Sykehouse (Pronounced Psche-House) Film and Writers's Festival is dedicated to rewarding filmmakers and writers from all over the world. We are running our next live event - SYKEHOUSE FILM AND WRITER'S FESTIVAL - on 28, 29 & 30 May 2027 with back to back screening of selected entries and an award ceremony on Sunday 30 May to announce the winners.

IMDB approved in our first year due to our success and immediate prestige. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0073772/overview/

Our judges range from award winning writers, producers, directors and bloggers. All of whom have a love for the art of film and music.

The event will take place close to the picturesque village of Sykehouse, at the Holiday Inn Doncaster A1, (DN4 9UX). Food, drink and all amenities are available throughout the festival.

We have several ticket prices to suit every budget that range from £10 (Student/Weekend) to £100 (Full VIP with Gala Awards dinner).

Breakdown as follows:
FULL PACKAGE: VIP (£100), Concession VIP (£65), Student VIP (£55).
WEEKEND PASSES: Regular (£45), Concession (£30), Student (£10),

Tickets can be purchased here: https://samantha-lee-howe-ltd.sumupstore.com/products?category=8a1ff3cd-8b4e-415f-8348-111bd9d7d163

For further information visit our website: http://slhfilmfest.com/

Awards & Prizes

Awards are given for:
Best Thriller (Feature)
Best Horror (Feature),
Best Action (Feature)
Best Short Film of 2027
Best Comedy (Short)
Best Horror (Short)
Best Thriller (Short)
Best Drama (Short)
Best Screenplay (Feature) (Minimum 60 mins. Max no more than 120 mins (90 mins preferred)
Best Short Script (Maximum 40 pages)
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Director
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress

SYKEHOUSE LITERARY AWARDS
The Syko: Best Flash Fiction (Maximum 100 words long).

Special surprise Judges awards may also be made on the Awards evening.

Rules & Terms

Submission to the competition is deemed an automatic acceptance of THE SYKEHOUSE FILM AND WRITERS' FESTIVAL's rules as follows.

1- In order to submit a film, you must own the rights or have permission in writing from the owner.

2- All fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.

3- The Festival's relationship will exclusively be with the Film Submitter (which term includes Films and Screenplays).

4- Feature films must be longer than 60 mins (Over 60 pages (Max 120) if in the Screenplay category). Short films must be less than 40 minutes (Maximum of 40 pages if in the Short Screenplay category).

5- We are an international festival which means we accept films from anywhere in the world – but films made in any language other than English must have English subtitles. Screenplays must be written in English.

6- The Sykehouse Film and Writers' Festival will not be responsible for damaged copies, and no script copies or films will be 'returned'.

7- Submission for films: digitally and in a suitable format to play at live events (MP4 or MOV preferred). If selected we will contact you for suitable copies.

8- Submission for scripts: digitally and in PDF format.

9- Not all the submissions are selected for the Official Competition. Our judges are free to make their own choices and no feedback will be given about Films or Screenplays which are not selected, except where the Festival considers the content inappropriate.

10- The Sykehouse Film and Writers' Festival will disqualify any film if the Festival considers the content inappropriate. If you have any questions regarding this decision you may contact us at our email address: admin@slhfilmfest.com.

11- The Film Submitter guarantees to indemnify the Festival should any public viewing of the submitted film result in any legal actions as a direct result of said showing. Furthermore the Film Submitter guarantees that all rights in the film or screenplay are owned by the film owner and does not infringe on any other rights which may be owned elsewhere.

12- A fee is required for the official Competitions Submission. For payment structure please see the film category listing.

13- In submitting your movie, you authorize The Sykehouse Film and Writers' Festival to use, distribute and share the film poster, trailer, synopsis and movie stills in our social media. You also grant permission to play the film at our live events. The Sykehouse Film and Writers' Festival does not claim or hold any other rights in the material.

14- All submitted material will be deleted from our servers by The Sykehouse Film and Writers' Festival on completion of the appropriate Live Event.

15- If you have bought tickets to the Screening Days and/or the Evening Awards, then NO REFUNDS can be given after four weeks prior to the event. This is because funds will have been committed to food, arrangements and admin after this time.

16- Physical Awards each year will only be given if the recipient is physically present at the Awards Ceremony. Otherwise PDF certificates will be sent digitally via email.

17- AI Usage - we will not accept films, Screenplays or literary submissions which have been created by AI. Acceptance into the Festival is at the discretion of the judges. If disqualified, no refunds will be given.

18- The Syko: Flash Fiction Award is our latest category (and will be in the Sykehouse Literary Awards and must be a story told in 100 words. Listing entry should have:
Name:
Email:
Submitted Via Filmfreeway

Please note that these rules can be amended or changed at any time by the organisers.

Please contact us at admin@slhfilmfest.com, and we will be happy to help you if there are any questions or concerns.
18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Chris Rakotomamonjy

    The festival was a joy from start to finish. The stellar organisation made everything run smoothly, and the warm, professional organizers created an atmosphere that felt both welcoming and expertly managed. The venue was excellent—comfortable, convenient, and perfectly suited to the event. And the gala night? Felt almost like being on TV. Highly recommended!

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Dave Jeffery

    A fantastic, inclusive event that exceeded all expectations. The Guests of Honour were knowledgeable and always happy to share their insights of the industry. I've booked to go again next year.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much. We are delighted to have you back

  • STEVEN BLOWS

    A festival that offers everything you want: friendly networking, trophies, a varied weekend of events, and a great awards ceremony. My experience with the festival has been nothing but pleasant. Their communication is fast and productive, which is a rarity for festivals. Above all else, the organisers genuinely care about those whom they include in the festival. They want to see their finalist succeed and take pleasure in making the experience memorable. For watching others in attendance, I can see that I am not alone in having these thoughts.

    Submitting to festivals can become an expensive endeavour, so if you are working on a budget, I'd recommend choosing this festival over others.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Steven. And well done on your win for THE MIGHTY VARIANTS drama feature screenplay.

  • Mike Davies

    Sykehouse Film and Writers Festival is a truly welcoming and inspiring festival that gives genuine support to independent filmmakers and writers. The festival creates a positive atmosphere where creativity, storytelling, and original voices are celebrated with real passion and care.

    Communication throughout the process was professional, friendly, and encouraging, making the experience enjoyable from start to finish. It’s clear the organizers are dedicated to building a supportive community for artists and providing a meaningful platform for independent work to be discovered and appreciated.

    What makes this festival stand out is its commitment to authentic storytelling and its respect for creators at every level. Festivals like this are incredibly important for emerging talent, and Sykehouse Film and Writers Festival does an excellent job of making participants feel valued and welcomed.

    Highly recommended to filmmakers and writers looking for a well-organized, filmmaker-friendly festival with heart, integrity, and a genuine love for independent art.

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Howard Smith

    This year's festival was brilliant from start to finish. I was fortunate enough to have five of my films officially selected and screened, for which I collected two trophies and three medals. Also I was delighted to be presented with an additional trophy for the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT award. The whole festival is so well run, and is full of positivity and enthusiasm for independent films and filmmakers. I want to thank everyone involved for a fantastic weekend. Roll on Sykehouse 2027!

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Always a pleasure to see you Howard. And all trophies very deserved.