Norwich Film Festival Unveils Biggest Line-Up Yet For 2024

Now in its 14th year. Norwich Film Festival returns this November with its biggest line-up to date, running from Monday 11th to Sunday 24th November, ready to welcome audiences of all ages from across the city and wider county. Taking place at venues like Cinema City and Norwich Playhouse. The diverse and vibrant programme will centre around the NFF 2024 ‘Official Selection’—137 hand-picked short films by independent filmmakers—which will be presented across 19 specially selected screenings, before the films are judged by a panel of industry heavyweights including BAFTA nominated directors Sasha Rainbow and Sam Moore, and Oscar nominated US filmmaker, Andrew Chesworth.

This year’s Official Selection was selected from 1419 submissions from 70 countries, and the final NFF line up includes 9 from East Anglia, and works in 27 languages. Approximately 40% of the films have been made by female and non-binary filmmakers. 

Across the selection, there will be cameos from household names including Tamzin Outhwaite, Christopher Eccleston, 3 x BAFTA nominee Jessie Buckley, recent Taskmaster contestant and BAFTA breakthrough winner, Susan Wokoma and Rizzle Kicks member, Jordan Stephens.

The festival’s goal is to promote independent films of all budgets to the general public to inspire them to view something different, whilst also inspiring new budding filmmakers to consider filmmaking as a career.  Alongside screenings, the festival will host workshops on skills such as directing and editing, as well as present talks with industry experts including VFX specialist Julian Foddy (Fast and Furious 6, The Dark Knight Rises) and BAFTA nominated editor Carly Brown (The Crown), allowing budding filmmakers a unique opportunity to learn new skills.

A new element for the 2024 season, will also include a series of experience-based feature-length film screenings, including the 1922 silent horror classic, Nosferatu, complete with a live score from a four-piece band at the Norwich Playhouse, and a screening of Shakespeare in Love, itself partially shot in county on the Holkham Estate. Taking place on the opening evening, the Shakespeare in Love screening – which will take place at Cinema City – will also feature an exclusive Q&A with its Oscar-Winning director John Madden, also best known for directing other box office hits such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its sequel The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Meanwhile All We Imagine As Light, the first film from India to compete at Cannes in 30 years, with director Payal Kapadia making history as the first Indian filmmaker ever to win the Grand Prix, will also be gracing NFF. As well as Peter Greenaway’s iconic British film The Draughtsman’s Contract, presented here in its original 35mm film format, making it the first non-digital screening in a Norwich cinema for a decade. These screenings merely highlight the festival’s commitment to showcasing both groundbreaking international cinema and timeless classics.

As in previous years, the programme is organised by strand to encourage discovery and to open up the festival to new audiences and will feature films from genres including comedy, family-friendly, animation, LGBTQ+, documentary, horror and East Anglian. 

Professor Keith M Johnston,  Professor of Film & Television, University of East Anglia and Chair of Norwich Film Festival, says: 

“At this year’s Norwich Film Festival, we’re proud to celebrate not just the established voices of the film industry, but the creativity and passion of filmmakers from all walks of life. Our festival is a true reflection of Norwich’s growing and vibrant creative community, where everyone, from all walks of life, whether a seasoned professional or a newcomer with a fresh perspective, is welcomed and embraced. It’s most definitely not one of those events that’s restricted to the ‘movers and shakers’ of the film world, but – instead –  a place where stories are told, connections are made, and the spirit of collaboration thrives. It’s something we’re so especially proud of, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone along next month!”

Jenny Allison, Education & Engagement Officer at Cinema City, says:

“Cinema City is incredibly proud to be working in partnership with the Norwich Film Festival. The 2024 programme of events is bigger and more diverse than ever.

Since the Colman sisters donated the Cinema City building to the people of Norwich back in the 1920s, it has been at the heart of the local community delivering cultural and educational enrichment for all. Our collaboration with the Norwich Film Festival continues to provide opportunities to engage with exciting new work as well as supporting the rapidly expanding creative community in Norfolk.

As we celebrate another year of outstanding filmmaking with you all, we’d like to say a massive ‘Thank You’ to the Festival team for working tirelessly to make it happen”.

Tickets for Norwich Film Festival (11 Nov – 24 Nov) are on sale NOW.