NFF showcases the best filmmakers with a connection to Northamptonshire PLUS those from around Great Britain who embody Northants’ unique spirit: Northamptonshire is a county of Rebels and Revolutionaries, Traitors and Trailblazers, Misfits and Mavericks, Creatives and Changemakers.

The festival started as a pilot project in 2019 because everyone should know Northamptonshire and its people are kind of a big deal, in Film and beyond. The pilot festival was run by Screen Northants in 2019 but now heading into 2023 Northampton Film Festival is its own non-profit organisation.

We’ve had some amazing judges for our short film competitions: Actor Julie Hesmondhalgh (Broadchurch), Comedian Hugh Dennis (Mock the Week), Actor Colin Salmon (Bond), Writer Alan Moore (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Watchmen), Director and Photographer Mitch Jenkins (Showpieces, The Show), Editor Colin Goudie (Monsters, Rogue One), Actor Callie Cooke (The Stranger), Producer Jim Mooney of EMU Films (Benediction), Kerrie Cosh from BBC Radio Northampton and the Film Festival Doctor Rebekah Louisa Smith. And we’ve also had some amazing masterclasses and talks from Emmy-winning local film professionals, the maker’s of Duncan Jones’ ‘Moon’ and Director Gareth Edwards (Monsters, Rogue One) virtually jetting in from LA….

See Awards & Prizes for the current judges who really are an epic bunch.

The pilot had 739 admissions to 11 events with the festival theme of Coming of Age set by a committee of 16-25yrs volunteers. We’ve now passed that difficult stage, we’re all grown up, and even if we say so ourselves, we’re Kind of a Big Deal after 2020/2021’s festival which had thousands of online views. For 2022 we challenged people to Know Their Place and had over 900 admissions plus an additional online audience. And now for 2023 we are opening up entries to filmmakers across Great Britain for the first time and challenging local and national filmmakers to Show Us What You’ve Got. We love a theme!

Past and present festivals have been supported by Midlands Film Hub, Grosvenor Centre, Northampton BID, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, Northampton Borough Council and Northamptonshire Community Foundation with partners Northampton Filmhouse and the University of Northampton.

Awards & Prizes

2023 Drama judges: Glass Onion and Star Wars VIII Producer Leopold Hughes, Broadcaster and Writer Andrew Collins (Not Going Out, Saturday at the Movies on Classic FM), originally from Northampton, DP Lolly Michaels (also Founder of #WomenCreateToo) and Development Exec Dionne Farrell (B-Side, BBC Films, BFI).

2023 Documentary judges: Aesthetica Short Film Festival Director Cherie Federico, BAFTA Breakthrough 2022 Paul Sng, Writer/Director Ella Glendining (Film4, BFI, Arts Council England, Screen South and National Paralympic Heritage Trust).

2023 16 and Under category judges: Disney's Liza Rhea originally from Northampton, BBC Exec and Royal Television Society Midlands Chair Kuljinder Khaila and NFF 2022 winner Director Marcus Anthony Thomas.

Prizes are tonnes of glory plus our amazing Panavision clapper board trophies and a filmmaker goodie bag. All shortlisted films will be screened at Northampton Filmhouse or another festival venue for which you'll receive an allocation of free tickets plus free tickets to our awards ceremony at the Royal Theatre. There are prizes for Best Film in category as well as Best Northamptonshire film in category.

Rules & Terms

We accept entries of films which are:
• live action and animation fiction/dramas and non-fiction/documentaries
• up to 20 minutes in length for shorts or 41 to 110 minutes for features
• made anytime in the last 10 years (from festival end date 4 June 2023)
• submitted by a Writer/Director/Producer based in England/Wales/Scotland

which meet one or more of the below criteria:

• The film is made by a Writer/Director/Producer currently living in Northamptonshire or by a Production company registered in Northants or by a Writer/Director/Producer who is currently studying in Northamptonshire. The film might have been made before you were based in the county – this is fine.

• The film was made while you were living or studying in Northamptonshire even if you don’t live here now. You must have lived/studied in Northants for a minimum of 3 years.

• The film has a Sketchy Link to Northamptonshire (you were born here, the film was mostly shot here, you studied here but made the film elsewhere later, your lead actor or Cinematographer is based here etc). You are welcome to ask us before submitting if your film fits or you can try to persuade us in your submission! Short film entries only.

• You/your film/your filmmaking process embodies the unique spirit of Northants (see above). The Writer/Producer/Director must be based in Great Britain currently and have been based here when the film was made. However the film can have been shot outside GB.

• You/your film/your filmmaking process has a social mission at its heart. The Writer/Producer/Director must be based in Great Britain currently and have been based here when the film was made. However the film can have been shot outside GB.

• Your film is about your own corner of this great island which you believe is the centre of the universe – as we do for Northampton! The Writer/Producer/Director must be based in Great Britain currently and have been based here when the film was made. The film must be set in GB.

We also have a 16 and Under short film competition open to any young people 16yrs old and under. Age is taken at 1 May 2023, not when you made it - this means we don't have any 19 year olds entering old films! Open to live action or animation documentaries, dramas and experimental/art films made in the last 3 years up to 15 minutes in length. The Writer/Producer/Director must have been living in Northants or GB at the time the film was made.

Please include information about which criteria you meet when submitting or email info@northamptonfilmfestival.co.uk You are also more than welcome to get in touch with us with questions or if you need help.

Northampton Film Festival Limited creates the longlist of films - this longlist is then submitted to our judges who draw up the nominees for each category. All decisions are final including what we feel embodies Northants' unique spirit: Northamptonshire is a county of Rebels and Revolutionaries, Traitors and Trailblazers, Misfits and Mavericks, Creatives and Changemakers.
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  • Tyla Sharp

    I participated in 2022 Northampton Film Festival, and it easily made my best festival experience to date. It was great to see such different pieces of work created by a range of different people. I've never had a film of mine screened in a Cinema before, but Northampton Film Festival made that possible with its partner Cineworld; an experience I'll never forget.

    September 2022
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  • Christopher Cosentino

    can't wait for next years

    May 2022
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