessons:
"Thank you so much, jury members for this award. Thank you, festival team. I'm really proud of this award. Receiving this award during this most unusual time was very promising for me. I hope that all those who work in cinema under any title anywhere in the world will not lose hope. Stay safe and strong!"
-Marziyeh Riahi from Tehran
Note: we are proud that HBFF is an F – Rated Film Festival. F-Rating is given to any film written by a woman, directed by a woman or featuring women in significant on-screen roles. Any film that meets all three criteria is awarded a Triple F-Rating. There is no requirement for films screened at HBFF to be F-rated, however we aim for at least 50% of films to be so. We also follow the BFI diversity standards - focusing on underrepresentation on screen, behind the camera and in film audiences, in relation to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+, religion or belief, socioeconomic background and geographical location.
Best Feature: £1000 (jury prize)
Best Short (1st prize) : £500 (jury prize)
Best Short (2nd prize/runner up) : 300 (jury prize)
Best Young Person's Short (if applicable)
Audience Award for Best Feature
Audience Award for Best Short