The 2020 Norwich Film Festival is going online - with 132 films on show
Films ranging from just one minute long to 25 minutes and from an extravagant dance-based retelling of Cinderella as a competitive game show, to an innovative documentary consisting entirely of lidar laser imagery, are among the 132 selected to be part of this year’s online Norwich Film Festival from November 2 to 29.
More than 1,000 short films from all over the world were submitted and festival marketing coordinator Ewan Tough said: “It might sound cliché, but there really is something for everyone to enjoy.
“Some stand-out films from Norfolk filmmakers this year include Remember When, which is a fictionalised time-capsule of the lockdown period – written, directed and performed entirely by Norwich-based 19-year-old Maili Little at the peak of lockdown. Another is Hold, a gripping and innovative thriller from local filmmaker Jonathan Blagrove. The film takes place entirely in a parked car as a series of phone calls expose a lie that spirals out of control.”
The festival is the fastest growing film festival in the UK and will be available online on a specially-built platform which will also feature film-maker introductions, behind-the-scenes footage and films from partner festivals.
Festival patrons include Olivia Colman and Stephen Fry but the Norwich Film Festival is run entirely by volunteers with a passion for film. It was launched in 2009 by Kellen Playford when a friend had difficulty trying to arrange a local screening of a short film. Kellen said: “We’re proud to have made our festival as accessible and affordable as possible, allowing us to introduce a whole new audience to the festival who will hopefully join us again in the years to come. I really do believe there is something for everyone at this year’s festival, whether you’re a previous attendee or you’re joining us for the first time - so grab some popcorn, relax on the sofa, and join us for the digital edition of NFF2020.”
Judges including Rocket man director Dexter Fletcher and the winning films in six categories will be announced towards the end of the festival.
All 132 films will be available on-demand on a specially-built streaming platform with tickets ranging from £1 for an individual film to £10 for the full festival. A limited number of short films will be available free of charge. Passes and tickets will be available from November 2 from the festival website at norwichfilmfestival.co.uk
