More than 250 films will be screened across five days as Worcester International Film Festival returns to the city from 22–26 September.
The festival, now in its sixth year, brings a packed programme of independent cinema, filmmaking talent and industry events to ODEON, Foregate Street, with organisers aiming to bring more of the film industry to the region while providing a platform for film lovers and filmmakers alike.
Alongside screenings, the festival will feature cast and crew Q&As, showcases, free talks and workshops exploring different aspects of the film industry, culminating in an awards ceremony celebrating the films and filmmakers taking part.
This year’s judging panel includes Daisy Ridley (Star Wars) and Jessica Henwick (Game of Thrones), while previous festivals have welcomed names including Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hobbit), Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul), Ralph Ineson (Fantastic Four: First Steps) and Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey).
The festival’s nominations span everything from independent shorts to feature-length films, with shortlisted work being presented to audiences alongside critics and industry professionals. Among the 25 award categories are British Short Film, Midlands Short Film, Emerging Filmmaker and British Feature Film.
Since launching in 2021, Worcester International Film Festival has seen audience numbers grow from around 250 to 2,300. The festival has also established partnerships with BAFTA, ODEON and RTS Midlands, and is accredited by the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) – making it the only BIFA-accredited festival in the West Midlands.
With five days of screenings, industry insight and opportunities to discover emerging filmmaking talent, the festival once again puts Worcester firmly on the map for independent film.
Kirstie Gregory and Hendrik Harms, founders of Worcester Film Festival, said: “We love this area and we’re proud to be working with so many fantastic organisations. We’ve really seen this region grow over the last few years and the fact that such notable talent are being attracted to our event is a testament to the region’s growing reputation on the film industry stage.
To learn more about Worcester Film Festival, view event schedule, and purchase tickets, visit the Worcester Film Festival website.