F
Films from 5 continents and over 60 countries
Films from 5 continents 60+ countries
The world’s eyes on Winchester
Winchester’s window into the global zeitgeist
Our mission is to screen films that astonish, entertain, broaden horizons, provoke debate and reflect the burning issues of our time. John Hayes Festival director
4000+ films received from 60+ countries
600 filmmakers brought to Winchester from USA, Russia & 12 European countries Press & Promotion
4 film crews documenting the Festival 40 Interviews Press coverage on TV and in newspapers from 6 countries including the BBC, The Times and ITV Screenings
18 screening venues 350 films screened 20 World premieres 28 European premieres 40+ UK premieres 40+ Q&As 40+ Interviews
The King’s City
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Well done Winchester for having the strength and the courage to not only screen but award such a brilliant and controversial film. Bolton Film Festival
Our story so far Back in 2011, downstairs in the cramped basement of the old Artcafe in Jewry Street, the first edition of Wincester Film Festival took place. The then so-called Winchester Short Film Festival screened no more than 15 micro-films by local filmmakers. Today Winchester Film Festival selects from thousands of award winning short and feature length films from five continents and over 60 countries. The festival has screened over 20 World premieres, 28 European premieres and over 40 UK premieres, with visiting directors from around the globe participating in audience Q&As and attending our a glitzy black tie award ceremony. As a festival we strive to be courageous. In 2018, for example, we received the film Detainment directed by Vincent Lambe, a polemic drama based on the real interview transcripts from the tragic James Bulger case that shocked the world in 1993. The film, which some see as humanising the two young murderers, continues to incite public outrage. So controversial was the film that on its release in 2018 no cinema or festival in the UK dared screen it. The only exception was Winchester Film Festival. We not only premiered Detainment in the UK, we also awarded it the accolade of Best Foreign Short Film. At the premiere, director Vincent Lambe and David James Smith who wrote a seminal book about the case, met one another for the first time at a unique Q&A at the Discovery Centre. Two months later Detainment was nominated for an Oscar, consolidating Winchester Film Festival reputation as a ‘brave’ festival and firmly placing Winchester on the world map of contemporary culture. The Festival’s metoeric rise and daredevil approach has been no fluke. It has been down to the good will and adventurous spirit of a multitude of amazing industry professionals, volunteers, visionary sponsors, supporters and partners - all with the same vision: to screen films that astonish, entertain, broaden horizons, provoke debate and reflect the burning issues of our time.
Reviews
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Such a wonderful and welcoming festival with excellent, very personal communications, great networking and a really high quality selection of international films that really make you think. Really impressed and highly recommend. Professional photo shoot, interviews and reviews for film makers at the gala night, nightly film makers’ networking drinks, great screening venues and a really fun and switched-on festival team PLUS £1000 prizes. Winchester is also beautiful and easy to get around …what’s not to like?!! Angela Gourley, Producer
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The Winchester Film Festival was a wonderful festival to attend. Excellent communication, amazing festival staff and it was fascinating to see how they run things. They take brilliant care of filmmakers - excellent accommodation, networking events and an amazing black-tie awards ceremony! For the screening of my film, they even invited special guests and journalists with a specific interest in the topic of my film which made it a very special experience. It was a huge honour to win Best Foreign Short Film for 'Detainment'. Thank you so much for the beautiful award and prize money and for a really brilliant festival in such a charming place! Vicent Lambe, Oscar Nominee.
An excellent festival in all aspects. Careful programming and great communication! Khahil Charif, Producer
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Amazing festival, brilliant line up of films, really well promoted and attended screenings. I really enjoyed attending the festival, the audience engagement and turn out was fantastic - a great platform with a passion for independent cinema. Greg Hall, Director
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We absolutely loved attending the Winchester Film Festival and we definitely going back and urge any filmmakers out there to submit their film. A festival that cares for their upcoming filmmakers. Submit your film or you will regret it! Elicit Picture, Production company
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The Winchester Film Festival is everything you'd want from a film festival! The team are terrific, and communication was easy and quick. I felt welcomed and part of the event, and I am honoured that our film screened this year. I particularly love the time given to audience Q&A's after each screen. Can't wait for next years! Daniel Harding, Director
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Wonderful festival! John and his team really care about the filmmakers, we had one of the best festival experiences with Winchester Short Film Festival. Brilliant selection of films, great screenings, everything was outstanding! Thrilled to have been part of such a fantastic festival! Branko Tomovic, Director
Partners | Sponsors | Supporters - 2011 onwards WFF_Partners, Supporters & Sponsors 2011-2020
artcafé
WFA W I N C H E S T E R F I L M & A RT C I C
Festival Team - 2011 onwards
Founder/Director John Hayes Associate Director Paul Carter Assistant directors Zuzanna Lis Charlie Osman Team Managers Marnie Evans Angus Brooke Megan Diment Grace Fordham Beth Kendall Weiss Zuzanna Lis Nicole Spiteri Administrator Ian Roberts Branding & Design C&CO Liaison Officers Jake Williams Gala Comperes John Hayes Peter Lydon Lucy Mazdon Jonah Weston Screening Hosts Paul Carter Alec Charles Estrella Fernandez Rob Ferrin Lorne Guy Kate Iles Zuzanna Lis Graham Lumb Caroline Sax Brian Thornton
Judges Paul Carter Estrella Fernandez Lorene Guy Kate Iles Sarah Lee Peter Lydon Alison Martin Lucy Mazdon Steven Sanderson Caroline Sax Tim Underwood Jonah Weston Screening Panel Paul Carter John Hayes Kate Iles Zuzanna Lis Ian Roberts Charlotte Wood Event Managers Hannah Baker Magda Corczynska Jodie Ellis Matt Keen Leona Small Jake Williams Charlotte Wood Interviewers Paul Carter Rob Ferrin Kate Iles James Johnston
Festival Film Crew Conner Hoog Nathan Bloor Vasil Evangelou Rob Griffiths Hope Lines Cam Leung Amy Baker Kate Barker Alex Bastow Jennifer Biedermann Joe Conyers Jodie Ellis Dan Grey George Heath Amy Jones Lilly Kristin Smørvik Katherine Marshall Dag Melbye David Mcentee Elliot Newmarch Sophie Pell Sophie Roberts Marius Satre Jack Smith Trish Somaiya Ingrid Stieng Andrea Stovreide Josh Walker Louise Wong Karl Wright
Social Media Brooke Angus Pamela Balusheva Rhian Davis Maxime Lamblot Promotional videos Freya Lawrence Louise Wong Zuzanna Lis Elliot Newmarch Website Management Ian Roberts Mathew Hampsey Andrea Stovreide Arbe Nepomuceno Dan Hudson Ed Johnson Cain Mackenzie
Official Photographers Julian Benjamin Patrick Hogg Arbe Nepomuceno Can Sengunes Karl Wright Entertainment Oscar Flatt Danny Gomez Bill Saunders Jake Gauntlett The Dead Freights Film reviewers Elaine Chapman Pilar Sanchez Barrera Pilar Xue Jiang Puntaree Thanachan Festival Researcher Katya Pichugina Digital Manger Josh Walker Hospitality The Black Hole No5 Bridge Street Door Management Emily Brodie Sam Hall Lara-Jade Fleming Jack Ashton Kate Barker Matt Keen Jordan Sclater
@winchesterfilm @winchesterfilm @Winchester Film Festival http:winchesterfilmfestival.com