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.
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.