Cheltenham International Film Festival

About

2020 Cheltenham International Film Festival dates: 25 - 30 May 2020. 

Over the six days film enthusiasts can expect the best of independent cinema from around the world to be screened at various venues around Cheltenham.

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.

What is Cheltenham International Film Festival?

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.