Welcome to
Hastings Rocks
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
Hastings Rocks 5th Edition
30 October - 1 November 2026
The next edition of the festival will take place over the Hallowe'en weekend 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2026 at The Printworks, located in the town’s cyberpunk-esque Gotham Alley. Hastings Rocks has screened films to thousands of attendees since its creation in 2021. Our jury has been presided over by an array of award-winning film and television personalities including Madeline Smith (Live and Let Die, Hammer Horror films), Jo Brand, cult experimental filmmaker Andrew Kotting and writer-directors David Caffrey and Bindu De Stoppani. Please see festival screenings for more information.
