Blog Layout

Fakenham Film Festival 2025

mostly at Central Cinema Fakenham


23rd September to7th October 2025




Feature films made in Norfolk

Short films from the archives 

Films of recent Fakenham events. 

Two competitions

Independent films


For more information about the competitions go to Filmfreeway and search Fakenham

Some of last year's films

BBC radio interview with Hannah and Oliver.

Photos of last year's Film Festival

These are some of the people and organisations involved in the Fakenham Film Festival 2024.

  • Oliver Woodgate

    A filmmaker who has worked for years in and around fakenham. I’ve studied film my whole life and have worked at our local cinema since I was 18. In 2022 I achieved a BSc in Film and TV production with honours and accreditation by ScreenSkills. I have both starred in and curated a myriad of short films. My most recent horror short “Revelations” was shot and shown at Fakenham Cinema and was submitted to the Sony Young Filmmakers Award. I am working on two more films for this year. 

    I have industry experience having worked on Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, Brickies (BBC3) and Wicked. I am excited to announce my involvement in archiving and showcasing the Fakenham activities and traditions, hopefully starting with the annual Fakenham duck race.


    Yes I have a BSc in Film and TV Production with honours and accreditation from ScreenSkills

  • Chris Richmond

    Chris is a Norfolk-based sound effects editor amongst other things!

    Having worked alongside BAFTA-nominated sound designer, Simon Gershon on a number of high-profile television projects such as BBC's flagship crime drama "Shetland" and "Sex Education" (Netflix), Chris also runs his own well-established YouTube channel, showcasing various places and pastimes of his life here in Norfolk, including the Central Cinema here in Fakenham.

    Supplementing his career in media, Chris also works part-time as a bus driver, often visiting Fakenham on the Konectbus Service 21 from Dereham.


    Trivia:

    In August 2017, Chris was accused of hiding a dead body in the boot of his car as he was fuelling his car at the Shell petrol station in Fakenham. A member of the public alerted the Police, who visited Chris's home only to find a duvet cover accompanied by a pair of wellington boots!

    The following day, the story went viral, attracting the attention of the national press and even BBC Radio 2's Jo Whitley!


    Chris Richmond's YouTube Channel

  • Hannah Brodie

    Hannah Brodie is a full time photographer and videographer based in Norwich covering weddings, commercial and family shoots. Hannah describes her work as candid, colourful and authentic. “I love getting to know people and the variety that my job brings” says Hannah. 


    “My roots are from Fakenham, I attended high school, Brownies, Guides etc here. I have previously enjoyed filming content for Active Fakenham’s events over the years. In fact one of my career highlights was having one of my short films shown before the trailers at Fakenham cinema  I’m very much looking forward to coming back to photograph this years Red Carpet Event”.

    https://www.hannahbrodie.co.uk/


  • Rowan Yaxley

    Night Crowd is an indie rock project led by Rowan Yaxley, combining dreamy guitar scapes, introspective tales, and ambient sonic textures to create jangle driven indie pop. Having spent his teenage years in rural Norfolk obsessing over the guitar, Ro left home and moved to Sheffield where he cut his teeth as a live performer and recording artist. Influenced by the likes of Radiohead, John Mayer, The Smiths, and The War on Drugs, Night Crowd’s music seeks to echo the essence of past classics whilst embodying the vitality of the now.  

  • Anto Morra

    Anto Morra was born and raised by hard working Irish parents in central London, Norfolk was the place Anto’s family came to escape the city.  Long weekends and half term breaks were spent visiting family here so when Anto decided he needed a slower pace of life Norfolk was the obvious choice.  Settling in Norwich city where in the mid 90’s he formed Indie guitar band ‘Fountain Head’ with Thursford born guitarist Dave Lake and together they played all the main venues in Norwich and around Norfolk. At one particular gig in1994 he met a Fakenham Bank Clerk and this coming November they celebrate their 25th wedding Anniversary. 


    In the early 00’s Anto was recruited into Whirligig Ceilidh band by Fakenham High School teacher Chris Holderness who has a deep knowledge and understanding of the history of the Folk scene around Norfolk and Anto learnt a great deal from him. Anto left the Ceilidh band in 2011to start working as a Solo artist.  Anto continues to record and perform all over the County but his Mojo is very much a Fakenham one.  “He never really fell in love till he went up to Fakenham Fair”



  • David Roberts

    David is a relatively new and amateur photographer based in Norfolk. He enjoys the process of taking photographs and the experiences and memories that photography brings as he sees a photograph as a snapshot of a moment in a story. David edits his own photos and is interested in improving his Light Room skills. David currently likes to focus on daily life and finds street photography fascinating. David is 14 and a Year 10 student at Fakenham Academy and his photos depict the Raft and Duck Races in 2024

  • Active Fakenham

    Active Fakenham is a small voluntary group and works with local clubs, organisations and businesses to initiate, organise and promote activities that enrich the health and wellbeing of Fakenham’s residents and visitors.  It has no ongoing funding and no paid staff.


    As well as organising events and activities Active Fakenham works to support local businesses and local talent.  Over the years it has worked with and commissioned local people, especially younger people, to document our events.  Some of these are featured in the 2024 Fakenham Film Festival.


