ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The SYKEHOUSE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL was created to celebrate great films and screenplays by author and multi-award-winning screenwriter Samantha Lee Howe. Samantha and the rest of the team are passionate about film and brilliant storytelling, and wanted to provide an outlet for independent films to get seen.
'This festival is Hollywood in the countryside. Full of celebrity guests at an amazing glamorous awards evening in a marquee. The daytime film screenings are top quality on a gigantic screen in a cosy setting. This film festival is everything a film festival should be. Note it down on your must submit list for next year.' KEITH LARGE
'What a truly wonderful event! We were treated so very well and the submissions were all so good (I watched all of them that screened). Professional, intimate, and so so so much fun! This is a must submit festival for us from now on!' TAUNYA GREN
Films and Screenplays will be judged by a panel of committed film-o-philes, and each round will award a BEST and RUNNER-UP in the twelve categories:
BEST THRILLER
BEST HORROR
BEST SHORT FILM
BEST SCREENPLAY
BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST POP VIDEO
BEST ACTION
BEST COMEDY
BEST PILOT
We will be making some honorary award presentations also on the awards night!
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Samantha Lee Howe
JUDGES
The Judges for the 2025 SYKEHOUSE FILMFEST are:
Samantha Lee Howe - USA Today bestselling author and multi-awardwinning screenwriter Samantha Lee Howe
David J Howe - author and historian, who has been reviewing and writing about film since the eighties.Howeswho
Karen Woodham - proprietor of the multi-award winning blog Blazing Minds.
Rosie Nagaty & John Aaron - self-confessed film addicts! Rosie and John are driven entrepreneurs who have carved their own path in the entertainment industry and now run The Old George Inn and Between Two Rivers glamping site. https://oldgeorgeinnsykehouse.co.uk/
Robin Pierce - Film critic/reviewer, previously of SirenFM, Gorezone and Starburst magazines. Co-host of Piercing the Veil Podcast. https://robinpierce.online/
Adele Maddison - Self-confessed Filmophile, academic and entrepreneur.
2025 SPONSORS
