Welcome to
Hastings Rocks
Hastings Rocks 5th Edition
30 October - 1 November 2026
HRIFF is proud to present its 5th Annual Festival!
★ 66 Films ★ Hallowe’en Horror Special ★ Films from Hastings and Beyond ★ Fantastic Feature Films LUNA & WRATH OF THE GODS ★ Special guests David Quantick & Franny Armstrong ★ Showcases from Palestine, Iran and Across the Middle East ★ Bold Storytelling that Questions, Provokes and Inspires Change ★ Come Imagine a Better Future Together! ★
28 October - 5 November 2026
HASTINGS ROCKS embraces films that confront the darker realities shaping our world and celebrates bold storytelling that questions, provokes and inspires change. Set in historic Hastings, a town steeped in folklore and rebellion, the festival honours the legacy of classic horror while championing films - fiction and documentary - that push the genre into new territory, creating a space where filmmakers and audiences alike feel empowered to challenge the status quo and imagine a better future together.
Are you ready to see if your film belongs here?
Director's Message
"We believe the most powerful films don’t simply entertain, they bring people together, spark conversations, strengthen human connection and inspire us to build a better world. For us, horror isn’t only about what waits under the bed; it is about the fears and anxieties that keep us awake at night. Climate change. Conflict. Isolation. Inequality. Identity. Artificial Intelligence. We welcome films that unmask today’s real-life monsters and encourage conversations that continue long after the credits roll. Through shared screenings and discussion, we believe stories can challenge assumptions, strengthen our connections as people and remind us that meaningful change begins by listening to one another. By creating a space where difficult conversations are welcomed rather than avoided, we hope to inspire empathy, resilience and collective action."
Stephanie De Palma
Festival Director