NOW IN ITS SIXTH YEAR, THE HORSHAM FILM FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR 2024 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EVERYMAN CINEMA, HORSHAM!

The 2023 Horsham Film Festival saw a record number of films entered plus a sold-out Awards Night and screenings of the shortlisted films at the Everyman Cinema in Horsham! Alongside that, the event was supported by industry talent and local educational talent in the judging of the entered films.

The Horsham Film Festival celebrates not only local, West Sussex based talent but also looks further afield to celebrate films from ALL OVER THE UK.

We want to see films from everyone – whether you are a filmmaker who has already won awards at other film festivals or a first-time filmmaker looking to start developing your skills and in 2024, we particularly want to see films from young filmmakers too.

Our judging criteria doesn’t exclude any filmmakers. We aren’t judging based around equipment quality or technical expertise. We want to see and experience good stories first and foremost. Of course we consider shots, editing, acting and so on as part of the judging process but your film will not be looked down upon if you have shot it on your phone rather than Blackmagic gear!

The Festival hosts 4 categories for both Over 18s and Students (whether they’re under 18 or still in education), each with their own prizes and awards:

Best Drama
Best Documentary
Best Animation
Best Comedy

The event also hosts a special category called the ‘Your District Award’. This is for film makers that have used the Horsham District in their entries, whether it’s use of the local environment, local actors or something that links the entry to our home district! You can enter your film into both a standard category and the ‘Your Horsham District Award’ if the entry criteria is met.

Please note – the other four categories CAN have films made ANYWHERE in the UK entered into them. They are NOT exclusively for West Sussex made/set films.

Our festival judges this year are Silvertip Films founder Geoff Cockwill, BAFTA winning producer of Doctor Who and Casualty Pete Levy and Rebecca Moon - Head of Creative Digital Media Production at Collyer’s College, Horsham and Stuart Andrews - Head of Film Studies at Collyers College, Horsham.

So – show us your stories, show us your world, show us your imagination and make sure you enter for this year’s event – read on for ALL the festival details and keep up to date with us on social media throughout the year for more news on the 2024 Awards Night!

As with 2022 and 2023, this year, we’re partnering with the Everyman Cinema in Horsham to host not only our Awards Night but a series of short film screenings, from all short listed films. Further details on these screenings will be revealed later in the year.

But before that event, we need to get some films in!

To enter a film just go through your usual FilmFreeway process!

Full Festival details and news updates via www.silvertipfilms.co.uk or www.facebook.com/silvertipfilms

For 2024 our prize pool is growing all the time and so far we can offer the following...

All shortlisted films will be screened at special screening events at the Horsham Everyman Cinema in August 2024

All winning films will be played in full at the August 2024 Awards Night event at the Everyman Cinema

Past prizes and sponsors have included...

- Manfrotto - £1000 of camera accessories
- Dorling Kindersley books on Avengers, Star Wars, Pixar and more
- South Lodge Hotel and Spa, Horsham, West Sussex
- Firebird Brewery beers
- Michael Wiese Productions Books on filmmaking and writing
- Cocoa Loco chocolate
- MacMan - Mac repairs, tuition and more
- Horsham Bedding Centre for super relaxing pillows for your next movie night
- Smith and Western restaurant vouchers for amazing food

We have plenty more in the works that we hope to confirm ASAP, including more camera equipment, commissions, vouchers and other awesome stuff!

Prizes will be non-monetary (examples include vouchers, camera kit etc), Silvertip Films reserve the right to adjust prizes and content to their discretion. You will receive no cash prize from Silvertip Films

We will be offering wide variety of prizes per category, as well as a different prize pool for the u18 category.

To enter the Your District award, your film MUST be filmed within the Horsham District. Do tell us where when you enter!

To enter the Best Business Video award, the videos must be self-filmed and be from a Horsham District business.

Films must be 15 minutes maximum runtime

Each films’ director must register their intent to enter and be either part of the Under 18 category or the Over 18 category

If you are entering for a Student entry - I.E you are a parent or guardian - please let us know as last year we initially missed some U18 entries as they were submitted by people older than 18 so came up in the O18 searches!

Your productions must not break any laws during filming! Be safe, be careful and be respectful.

You must obtain permission for all locations you film at and you must also obtain release consent forms from all actors and people involved in your film

Prizes awarded are per category, per film – not per group member. There are no duplicate prizes for winning films with multiple crew members.

All prizes are final, there are no cash prize alternatives.

By signing up to the film festival, you agree that clips / stills from your film may be used for event promotional material, as well as being used at the film festival awards ceremony.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • IAN SCIACALUGA

    I really loved this festival and its appeal especially to young film-makers, providing a platform to showcase their work, however, green, in a lovely cinema in the picturesque town of Horsham. It's a relatively young festival destined to grow ,because it is well organised and lovingly compered and presented. I had a great evening.

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Ian, that's great to hear. We loved your film and look forward to seeing more from you in the future.

  • Alan Cross

    We were honoured to be a finalist at this year’s Horsham Film Festival. Had a great time watching a wide selection of films - some great work. The festival itself was well organised and the hosts made us feel super welcome. Definitely one to watch.

    December 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Alan! Great to have you there and we look forward to more from you in the future.

  • Absolutely brilliant festival run by a fantastic bunch of dedicated film people. Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, Horsham Film Festival still hosted an incredible online festival and awards ceremony connecting people and creating a community through their streaming and social media engagement. We are so honoured to have been a part of this year's festival and so grateful for all the passion and hard work put in by everyone to make Horsham Film Festival the success that it was.

    May 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, we are really pleased to hear you enjoyed it all and that the event worked despite being a virtual one!

  • James French

    Really enjoyable festival, well run with a great group of people involved, would definitely recommend, thank you!

    March 2020
  • Mark Jende

    Fantastic festival, it really did have the red carpet rolled out for the evening! The whole event was very well produced, from the presenters (all glammed up!) to the interviews which were filmed (on and off stage). Great for new film makers to showcase their short films and a privilege to have been able to host this at the Capitol in Horsham.

    February 2020