​Submission Deadlines:
31 May The Birds
30 June  Possession
31 July The Wicker Man
31 August Don't Look Now    
31 September  Carrie
31 October  Night of the Living Dead
30 November The Shining
31 December  Black Christmas
31 January The Rocky Horror Show
21 February  My Bloody Valentine

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS will be notified throughout the year
THE SCREENING PROGRAMME will be published on 10 March 2025
WINNERS will be revealed at the festival 11 - 13 April 2025

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES:

Short Films
Runtime must be less than 30 minutes (except Micro Movies)
​
Animation
Comedy
Comedy Horror
Documentary
Drama
Experimental
​​Fantasy
Horror
LGBTQ+
Made in Hastings
​Micro Budget Film
Micro Movie
Music Video
​Sci-Fi
Student Film

​Feature-Length Films
Runtime must be more than 30 minutes. All genres admissible.

RULES:
​
Micro Budget Films means works produced for less than £1000
Made in Hastings Films must have at least 2 scenes shot/set in Hastings
Micro Movies must have a runtime of less than 4 minutes, including credits
Student Films' director and at least one other crew member must be in full-time education

Awards

Films that fit Hastings Rocks’ ethos will be awarded Official Selection status – Finalists and Winners will be designated in each submission category

All OFFICIAL SELECTIONS, FINALIST & WINNING Short Films will be screened at our ANNUAL FESTIVAL on 11 - 13 April 2025

HONOURABLE MENTION OFFICIAL SELECTIONS will receive an ONLINE SHOWCASING at the ROCKS SCREENING ROOM

There will be one BEST FEATURE FILM (FICTION) and one BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

There will be WINNERS in each of the following Short Film Categories:
ANIMATION / COMEDY / DOCUMENTARY / DRAMA / EXPERIMENTAL FILM / FANTASY / FILM NOIR / HORROR / LGBTQ+ / MADE IN HASTINGS / MICRO-BUDGET FILM / MICRO MOVIE / MUSIC VIDEO / SCI-FI & STUDENT FILM

Official Selections are automatically considered for the following awards:
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY / DIRECTOR / EDITING / ORIGINAL SCORE / PERFORMANCE (up to 3 awards) / SCREENPLAY / SET DESIGN / SPECIAL EFFECTS / THE SPIRIT OF HASTINGS AWARD
​
Terms and Conditions

All films must be in English or have English subtitles
Productions must have been completed after 1 January 2020
Filmmakers retain the rights to their films
Filmmakers are responsible for acquiring copyrights, licenses and releases for media used in their films
By submitting their film, filmmakers gives Brighton Rocks the right to post their posters, trailers, website and social media links on our website
Brighton Rocks reserves the right to move films into categories different from the one(s) submitted to.​

[email protected]