The Worcester International Film Festival has scored a major coup for its 2025 edition, with two of Britain’s most recognisable acting talents confirmed for the guest jury panel. Emmy and BAFTA-winning star Martin Freeman and Yorkshire actor Ralph Ineson will help decide the awards at the four-day celebration of independent cinema, running 24–27 September across Worcester.
Freeman, whose career spans film, television, and stage, is best known to global audiences as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit trilogy, Dr John Watson in BBC’s Sherlock, and Marvel’s Everett Ross in Black Panther and Captain America: Civil War. More recently, he has earned acclaim for his gritty lead role in BBC drama The Responder.
Joining him on the panel is Ralph Ineson, who has carved out a reputation as one of the UK’s most versatile screen actors. This year, Ineson took on the menacing role of Galactus in Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps and appeared as Archduke Bellarion in Apple TV+’s Foundation. His filmography also includes acclaimed turns in Robert Eggers’ The Witch (2015), The Green Knight (2021), and HBO’s Chernobyl (2019).
Festival Co-Director Hendrik Harms praised the addition of the two stars to the jury: “Our film jury are always instrumental in pulling out exceptional talent from the films we screen at the festival, and we are so pleased that Martin and Ralph wanted to be a part of that process this year. It’s truly inspiring to have two industry legends with such illustrious careers involved, and that they remain so committed to championing independent cinema and upcoming creators.”
Now entering its latest edition, the Worcester International Film Festival promises an ambitious programme of 120 screenings, along with industry workshops, filmmaker Q&As, networking events, and a city-wide awards ceremony. With Freeman and Ineson lending their weight to the jury, 2025 is shaping up to be the festival’s most high-profile year yet.
You can find out more on the Worcester Film Festival website.