    Active Fakenham was set up by Richard Crook in 2012 and Richard continues to be the driving force behind the organisation.


  • Creative Arts East

    Creative Arts East is a community arts charity working across rural Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, aiming to make creativity accessible and available to more people in more places, strengthening their personal & social outcomes as a result. 


    Partnering with diverse communities and artists to co-design excellent and inclusive programmes that attract people to get involved, we develop creative practice and distribution models which really work for rural and disadvantaged audiences.


    Find out more at www.creativeartseast.co.uk


  • Fakenham & District Community Archive

    Founded in 2002 Fakenham & District Community Archive are an enthusiastic group of volunteers who through public donations are dedicated to building and maintaining a digital photographic and oral history archive of pictures and memories from Fakenham and nearby villages.

    We meet regularly in Fakenham Parish Church on the last Tuesday of each month from 2.00 - 4.00 pm. where you are invited to join us for a sociable couple of hours of friendly chat and reminiscing over a cup of tea and a biscuit.

    At our meetings you can bring photos for scanning into the archive - which will immediately be returned, watch a slideshow, browse photo albums, scrapbooks and documents, listen to recordings of people recounting their memories or search the whole archive on our laptops https://fakenhamcommunityarchive.weebly.com/


  • Fakenham Film Society

    The Society was set up in the summer of 2011.  We are a local non-profit society created for the enjoyment and appreciation of film, showing classic, foreign and contemporary films at the historic Central Cinema in Fakenham, Norfolk UK 


    Membership for the season is £10 and each film night costs £5.00 for members and £7.00 for non-members. 10 films are shown in each season which runs from January to December, with a break of two months in July and August. Please note for 2024 a film will be shown in July and a further break will occur in December.  Films are screened at 7.30pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month (unless this clashes with a live stream event).


    You can join the Society at any of the Society’s film nights at the Central Cinema, Fakenham.


December 18, 2024
Join us for the Giant Duck Race Active Fakenham, in partnership the Fakenham and District Rotary Club, is thrilled to be putting on this event. Join us to watch these ducks. Why your business should join in We hope your business decides to support this community project. We will aim to make the event as much fun as possible and encourage participation and attendance. We will also help promote your duck (and therefore your business). Any money raised will go towards community events in Fakenham and a contribution is also being made to Fakenham First Focus. We will aim to do this by: • listing entries on our website • posting on social media (we do Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) • distributing press and media releases • the event will be photographed and filmed (tbc) and these will be available to you as well as shared on social media and websites - we will arrange a photo shoot at the Bridge in Goggs Mill Road at Goggs Mill Bridge prior to the event. This will go in the local paper. Winners prizes include 1. First Prize TBC 2. A bottle of Champagne For more information and to download the entry form as a PDF HERE or as a WORD Doc HERE Active Fakenham would like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring a duck in the 2022 Corporate Duck Race. Any funds raised will go to local events and local charities Aldiss Butcher Andrews Solicitors Carben Construction Dempsey Heating Des Cooper Hairdressers Eastern Daily Press Fakenham & District Rotary Club Fakenham and Wells Times Fakenham Garden Centre Fakenham Infant School Fakenham Junior School First Focus GJL animal feeds Grove Veterinary hospital and clinics H Banham Ltd Hayes and Storr Larking Gowan M D Williamson Carpets Ltd Nod Butcher and Son Original Factory Shop Ploegor UK Soil Fertility Services? Sports & Fitness Centre Stephenson Smart ✿ ☀ ♫
November 26, 2024
Active Fakenham Criterium Races 20 April 2025 Enter HERE
August 6, 2024
Its great to be back. Organisers of the 2024 Rid North Norfolk are looking forward to the popular non competitive cycle ride on Sunday 25 th August. This is a great opportunity for locals and visitors to get on a bike for a supported fun ride no matter their level of fitness. This popular community organised cycle event is back on Sunday the 25 th of August. The cycle ride is a supported non-competitive ride with the routes clearly marked, emergency back-up and feed stations around the routes. Organiser, Richard Crook said, “This year’s routes range through 15, 25, 36, 51, 64 (100km) and 102 miles. We are aware of the cost of living crisis, and we are proud that we have been able to maintain the low price of entry because we are a community ride. Rides start from just £4. You can enter through the Active Fakenham website. The entry includes, An enjoyable community day out Easy to follow signage on all routes Free drinks and nutrition, including our popular homemade flapjack Free photos A medal when you finish Free draw string goodie bag on arrival Map, GPX /Garmin files Mobile mechanic and breakdown support Rescue service Our local knowledge and experience First aid at the Community Centre A social event at the Community Centre and garden including food, barbecue with local produce, live music and stalls that is open to all including music by Anto Morra and others.. People on the ride may be photographed and/or filmed at this event. You will register through the British Cycling website who provide our insurance, but you do not need to be a member. Entry is now open just search the “Active Fakenham” website or social media. More information from richard@activefakenham.org.uk of on the Active Fakenham website and social media.
July 26, 2024
at Central Cinema Fakenham
Show More
Share by: