"Being a filmmaker at the High Peak is a breathtaking experience." - Marcelo Brinceno, 2019.

"Nicole and the High Peak team were brilliant from start to finish." - Rica Sweeney, 2019.

"One of the best festivals I've attended." - Jacob Podber, 2018.

"...Promotes young filmmakers and local talent. Had a brilliant time there!" Luke Nield, 2017.

High Peak Independent Film Festival is an international shorts and features film festival, which began in 2016, opening its call out to independent filmmakers from around the world. In 2017, we hosted the first High Peak Independent Film Festival, a 3.5 day event that took place in the beautiful theatre, New Mills Art Theatre (see photos to have a look!). In 2018, the festival held its 2nd successful event with a four day film festival. Then, in 2019, we will bring you a five day film festival!

We will return in 2020 with a two day film extravaganza!

The aim of High Peak Independent Film Festival is to provide a platform for filmmakers from across the globe to showcase their work and to meet other fantastic filmmakers to across the week. In 2020, the festival will bring even more events and films with the 10hr Filmmaking Challenge returning once again.

So, where is the festival?

New Mills is a gorgeous British town with some of the best views of the country, right in the High Peak. It's 45 minutes from Manchester and Sheffield, and very easily accessible, even if you're visiting from London or across the world. You may also know the sweets made by Swizzles Matlow, they are created in the town also.

What do our events include?

We have our great 10hr Filmmaking Challenge, which took off in 2018 and will continue as the years go on. We also have a prestigious red carpet awards gala on the final night of the festival, where we award the outstanding work of the festival, chosen by our fantastic jury members. Amongst that, we aim to put on some entertaining events and always have great networking opportunities too.

Our prizes include a beautiful handmade trophy by SimplyGlassUK and a goody-bag of local gifts. We are working on our sponsors for year four and look forward to sharing with you, in due time, what our additional prizes may be.

Some of our awards in 2020 will include:

Outstanding Short
Outstanding Leading Performance
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Outstanding Documentary Award
Outstanding Animated Film
Outstanding Screenplay
Outstanding Score
Outstanding Directors’ Award
Young Filmmakers Award
Outstanding Student Debut

1. SUBMITTER INFORMATION:

1A. All submitted films must comply with the Submissions Guidelines including deadlines, exhibition format, entry material, etc.

1B. We do not pay screener fees.

1C. Entrants are responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses, royalties, release forms, clearances, permits necessary to present their work. High Peak Independent Film Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work.

1D. Every precaution will be taken to safeguard all materials sent to the Festival but the Festival is not responsible for damage to submitted materials incurred by shipping to or from the Festival.

2. EXHIBITION:

2A. The films submitted must be available for EXHIBITION as a DVD, .mov or Quicktime file. We do NOT accept DCP or Bluray currently, but all films must be sent to the festival via Pendrive, Harddrive or DVD to the address of the festival (given on acceptance of the film) with a CLEAR label of the film name and film directors’ name.

2B. Entry materials and/or Short films will only be returned if the filmmaker provides prepaid postage and self-addressed envelope or it is collected from the festival hub or office during festival week.

2C. Films submitted must be available in English or in the original language with English subtitles.

2D. Filmmakers MUST have an up to date EPK available with quality screenshots of the film and information on the film itself in order to be accepted into High Peak Independent Film Festival 2019.

2E. The High Peak Independent Film Festival does not pay additional charges for originals, masters, or special prints.

3. DATES:

3A. The Festival takes place from 6th to 9th August 2020 at New Mills Art Theatre, Jodrell St, New Mills, SK22 3HJ.

3B. Notification will be made on May 31st 2020. All correspondence will be done through EMAIL ONLY to the original submitter.

4. FILM LENGTH:

4A. All 45 minute plus feature films must NOT have been broadcasted or distributed prior to date of festival. Short films can be available to be shown online previously, but cannot have been distributed or sold.

4B. ALL films must have been completed after January 2020.

4C. Short films 30 minutes or less. This is inclusive of credits.

4E. X-Rated films (pornography) will not be watched or considered.

5. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION:

5A. By submitting to our festival, we will utilise any personal data that you submit to us as part of the details of your submission, to evaluate your submission for the purposes of the festival. We will store your data to contact you about future festivals and events that you may be interested in from either ourselves or third parties. We will also use your data as part of our internal surveys to assess the number of submissions for the festival and where submissions came from and from what category. You are in control of your data and should you wish to delete your data, you may request us to do this at anytime. Asking us to delete your data before the end of the festival, will delete your submission from the festival and no refunds will be given.

5B. To withdraw consent to use your data and delete it from our systems, please email us with your request.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joseph Teague

    Covid wasn’t going to stop High Peak from happening this year and the very small team managed to curate and present a film festival of global quality. The communication, professionalism and enthusiasm from the team was second to none. The quality work curated was very high which shows the high level of knowledge and appreciation of film the curators have. Brilliant.

    November 2020
  • Sean Mannion

    Despite the difficulties of putting on a virtual festival, the High Peak team did an excellent job making it a well worthwhile experience. I'd love to join in person in the future. Would highly recommend.

    November 2020
  • Harry Plowden

    The communication and set up made it super easy to get stuck into this year's online festival. Great variety of films and smoothly run online events.

    November 2020
  • Ella Greenwood

    A fantastic festival, really well run and the communication was excellent! Thank you Nicole and the team for supporting young filmmakers!

    November 2020
  • Keith Farrell

    We were delighted that Girl Alone was selected for the High Peak Independent Film Festival - the festival had to go online this year so we did not get to enjoy wonderful views at New Mill. However, the virtual event this year was one of the best virtual events I have attended, well organised and a great opportunity to see some fantastic films. Thanks to Nicole and all the team for looking after us so well.

    November 2020