Successful Fakenham Film Festival celebrates filmmakers, community and independent cinema
Successful Fakenham Film Festival celebrates filmmakers, community and independent cinema
The Fakenham Film Festival 2026 (FFF26) has come to a successful close after being staged for the first time as a concentrated three-day weekend festival at Fakenham’s Central Cinema.
Organised by volunteer-run Active Fakenham, the festival brought together independent filmmakers, audiences, local organisations and film lovers for a varied programme ranging from locally made independent films to feature films and international cinema.
The programme included a wide selection of independent short films, a French feature selected in association with the Fakenham–Olivet Twinning Society, and a local film chosen by the Fakenham Film Society. The mix reflected the festival’s aim of bringing together different strands of cinema while giving independent filmmakers the opportunity to see their work on the big screen.
The weekend was rounded off by the well-attended FFF26 Red Carpet evening, which brought some added glamour to the Central Cinema and gave filmmakers, guests and audiences the opportunity to meet, celebrate and have their photographs taken.
Tim Aldiss was Guest of Honour and cut the specially made FFF26 celebration cake.
Active Fakenham Chair Richard Crook said:
“Aldiss has supported Active Fakenham and our community activities for a number of years, so we were particularly pleased to welcome Tim Aldiss as our Guest of Honour and to have him cut the FFF26 cake.”
The festival culminated in the FFF26 Awards, recognising some of the outstanding films entered this year. Around 30 films were submitted, all with a Norfolk connection, approximately twice as many as the previous year. Details and photos are available on the Active Fakenham website
The winners were:
- Overall Winner – Superesse
- Student Winner – Pearl and Pomegranate
- Norfolk Winner – Bubbles
- Fakenham Film Society Choice – Eddy the Bear
Richard Crook added:
“FFF26 has been another step forward for the festival. Bringing everything together over one weekend worked well and created a real sense of occasion. Most importantly, it gave independent filmmakers the chance to show their work in a proper cinema and meet audiences and other filmmakers.”
He continued:
“We are very grateful to everyone who submitted films, attended screenings or helped make the weekend possible, including our volunteers, sponsors and supporters, Ash Williams, the Fakenham Film Society, and Andy and the team at the Central Cinema.”
Active Fakenham is already considering how the festival can develop further for FFF27, and welcomes feedback from filmmakers and audiences about this year’s event.
Richard said:
“The festival is still developing and we want to keep learning from each year. We would very much like to hear what people enjoyed and what they would like to see us do differently or add in 2027.”
FFF26 forms part of Active Fakenham’s year-round programme of community festivals and activities, while also supporting Fakenham’s independent Central Cinema and providing a showcase for independent filmmaking.
Active Fakenham is now looking for sponsors and supporters to help develop FFF27 and its wider 2027 programme. Businesses, organisations or individuals interested in supporting the festival are invited to get in touch.
