Rainy Day Pictures

20/02/2026

🎞️HORSHAM FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 2026 – NOW IN ITS EIGHTH YEAR AND ONCE AGAIN PARTNERING WITH THE EVERYMAN CINEMA IN HORSHAM FOR THE AWARDS NIGHT! 🎞️

2025 saw a record number of entries and another sold-out Awards Night at the Everyman Cinema in Horsham and the event was supported by industry and local educational talent to judge the entries and local businesses keen to support the filmmakers of the future.

HFF celebrates not only local, West Sussex based talent but also looks further afield to celebrate films from ALL OVER THE UK.

We want to see films from everyone – whether you are a filmmaker who has already won awards at other film festivals or a first-time filmmaker looking to start developing your skills!

We don’t care what you shoot on, how much you spend or where you film - we aren’t judging based around equipment quality or technical expertise. We want to see and experience good stories first and foremost. Of course we consider shots, editing, acting and so on as part of the judging process but your film will not be looked down upon if you have shot it on your phone rather than Blackmagic gear!

The Festival hosts 4 categories for both Over 18s and Students (whether they’re under 18 or still in education), each with their own award:

Best Drama / Best Documentary / Best Animation / Best Comedy

We also have a special category called the ‘Your District Award’ for film makers that have used the Horsham District in their entries, whether it’s the local environment, actors or something that links to our home district! You can enter your film into both a standard category and the ‘Your Horsham District Award’ if the entry criteria is met.

The other four categories CAN have films made ANYWHERE in the UK entered into them. They are NOT exclusively for West Sussex made/set films.

Judges this year are still being lined up but include Silvertip Films’ Geoff Cockwill and Rebecca Moon - Head of Creative Digital Media Production and Stuart Andrews - Head of Film Studies at Collyers College, Horsham.

Show us your stories and make sure you enter for this year’s event!

To enter a film visit FilmFreeway - www.filmfreeway.com/horshamfilmfestival