Filmmaking Challenge

Now in its fourth year, Folkestone Documentary Festival Filmmaking Challenge is a county-wide creative programme that encourages people across Kent to make short, accessible documentary films rooted in their local environment, communities and stories.

The Challenge is open to filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds, including schools, colleges, community groups and all aspiring filmmakers. Films must be documentary in form, no longer than five minutes, and made by Kent-based people about Kent-based stories. There are very few rules; you can shoot on any camera, and participants are encouraged to film on their phones to keep the process simple and inclusive.

A Fisherman’s Memories Of Kent’s Sea Forts - Paul Brook
A Kent fisherman recalls a life of boats, pirate radio and wartime sea forts.

Bitch Brain - Christine Drylie
Living with my 'Bitch Brain' (aka my ADHD brain) and the coping strategies I use to deal with her.

Community Litter Pickers - Quinn Hart
Eco Around, a community interest company, heads to Canterbury to partake in community litter picking and social bonding.

Go Forage Yourself - Mark Thomas and Luke Edwards
Mark follows Lady Fox, “Kent's No. 1 Forager", into the depths of the Garden of England's hedgerows and farmers' fields, as she attempts to teach him how to find nature’s gifts without getting lost, poisoned, or arrested.

I'm Not Talking About That - The Tuohy Family
An old lady revisits her artistic past and mistakes while offering advice to the next generation of artists.

Louis - Louis Baker
Experience just some of what Louis 'loves' in his world.

Power Lifting - Florence Jones and Denitsa Vasileva
Alan Collins, Folkestone legend and owner of Hi-rep gym, has lived a life of powerlifting, world records and competitions. In this film, Alan gives you a personal tour of this cultural iron stronghold and walks you through his career and the people he met along the way.

The Allotmenters - Megan Jones
A peek behind the fence at the rules and radicals of the allotment community.

The Fisherman's Heritage - Adura Babatunde
In Folkestone, where a once-thriving fishing community has dwindled to just a handful of boats, a fourth-generation fisherman and a local angler reflect on what is being lost as the sea changes.

Under The Chalk, Into The Dirt - Roanne Hulse
An intimate portrait of allotment life where growing a patch of land becomes about far more than what can be grown and what it means to have something you simply cannot bear to lose.

We are awarding two prizes this year – Best Film and Best Environmental Film. For Best Environmental Film, we welcome documentaries that explore Kent’s natural environment—its geology, wildlife and plant life - or address climate change. Our esteemed jury of filmmakers and industry professionals, plus last year’s Best Film winner, select the winners.

We will announce the winning films after the shortlist screening. Winners will receive our coveted Seagull trophy and a voucher for £1000 worth of support from Screen South, which includes cameras, sound equipment, an editing suite, and professional advice.

Best Film: I'm Not Talking About That - The Tuohy Family
Best Environmental Film: Go Forage Yourself - Mark Thomas and Luke Edwards

Derek Drennan: Co-founder and Managing Director of Nest Productions, Derek has over 20 years of experience in the television industry and has worked across some of the UK’s leading production companies, delivering ambitious entertainment, factual, reality, documentary, children’s programming and high-end television drama for major broadcasters and global streaming platforms.

Rhiana Bonterre: Working as a filmmaker and writer, Rhiana's interest begins in the body and all it stores and the rituals, practices and happenings that jolt one into a reckoning with it. Utilising montage strategies, Rhiana rhythmically weaves together dance, documentary elements, personal archives, analogue material and sound. Her work also involves engagement with community collectives and their practices of activism, through gathering, sharing and performing.

Clare-Louise English is an award-winning writer/director and one of Screen International’s Screen Stars of Tomorrow 2023. Clare’s debut short, My Darling Christopher, toured festivals across the globe and gained her a Best Director nomination. She has since directed several award-winning films, audio plays and About Time, a live performance event held at BAFTA. Her recent film Where The Light Gets In (LumoTV/NowTV) was nominated for a Best Drama at the Broadcast Digital Awards.

Peter Sladen Winner of last year’s Filmmaking Challenge, Peter works as a filmmaker, photographer and cinematographer and has founded Block Art Media. Beginning in photography, his work evolved through commercial, promotional and music video production, before expanding into cinematography, documentary and narrative filmmaking.

Dan Setford is a documentary film editor with over 17 years of experience in television. Recent work includes: Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now, Robbie; The Liver King; Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal and has other projects due to be released in 2026.

Simon Freeman: After studying Film & Television Production and Post-Production at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in California, Simon began his career in London, working in film and TV post-production. In 2016, he co-founded Paper Boat Documentaries, a video production partnership focused on creating short documentaries, brand films, and video content for passionate people, businesses, and good causes.