The Cambridge Film Festival is the third-longest-running film festival in the UK. The festival historically took place during early July, but now takes place annually during Autumn in Cambridge. It is organised by the registered charity Cambridge Film Trust.
Established in 1977 and re-launched in 2001 after a 5-year hiatus, the Cambridge Film Festival shows a range of UK and international films that debuted at leading film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival, as well as hosting UK premieres of films, alongside a broad range of specialist interest, archive, and retrospective strands. All films are open to the public to watch.
Each year the Festival awards audience awards to the Best Feature (The Golden Punt Award), Best Documentary (Silver Punt Award), and Best Short Film (Crystal Punt Award).
About
The Cambridge Film Festival is presented annually by the Cambridge Film Trust, a registered charity with a mission to foster film culture and education for the benefit of the public, in Cambridge and the Eastern region but also throughout the UK. The Festival believes "passionately in the power of film as a medium that can change lives and make the world a better place. It can expose people to new perspectives and ideas, aiding cross-cultural understanding and contributing to community engagement and well being."
Long time Festival Director, Tony Jones, stepped down from his role following the 2019 Festival. Over more than 30 years he had overseen all aspects of the Festival. Following his departure, the Film Trust board (on which Tony Jones remains a trustee) looked to broaden the team and bring a range of new voices to the Festival. As well as an established strong delivery team, a new Programming Panel was set-up, incorporating new and existing CFF Programmers. The Panel was fully established in 2022 under the leadership of Elle Haywood, a film curator and critic with a background in film, media and technology. The panel includes programmers Savina Petkova, Amon Warmann, Camera Catalonia Programmer Ramon Lamarca, Short Film Programmer Abby Pollock and Programme Advisors from the Cambridge Film Trust, Mike O'Brien and Isabelle McNeill.
Editions
1977–1979
1977
In 1977 the first Festival set the pattern for innovation, diversity and the emphasis on world cinema, with screenings of Kurosawa's DODESKA-DEN, Visconti's CONVERSATION PIECE and Rosi's ILLUSTRIOUS CORPSES.
Originally based at the single-screen Arts Cinema in Cambridge city centre's Market Passage, the Festival was originally conceived with a two-fold purpose: as a means of screening current international cinema; and to rediscover important but neglected film-makers and their films, which were either out of distribution or unseen for many years.
1978
The second Cambridge Film Festival in 1978 hosted the UK Premiere of The Chess Players. It was the centrepiece of a Satyajit Ray retrospective and marks the establishment of the Retrospective Strand. The programme also included Rudolph's WELCOME TO LA, Jarman's JUBILEE and HARLAN COUNTY, USA.
1979
The third Cambridge Film Festival in 1979 included the premieres of Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata, Herzog's Nosferatu and Altman's A Wedding. 1979 also featured a retrospective on the Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda.
1980–1989
1980
At the fourth Festival in 1980, audiences saw the UK Premieres of Petit's RADIO ON, Roeg's BAD TIMING and Loach's BLACK JACK.
1981
1981 marked the 5th Festival, and the first Festival with current Festival Director, Tony Jones, at the helm.
The Festival in 1981 screened a newly restored version of Gance's NAPOLEON, alongside a Bertrand Tavernier retrospective. It was also the first year to have 'away' screenings at the Arts Theatre in St Edward's Passage.
1982
1982 saw a general widening of the Festival programme and hosted the UK Premiere of another Werner Herzog film, FITZCARRALDO.
1983
In 1983, the 7th Festival hosted the Premiere Sayles' LIANNA. The Retrospective Strand was focused on Indian filmmaker Mrinal Sen.
1984
In 1984, at the 8th Festival, Wim Wenders was in attendance to present his film PARIS, TEXAS. For the Retrospective Strand, the work of Volker Schlondorff was highlighted.
1985
At the 9th Cambridge Film Festival Francesco Rosi introduced CARMEN to audiences as part of his retrospective. A second retrospective strand on Percy Adlon was also featured.