OUR MISSION
What is it about stories? The need for them is powerful, even primal. We seek them out, again and again. They touch us, disturb us, move us, sometimes soothe us, but whatever - they make us feel.
With HBFF we aim to do just that. We have over 500 years of non-conformist history in the valley so it seems fitting that our theme is "Hope and Resistance". We will be championing the stories of those who exist in the margins, sit outside the mainstream or just plain don’t fit in. With the advent of the all too timely #metoo movement, it will not surprise many of you to know that statistics for women in film remain shockingly low. According to the BFI, in Britain in 2017 only only 4.5% of all films produced were directed by a woman. And the figures for LGBTQ, working-class and BME filmmakers and filmmakers with disabilities also remain very low.
HBFF is proud to be an F-Rated film festival. The F Rating is given to any film written by a woman, directed by a woman or featuring women in significant on-screen roles. Any film that meets all three criteria is awarded a Triple F Rating.
We are committed to BFI diversity standards and to delivering a programme of excellence, featuring international and homegrown films and unique events with industry professionals, as well as supporting and fostering local talent. And while we can't be the biggest, most glitzy festival out there, we can bring filmmakers and film lovers together in the wonderful community spirit that Hebden Bridge is famous for.
We cannot wait to bring you a weekend of exciting new films that will challenge, surprise and delight you. Come and join us on 24-26 March 2023.
You’ll be glad you did.
With HBFF we aim to do just that. We have over 500 years of non-conformist history in the valley so it seems fitting that our theme is "Hope and Resistance". We will be championing the stories of those who exist in the margins, sit outside the mainstream or just plain don’t fit in. With the advent of the all too timely #metoo movement, it will not surprise many of you to know that statistics for women in film remain shockingly low. According to the BFI, in Britain in 2017 only only 4.5% of all films produced were directed by a woman. And the figures for LGBTQ, working-class and BME filmmakers and filmmakers with disabilities also remain very low.
HBFF is proud to be an F-Rated film festival. The F Rating is given to any film written by a woman, directed by a woman or featuring women in significant on-screen roles. Any film that meets all three criteria is awarded a Triple F Rating.
We are committed to BFI diversity standards and to delivering a programme of excellence, featuring international and homegrown films and unique events with industry professionals, as well as supporting and fostering local talent. And while we can't be the biggest, most glitzy festival out there, we can bring filmmakers and film lovers together in the wonderful community spirit that Hebden Bridge is famous for.
We cannot wait to bring you a weekend of exciting new films that will challenge, surprise and delight you. Come and join us on 24-26 March 2023.
You’ll be glad you did.
WHO WE ARE
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Louise WadleyLOUISE WADLEY is the Festival Director. Louise was a long time board member of the MardiGras Film Festival, and has served as a jurist for a number of film festivals, including Women in Film and Television (Australia). Louise graduated from the National Film and Television School in the UK and was a semi-finalist in The Academy Nicholl’s Scriptwriting competition and shortlisted for the Sundance Script Lab. Her debut feature All About E was released in 2016. Frustrated by the lack of roles for women she formed Girls’ Own Pictures with her partner Jay Rutovitz to develop and produce original stories with distinctive and exciting female lead characters.
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Jay RutovitzJAY RUTOVITZ is the Festival General Manager. She is a director of Girls’ Own Pictures. Jay has experience of managing large budgets in the energy sector. Jay has also worked as a producer, a gaffer, and a 2nd assistant director, alongside her career in renewable energy. She produced All About E (2015), a low budget narrative feature set in Sydney and the outback. Jay oversaw one of Australia’s most successful crowd funding projects for feature films, raising over $93,000 for All About E in a 2013 Pozible campaign, and raised $220,000 in private investment.
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OUR BOARD
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KERRY MCQUADEKerry has enjoyed diving into the Hebden Bridge Film Festival as a punter and now hopes to help other people get the best out of the Festival and the town that hosts it.
Kerry feeds goats and administrates two grant giving trusts. She is s often found tending organic fruit and veg in her back garden or watching Burnley Football Club. Kerry has worked as a Duty Manager at Hebden Bridge Picture House and thinks it’s a special place to watch film – particularly from her favourite seat in the front row. |
AGUSTINA FIGUERASAgustina has been working in the film industry for over fifteen years working with notable directors on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2013, Agustina relocated to the UK to complete a Screenwriting MA whilst also working as Production Manager. In 2019, Agustina was Associate Producer on the British-Portuguese co-production, Listen, the film winning two Lions at the 2020 edition of Venice Film Festival. Agustina’s own short film, Bora Bora, also won several awards during its international film festival run. She's currently part of the Film Hub North 2023 Creative Producers Lab.
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JUDITH GLYNNJudith originally trained as a doctor and then a research scientist working on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, mainly in Africa. She moved from London to Hebden Bridge in 2020, and now retired, can concentrate on art (as a sculptor) and becoming involved in the local community. Theatre and cinema have been life-long interests.
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NICOLE LYONSNicole is a business professional and recent MBA graduate with over 10 years' experience in marketing and communications. A Hebden Bridge resident with a deep passion for film. Nicole has enjoyed the film festival as an audience member and is looking forward to supporting the delivery of her first festival in 2024 as she joins the board of directors to support with getting the word out.
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