We’re thrilled to unveil our brand new identity. While we haven’t forgotten where we came from we understand many of you didn’t know in the first place. That’s why we’re no longer Hellfire Film Festival, we’re now Folkestone International Film & TV Festival. Read more
Previously known as St. Mark’s Church, The Tower Theatre is a former Garrison Church on the Shorncliffe Garrison, a British Army barracks, in Folkestone, Kent. It is a 280-seat theatre and is owned by, and the home of, the Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society, an amateur theatre company who perform regular shows at the theatre.
The global pandemic and the Government’s order to close all non-essential businesses has put the theatre in a difficult position. It receives no external funding so relies 100% on ticket sales, donations and membership subscriptions so naturally the closure has had a massive impact on funds.
It is a difficult time for everyone but if you can spare any amount of cash to help save The Tower Theatre please visit their GoFundMe fundraiser. Even the smallest of donations will go a long way towards the survival of this jewel of a venue in Folkestone.
Thank you.
The Folkestone International Film & TV Festival Committee
All Hellfire Film Festival events barring the Hellfire Short Film Awards have been postponed indefinitely. The Hellfire Short Film Awards will still go ahead but there will not be any public gathering for it.
All films submitted to the Hellfire Short Film Awards will be reviewed by the judges in their own homes via our submissions partner FilmFreeway. The judges will then decide by conference call who the winners will be. The trophies will then be awarded and mailed to the recipients.
At the last Hellfire Short Film Festival audience members came from the length and breadth of the UK. We want to do our bit to help limit the spread of the disease after almost 100 confirmed cases in our county and nearly 10,000 in the UK as a whole. Our director, Gary JJ Spate, who still receiving treatment for a well documented illness – as such his immune system is almost non-existent, is in the high risk category if he becomes infected so he is now upon medical advice being “shielded” for twelve weeks, so we did not take this decision lightly.
While we are bitterly disappointed to make this decision we hope you understand the reasoning and we hope the situation improves soon.
Stay safe and adhere to all government advice.
We are now launching a new festival geared specifically for those isolating at home during this COVID-19 outbreak. Called Hellfire@Home Festival we take a film festival direct to your living room.
For all media and press enquiries please contact : Sadie Ingoldby-Spate, Head of Marketing – sadie@hellfirefilmfestival.com.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Cath and Andi of Lime Bar Cafe for their amazing generosity in providing Hellfire Film Festival with a home for almost three years. Read more