Northampton Film Festival (NFF) is bringing a host of stories to the big screen this March which showcase women as filmmakers, storytellers and sportspeople, with the winners of the annual film competition being announced on International Women’s Day.
The programme includes:
- a showcase of ‘Women In Film’ on Monday 2nd March at Northampton Filmhouse, including short film ‘Swim Sistas’ from Northampton Director Catherine Joy White: a poetic love letter to water, sisterhood, and the enduring strength of Black women across generations.
- short film ‘Dear Heart’ as part of the Local and New Filmmaker programme at the University of Northampton on Tuesday 3rd March: an intimate glimpse into the mind of an ordinary 63-year-old woman who knows that being outdoors and active every day is the cure for succumbing to life’s ‘stop cards’.
- a feature-length documentary on Wednesday 4th March at Northampton Filmhouse about the original rebel girls of football ‘The Corinthians’ Ladies FC from Manchester who formed a team in 1949 at the height of the English Football Association’s 50-year ban on women playing. They took on the all-male establishment and won.
Watch ‘The Corinthians’ trailer here.
Rugby player, swimmer and star of ‘The Traitors’ Series 2, Jasmine Boatswain from ‘Swim Sistas’ and director of ‘The Corinthians: We Were The Champions’ documentary Helen Tither will be at their respective screenings to take part in a Q&A session with the audience after their films.
In addition, following ‘The Corinthians’ screening, NFF has partnered with West Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire Sport to host a celebratory event at the Royal & Derngate to premiere NFF’s Women’s Rugby World Cup legacy film, and showcase local opportunities for women and girls to get active. This is open to ‘The Corinthians: We Were The Champions’ ticketholders.
Those interested in attending the events, can find details and book tickets on the film festival website Events Schedule | Northampton Film Festival 2026 and The Creative Place
NFF Festival Director Becky Carrier says, “After spending the summer of 2025 producing a film to capture the Women’s Rugby World Cup for West Northamptonshire Council, we were ecstatic to see we’d had a number of amazing sport-related films made by and featuring women submitted to this year’s festival. With the World Cup we saw firsthand what engaging new audiences with sports, including via arts and culture, could do for women locally, so we were keen to continue that legacy, and play our part in ensuring that women feel at home in arenas that have often been dominated by men like rugby and film.”
Cllr James Petter, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: “The Women’s Rugby World Cup showed just how powerful sport can be in inspiring confidence, ambition and a sense of belonging among women and girls.
“Seeing those stories reflected through film at Northampton Film Festival is a brilliant way to build on that momentum. By celebrating women’s achievements on screen and showcasing the many local opportunities to get active, we want to encourage more women and girls to give sport a go – whether that’s picking up a rugby ball for the first time, getting back into activity, or simply seeing themselves represented in spaces where they haven’t always felt welcome.”
Matthew Peleszok, Strategic Lead – Inequalities at Northamptonshire Sport says, “Northamptonshire Sport is committed to ensuring that women and girls have equal access to sport and physical activity, which is why we are delighted to be joining this showcase, as part of our wider work to bring gender equality. We want all women to feel safe and empowered to be active, whether in sport or across the wonder greenspaces we have in West Northamptonshire.”
All 3 films have been nominated for Best Film in their category at this year’s festival awards. The public are also invited to attend on Sunday 8th March (International Women’s Day) at 5pm at the Royal Theatre in Northampton. Tickets can be purchased via the festival website Events Schedule | Northampton Film Festival 2026 and The Creative Place
Northampton Film Festival 2026 has been made possible with support from our venues – the University of Northampton, Royal & Derngate, Northampton Filmhouse and Delapré Abbey – as well as grants from Northampton Town Council and Film Hub Midlands through funds from the National Lottery. Film Hub Midlands support people to watch, show, and make films in the Midlands. Northamptonshire Community Foundation have also supported the festival’s Young Programmers scheme and Panavision have again donated the festival’s distinctive clapper board trophies.
