Stargazers

Friday 27 March, 17:45

Dir: Jonathan Brooks, Cast: Leo Cropley, Henry Richards, Lauren Cornelius, 98mins

World Premiere. Made In Sussex Film Festival opening film, with short film Arsehead directed by Winnie and James Herbert.

12 year old Jack Parker and best friend Benji race to uncover the mystery of the strange signals transmitting from their town.

Could it be proof of Aliens living on Earth? The boys have three days to find out or risk being split up forever.

Made in Sussex Student Film Awards

Saturday 28 March, 11:00, 73 mins

The Made in Sussex Student Film Awards celebrate emerging filmmaking talent from across Sussex, showcasing work by students at local colleges, universities, and film schools. Open to filmmakers studying at Sussex-based institutions or Sussex residents attending educational establishments elsewhere, the awards provide young filmmakers with industry exposure, festival screening opportunities, and recognition that can help launch their careers.

Made In Sussex: Sussex Shorts 1

Saturday 28 March, 13:30, 96 mins

The Made in Sussex Short Film Showcase presents a curated selection of short films made by Sussex-based filmmakers or shot within the county—stories from your town, your street, your community. Celebrating the region’s diverse storytelling voices and creative talent, the showcase offers filmmakers a platform to screen their work at the Made in Sussex Film Festival, connect with local audiences and industry professionals, and compete for the prestigious £10,000 Best Director Prize while contributing to Sussex’s thriving independent film community.

A Life in Tandem

Saturday 28 March, 16:15, 111 mins

Dir: Mike Rumsey, Certificate: 12A

This programme will also include a short film Repetition directed by Reece Daniel Plimley

When Luke Grenfell-Shaw turned 24, his whole life was in front of him. Until he was diagnosed with incurable stage-four cancer. Weeks later, while he began chemotherapy, his brother died in a climbing accident. As his family shattered, Luke made a decision: he had to survive. He set himself an extraordinary challenge – to cycle 20,000 miles from Bristol to Beijing on a tandem bike, inviting others living with incurable cancer to join him.

Rumpelstiltskin + short

Saturday 28 March, 19:30, 105 mins, Home Coming Screening

Dir: Andy Edwards, Cast: Hannah Baxter-Eve, Adrian Bouchet, Jennifer Lim, and Joss Carter

This programme will also include a short film Albert directed by Joshua G. R. Fletcher

Filmed at Lewes’s iconic Anne of Cleves House, Rumpelstiltskin is a haunting tale that brings back the scariest villain from our collective childhoods—only darker, bloodier, and nastier this time. When a Miller attempts to win the King’s favour by promising his daughter can spin straw into gold, she turns to a demonic imp for help.

Made In Sussex: Sussex Shorts 2

Sunday 29 March, 13:00, 94 mins

The Made in Sussex Short Film Showcase Part 2 presents a curated selection of short films made by Sussex-based filmmakers or shot within the county—stories from your town, your street, your community. Celebrating the region’s diverse storytelling voices and creative talent, the showcase offers filmmakers a platform to screen their work at the Made in Sussex Film Festival, connect with local audiences and industry professionals, and compete for the prestigious £10,000 Best Director Prize while contributing to Sussex’s thriving independent film community.

The Bystanders

Sunday 29 March, 16:15, 118 mins

Dir: Gabriel Foster Prior, Cast: Seann Walsh, Scott Haran, Georgia Mabel Clarke, Andi Jashy

This programme will also include a short film Shed directed by Dave Hunt

Pete Weir – an inconspicuous office drone – is recruited precisely for his anonymity to become a Bystander, a kind of empowered guardian angel tasked with watching over, and invisibly helping, a ‘Subject’. Pete is trained by jaded Bystander Frank, who out of boredom proposes that they swap Subjects. Frank now has Sarah and Pete has feckless loser Luke, whom he hopes to transform in order to win Bystander of the Year.

Made In Sussex Film Festival Awards 2026

Sunday 29 March, 18:00, 60 mins

Closing night awards ceremony!

Collect your free ticket from the Made In Sussex team when you arrive at the festival.

Charlie Shaw’s Revenge

Sunday 29 March, 20:00, 101 mins

Dir: John Langridge, Cast: Cerys Knighton, Bill Fellows, Mark Benton, John Locke

This programme will also include a short film Granny DJ, directed by Faith Elizabeth

An eclectic group of workers preparing for the re-opening of Forrestal’s Funland, a remote theme park on the brink of bankruptcy, find themselves stalked by a silent killer. Cut off from any form of rescue, the survivors must band together to fight for their lives…