FILM makers from Essex will be sharing the big screen with films from all over the world, as the shortlist for the first Essex International Film Festival is announced.

The Essex International Film Festival, takes place between 27 to 30 March 2025 at venues all over the county, will feature film makers and films shot all over Essex. Directors from Southend, Leigh-on-Sea, Basildon, Harlow and Colchester have made the shortlist. 

The festival organisers received 120 films from around the world,  with the films ranging from drama, horror, comedy, animation and documentaries. The best 50 films have been shortlisted for screening by a panel of judges. There were an amazing 54 films with an Essex connection submitted, with 14 shortlisted.

Lily Streames, founder of the Essex Film Collective, festival organiser and one of the judges of the festival is excited by the submissions: “I have been blown away by the quality of the films submitted. We’ve had films entered from all over Europe and America, but some of the best have been made by Essex based talent. That makes me exceptionally proud of my county and the talent inside it.”

She continues: “A lot of the films have already made a big impact on me already. There’s a beautiful romantic drama, a slick horror, laugh out loud comedies and thought-provoking documentaries. In short everything you could wish for in a film festival!” 

Some of the Essex films to be screened include:

GOOD CHOICE, JOSEPH by James Farrell: A man who feels paralysed by choice goes into an existential spiral after finding a mysterious tape player that can tell the future. Shot on location at Chalkwell beach by the Southend based director James Farrell.

ESTUARY WINDS by Tom Scott: A scratch and ink film exploring the character of the winds on the Thames estuary.

HALFWAY BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE SEA by Natalie Mitchell: Teenager Shaun lives in a Tilbury flat looking out over the River Thames and wonders what’s on the other side.

HARD TIMES by Eliot Gonzo & Eliot Warren: Hard Times is a stark portrayal of the struggles in tough socioeconomic conditions.

HARLOW CARES by Anna Dominian: A dance film co-created with workshop participants and the local community.

LITTLE MARY by Duncan Paveling: Mary, an experienced Marionette maker, turns to her craft and beloved husband, as a way to deal grief. Director Duncan Paveling is based in Leigh-on-Sea.

SMOKESCREEN by Nathan Hubble: In the claustrophobic world of Ferndale Sixth Form, reputation is everything. A film from the Basildon based Nathan.

THE BIRDWATCHERS by Thomas Winward: What does it mean to be a birdwatcher? Four women challenge the stereotype and share their love, passion, and fears in the world of birding

ROADSIDE FUNERAL by Marty Pritchard: Stranded on a remote country road, two feuding brothers become pallbearers to their late mother’s casket.

WITHIN THE WATER by Katharina Koall & Eleanor Church: A film exploring prenatal depression. Eleanor is based in Colchester.

The Essex International Film Festival has the support of Dame Helen Mirren. Film categories include drama, horror, comedy, experimental, animation, student, documentary, LGBTQ+ and sci-fi.

The film festival will take place at venues all over the county. The Curzon Cinema and Mercury Theatre in Colchester, the Electric Palace cinema in Harwich, and the Chelmsford Theatre. The festival will also run at satellite venues in Rayleigh and Hadleigh.

The Essex International Film Festival has been enabled by the Essex County Council Arts and Cultural Fund. Councillor Mark Durham, Cabinet Member for The Arts, Heritage and Culture is keen to shine a light on the growing film industry in Essex. He says: “Essex has always given open arms to the film industry, welcoming many productions here via our film office. Film and TV productions bring many benefits to our local economy, such as hotels, catering and freelancers. The county has many attractive features for the industry – the proximity to London, our diverse environments, but our people are the real stars of the show!”

To discover more about the event visit www.essexinternationalfilmfestival.com.