About Us
Making film accessible and proudly showcasing independent film to new audiences across overlooked communities.
The Format
Sunrise Film Festival occurs annually in Lowestoft, Britain’s most easterly town. Across the festival, we bring together independent filmmakers and celebrate all things film and the industry as a whole in a Summer coastal setting.
We’re passionate about creating a platform for filmmakers that are yet to be discovered (or picked up by the bigger film festival circuit), whilst also championing filmmaking and the arts across East Anglia including year-round activity across our local region, whilst remaining to stick with our routes as Lowestoft stays at our core.
Sunrise Film Festival is co-produced by Sunrise Studios, a local community production company based in the UK’s most easterly town, which is run by young creatives and filmmakers from Lowestoft.
Despite the challenges facing the film industry, we’re dedicated to creating a vibrant platform for emerging filmmakers and making independent cinema accessible to new audiences in often overlooked communities.
Since our inception, we’ve proudly screened over 420 indie films and presented 44 awards, becoming a BFI Film Audience Network-backed and BIFA-qualifying festival for British Short Films. Our mission is to uplift undiscovered talent and bring fresh, diverse stories to the big screen.
Here’s what Holly Donoghue, a 2024 festival attendee, had to say: “Sunrise Film Festival was a fantastic experience! I had a wonderful day and so much hard work goes into making it so great – excited to see where things are going for Sunrise.”
Meet Our Festival Committee
2024's Festival Trailer
We're committed to engaging overlooked audiences!
Our friends at Sunrise Studios support disadvantaged young people with creative enrichment through cultural learning and training opportunities year round.
All entry fees & ticket sales from the festival go directly to support the ongoing work Sunrise Studios undertakes to support other local young people within the regional charity access community Trust across rural communities in Suffolk & Norfolk.
Become A Supporter
Want to gain exposure for your brand or organisation and help us make Sunrise Film Festival an even bigger success?
A major opportunity to support or sponsor a nationally reaching film festival based in Lowestoft, which supports underrepresented filmmakers, undiscovered film & emerging talent.
Whether it’s supported in kind with your own expertise or services you can offer to support the next edition in being the very best it can be, or by choosing one of our sponsorship packages.
We’d love to hear from you!
To find out more about how you can support us email us at info@sunrisefilmfestival.co.uk