Cheltenham International Film Festival

About

The Cheltenham International Film Festival 2020, scheduled to take place 25th May – 31st May, has been cancelled and will now take place in the Autumn from 16th October – 1st November, 2020.  Meanwhile, in order not to disappoint audiences and filmmakers, the festival organisers are working to upload an alternative version of the May Festival online, keeping as much as possible to the original programme.          

The online version seeks to maintain the shared experience of film festivals.  At this time, films would be programmed to screen at set times to give a sense of occasion to the streamed film.  Audiences would be invited and have the opportunity to discuss the film after each screening. The idea is to engage with and to connect people - family memberss., friends, neighbours, colleagues, as well new contacts – self-isolating and now more or less confined to their homes.  We will introduce audience awards to engage audiences with the Festival.  And, we are considering post-screening Q&A with filmmakers and cast members.

There is much to do but the organisers are hoping to have the Festival ready to launch on 25th May as planned with one major change to extend the Festival to the 5th June, to allow more films to be screened and more audience to to view films.

 

 

 

What is Cheltenham International Film Festival?

Film enthusiasts can expect the best of independent cinema from around the world.

The Cheltenham International Film Festival launched in May 2019 with a parade of celebrated filmmakers, led by Mike Leigh. Other names who attended include legendary actor/director/writer, Steven Berkoff, Josie Rourke, director of Mary Queen of Scots and the highly-acclaimed Polish director, Jan Komasa.

At the heart of the festival is a competition to select the best feature films and shorts from emerging filmmakers.  Films are selected and curated by a team of selectors and programmers.  The Festival invites and welcomes to Cheltenham the directors of films accepted in competition.  Filmmakers then have the opportunity to introduce their films, to take audience questions and to interact with other industry professionals, students of film, film enthusiasts as well as members of the public in many venues throughout Cheltenham. 

A jury of film industry professionals and leading figures from the arts judge the films in competition. In 2019, the jury was praised for its composition which included film festival directors, writers, actors, film administrators and film directors, among them:  Paul Ashton, Head of Film Creative England; Stephen Cookson, Director; Laurence Marks, BBC comedy writer; former Dynasty Star, Emma Samms; ex-Director of Cornwall Film Festival, Donna Anton.  

For 2020, the organisers have already lined up directors, Carl Hunter and Jan Komasa, as well as BBC writer, Maurice Gran, to be on the jury with more to come. Check out the Cheltenham International Film Festival website for more details.