Derby Film Festival with ParaCinema Festival return for an online edition

midlandsmovies • November 11, 2020
Derby Film Festival with ParaCinema Festival return for an online edition from 19th to 23rd November 2020

Derby Film Festival returns for five days of fantastic new films, talks and more from 19th to 23rd November. This year marks the seventh edition and takes the festival on a new direction with the launch of the brand-new QUAD player enabling all screenings to be viewed online. Derby Film Festival also welcomes its sister festival Paracinema, bringing a double punch of great cinema to homes in November.

Derby Film Festival features some of the best new cinema from seventeen different countries including the UK, USA, France, Netherlands, Cuba, Vietnam and Iran. Films selected from international submissions cover topics of fallen angels (Too Bad), Kidnapped Children (The Badger), Cuban music (Mambo Man), the Horror festival scene (The Horror Crowd), nature vs man (Anonymous Animals) as well as a truly beautiful family film in The End Of Heroes. 

Paracinema Film Festival features some of the most eclectic new genre cinema, including two new Acid Westerns (from Columbia and Kidderminster); a retro cop spoof; plus an interesting take on the found footage in VHyes and their own collection of eclectic shorts. 

Short filmmaking is celebrated with over 50 new short films showing as part of curated programmes. DFF Genre Shorts incorporates deals with the Devil, digital utopias, passionate musicians, Scottish babysitters, desperate criminals, gay corpses, crazy bird ladies and imaginary best friends. DFF Documentary Shorts Programme from inspirational women of colour, acrobats, celebrated authors, a café in Yorkshire, dance, breast cancer and the rise of CB radio in 1970s UK.


Caribbean Calling, is a showcase of new and recent shorts from the region (Adv 15reflecting the recent blossoming of Caribbean filmmaking, but these films remain mostly unseen in the UK, this offers a valuable, nuanced understanding of the region and its diaspora.


Adam J Marsh, Derby Film Festival / Paracinema Director said “We’re excited to launch our QUAD Player this year, while people are unable to visit us at QUAD in person. We had been planning this additional streaming element with it being an international festival. We hope to enable a new audience to take advantage of this viewing experience and sample our 2020 festival selection, showcasing the sheer breadth of fantastic new filmmaking talent out there”


All film screenings cost £5.00 to view.


For more information and to view the programme, see: https://derbyfilmfestival.co.uk and www.paracinema.co.uk

Midlands Movies Awards 2026 - Full nominations

By midlandsmovies • April 26, 2026
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Pete Key, Jai Blanks and Jacob Christie for Countenance  Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)

Review of Exit 8

By midlandsmovies • April 23, 2026
As someone who has been a fan of indie horror games for over a decade, I was jumping for joy when I first saw the announcement that an indie horror game I really enjoyed was receiving a film adaptation

A battle to behold as Midlands Movies visits upcoming historical epic

By midlandsmovies • April 23, 2026
On a bright Sunday morning at a campsite just off the A52 in rural Staffordshire, you would never have guessed that a run-of-the-mill grass field would soon set the stage for an epic encounter between 15th century armies.

Midlands Review of Lacuna

By midlandsmovies • April 13, 2026
Lacuna is a new short film from Midlands director Sophie Black and explores the sensitive subject of sexual abuse and its many ramifications.
Show More