Northampton Film Festival WILL go ahead virtually this year with entries judged by stars such as Hugh Dennis

The celebrity judges have already shortlisted 15 short films, which will be played online during the festival week
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A film festival held to celebrate Northampton talent will go ahead virtually this year.

Northampton Film Festival was postponed last year due to the pandemic, but this year organisers have decided to host the event online.

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The festival centres around a competition of short films that have a connection to Northamptonshire from being filmed in the county to being made by people born or living here.

Film entries have been shortlisted by a celebrity judging panel.Film entries have been shortlisted by a celebrity judging panel.
Film entries have been shortlisted by a celebrity judging panel.

Shortlisted entries of no more than two minutes, 30 seconds including documentaries, musicals, animations and dramas have been selected by the celebrity judging panel made up of Hugh Dennis, Colin Salmon and Julie Hesmondhalgh.

The 15 shortlisted films will be available to watch online between May 12 and 19 while the festival is taking place, rather than in person around the town.

Becky Adams, producer for Screen Northants, said: "We managed to do some interesting stuff in 2020 and it was all very positive.

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"But the whole point of the festival is to shout about Northamptonshire and its film makers.

2019 was the last time the festival was held as the 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic.2019 was the last time the festival was held as the 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic.
2019 was the last time the festival was held as the 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

"So much for new film makers has been cancelled in the last year and it's hard to get on film sets, so it's really important that we've managed get this year's event on."

The organiser says they are hoping for everything that was planned for the 2020 event to go ahead this year, just in a remote fashion, including online consultations and streams.

Becky added: "We want to involve people in the organisation from now onwards and give them what they want to see.

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"It also exciting that we have the judges in place as it is lovely when the industry recognises what we are doing.

"Colin Salmon actually grew up in Northamptonshire, which highlights talent does come out of the area, it's just not shouted about as much as it maybe should be."

The festival also includes Q&A sessions and Zoom events, as well as several 48-hour film challenges from now until April and a school competition.

For more information on the festival and the events and to find out which films have been shortlisted, visit the Northampton Film Festival website or search the name on Facebook.

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