OUR 2027 FESTIVAL

 

2027 Sykehouse Film and Writer’s Festival 

is even bigger and better! 

Come and join the fun!

VENUE 

HOLIDAY INN DONCASTER A1, High Rd, Warmsworth, Doncaster DN4 9UX

DATE

Fri 28, Sat 29, Sun 30 May 2027

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Sykehouse Film and Writer’s Festival’s fourth year has expanded to three full days of films screenings, writer panels, workshops, pitching sessions and networking opportunities!

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

We will add more details here as items are confirmed for the event.

For our filmmaking stream we have:

• A packed schedule of this year’s selected films 
• Q & A’s with the filmmaking talent from our finalists. 
• Interview with director guest Graeme Harper

• MORE DETAILS TO BE ADDED

For our author stream we have:

• Interview with author guest V Castro

• Interview with author guest Caroline England

• Interview with author guest Tim Lebbon

• MORE DETAILS TO BE ADDED

Pitching sessions 

• TO BE ADDED

Workshops

• TO BE ADDED

Networking opportunities

• Join our guests for a 2 Course buffet on Saturday evening (Price extra approx £15.95 on request – must be booked before the event)

• Mingle in the bar and rub shoulders with your favourite authors, publishers, agents, filmmakers, directors and producers.

• VIP package includes: Sunday evening networking drinks’ mixer followed by the red-carpet gala dinner and awards.

We have packages to suit all budgets:

• £10 Student Weekend day pass – Must provide college/university ID or Student Union Card on collection.

• £45 Three Day pass. Attend all daytime scheduling and special Saturday evening events.

• £30 Three Day Concession (Over 60s) 

• £100 Full VIP pass – Attend all events including Sunday mixer, Gala Awards, get photos on the Red Carpet, Awards presentation and mingle with our guests and surprise celebrities on the night. There is live music and a charity raffle drawn on the night.

• £65 VIP Concession (Over 60s / Students)

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: https://samantha-lee-howe-ltd.sumupstore.com/products?category=790cbe92-0140-43c4-b7bd-f291c60944fd&sortField=createdAt&sortDirection=desc

In Support of ...

The Anna Kennedy Online Foundation: https://annakennedyonline.com/

Anna Kennedy Online (AKO) is a small charity with a big heart, founded to support and champion the autism community. They exist to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and celebrate the strengths and talents of autistic individuals. Founded by Anna Kennedy OBE - a mother, educator, and campaigner - their journey began with the opening of a school when suitable education was not available for her to autistic sons. That spirit of action continues today through Anna Kennedy Online.

and 

IDAS - Independent Domestic Abuse Support: https://idas.org.uk/

A specialist charity with many years’ experience of supporting and accommodating victims and survivors of domestic abuse.  They are proud to deliver high quality services that help protect victims and survivors whatever choice they make about their future.  They also work to transform the systems that can directly or indirectly harm survivors and through their training, prevention and educational work they inspire individuals and organisations to tackle the root causes of domestic abuse. 

GUESTS OF HONOUR

AUTHORS

V CASTRO is a two time Bram Stoker Award nominated Mexican American writer from San Antonio, Texas now residing in the UK. She writes horror, erotic horror, and science fiction. Her books include Immortal Pleasures, The Haunting of Alejandra, Alien: Vasquez, Mestiza Blood, The Queen of the Cicadas, Out of Aztlan, Las Posadas, Rebel Moon (official Netflix film novelisation), The Pink Agave Motel, and Goddess of Filth. Her new books are Tales of The Dark Feminine from Watkins, and Maria The Wanted from Titan. Connect with Violet via Instagram and Twitter @vlatinalondon or www.vcastrostories.com. She can also be found on BlueSky, Goodreads and Amazon.

CAROLINE ENGLAND was born in Sheffield and studied Law at the University of Manchester. As well as her latest release, Behind Her Smile, Caroline is the author of seven other psychological suspense thrillers, The Return Of Frankie Whittle, The Stranger Beside Me, The Sinner, Truth Games, Betray Her, the bestselling My Husband’s Lies, and her debut, Beneath The Skin. She also writes gothic-tinged thrillers under the pen name C E Rose, namely The House Of Hidden Secrets, The House On The Water’s Edge, The Shadows Of Rutherford House and The Attic At Wilton Place. Dubbed the ‘Duchess of Dark Domestic Noir’, Caroline writes multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories, set in South Manchester and the surrounding areas, that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area. Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity solicitor, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to an obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers! To find out more about Caroline, visit her website or follow her on social media: carolineenglandauthor.co.uk

TIM LEBBON is a New York Times-bestselling writer from South Wales. He’s had over fifty novels published to date, and hundreds of novellas and short stories. His latest novel is Secret Lives of The Dead. He has won a WORLD FANTASY AWARD and four BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS, as well as BRAM STOKER, SCRIBE and DRAGON Awards. He’s recently worked on the new computer game Resurgence, acted as lead writer on a major Audible audio drama, and he’s co-writing his first comic for Dark Horse. The movie of his novel The Silence debuted on Netflix in April 2019, and Pay the Ghost was released Hallowe’en 2015. Tim is currently developing more novels, short stories, audio dramas, and projects for TV and the big screen. Find out more: www.timlebbon.net

DIRECTORS

We're pleased to welcome GRAEME HARPER to the event in 2027. Graeme is a British television director. He is best known for his work on the science-fiction series Doctor Who, for which he is the only person to have directed episodes of both the original run (1963–89) ('The Caves of Androzani' / 'Revelation of the Daleks') and revived run (2005–present) (including 'Rise of the Cybermen' / 'The Age of Steel' / 'Utopia' / 'Planet of the Ood' / 'The Stolen Earth' / 'Journey's End' / 'The Waters of Mars') of the programme for which he won a BAFTA Cymru and Hugo Award.

PRODUCERS

TBA

AGENTS

TBA

WHO'S INVOLVED:

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR: Samantha Lee Howe

FILM JUDGES: The Judges for the 2027 SYKEHOUSE FILM AND WRITERS' FESTIVAL are:

Samantha Lee Howe - USA Today bestselling author and multi-award winning screenwriter. www.samanthaleehowe.co.uk

David J Howe - author and historian, who has been reviewing and writing about film since the eighties. www.howeswho.co.uk

Adele Maddison - Self-confessed Film-o-phile, academic and entrepreneur.

Karen Woodham - proprietor of the multi-award winning blog www.blazingminds.co.uk.

Olivia Maddison - Also film-o-phile, Legal professional.

Linzi Goldstone - Concept Artist/Singer Song Writer/Storyboard Artist.

Mick Herod - Film Buff.

THE NOOSE JUDGES

Tim Rideout (Chair) The Noose - Best Crime/Thriller Novel

Mike Linane (Chair) The Slip Knot - Best Short Story

Mike Linane (Chair) The Syko - Best Flash Fiction