UK’s Most Easterly Film Festival Confirms 2023 Dates & Judges

The UK’s most easterly film festival, which last year saw over 2,000 people attend from across the country has announced that Lowestoft’s very own film festival that takes place in multiple venues celebrating short films, independent filmmaking and the wider media industry will return from Friday 20^th October to Friday 27^th October 2023.

Lowestoft Film Festival (LFF) celebrates undiscovered talent and independent film from across the UK, that wouldn’t otherwise be picked up in the bigger film festival circuit. Entries are still open for this year’s competition categories and the festival has already seen over 150 short films submitted.

The confirmation of this year’s festival dates comes as the 2023 competition Judging panel has also been announced. Esteemed judges from across the film and creative industry are tasked with the all-important job of selecting the winning short films in each category from their nominees.

The names announced include:

Caroline Spence – Producer/Screenwriter,

Jasmine Valentine – Acting Editor of FILMHOUNDS magazine,

Katie Evans – Digital film marketer at Paramount Pictures,

Lewis Hurt – TV Sports Director,

festival alumni Jane Ashmore – Director in Film & TV industry

Shelby Cooke – Curator/Film Critic

Georgia Hunter – Film Programmer

Dean Parkin – Writer/Poet

Jean Campbell Hogg – Director/Artist-filmmaker

Jasmine Valentine, part of the judging panel said:

“I’m incredibly excited to be involved in this year’s Lowestoft Film Festival. I love its mantra and cannot wait to discover the filmic gems of the East coast!”

Jane Ashmore, who is also one of our festival alumni added:

“As a filmmaker myself I had a great experience at LFF last year. It is a festival run by filmmakers FOR filmmakers. You know when you submit, that your work will be diligently watched and genuinely considered. The result is an insightful and thoughtful curation of the best of independent films on offer. Festivals like Lowestoft’s are helping to keep grassroots filmmaking alive and championing emerging talent across the country.”

Joshua Freemantle, Development Producer of Sunrise Studios who delivers the festival said:

“We’re delighted to be announcing our judging panel for this year’s edition of the Film Festival, and hope this will continue to inspire filmmakers and those looking to start forming a short film to submit to the festival for 2023.”

Filmmakers can submit any short films of less than 30 minutes to the festival, and they can find out full details on all of the 2023 judges, along with entry rules on the Lowestoft Film Festival website.

Other quotes from our Judges:

• Lewis Hurt said: “Lowestoft Film Festival is the most exciting new film festival out there and a place where emerging talent and creatives can find their voice and be discovered. It provides a platform for everybody in the local area and beyond to showcase their filmmaking abilities and tell stories that will engage and captivate an audience.”

• Katie Evans said: “It is great to see smaller areas of the country being put on the map by film festivals! Festivals allow communities to come together and not only appreciate their homegrown talent but talent from further afield.”

 Notes to editor:

• To stay updated with the latest on the film festival throughout the year, follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @LWTFilmFest.

• The festival wouldn’t be possible without the support of Access Community Trust, Film Hub South East and the local authorities and business sponsorship which last year included Lowestoft Town Council and East Suffolk Council as well as our community venue partners that assisted us in bringing independent films in front of audiences that they otherwise wouldn’t engage with.
• In 2021 local filmmakers Joshua Freemantle & Patrick Johnson part of Sunrise Studios, founded Lowestoft Film Festival to try and bridge a gap on the East Coast in order to showcase filmmakers and celebrate unrepresented talent.
• Lowestoft Film Festival hosts eleven competitive categories including; best British short, best student film, best Animated film, best Documentary short, best Experimental short, making waves short, UK Student short film, East Anglian student film, East Coast short film, short film made by u16s, micro short movie and break the stigma, with prestigious awards up for grabs for each category.
• Sunrise Studios is a social enterprise part of regional charity Access Community Trust, a creative studio like no, that delivers value & social benefit, through investment in young people within creative media & music by reinvesting profits made through commercial services.