Penistone Film Festival opening night
Penistone Film Festival

I was invited to provide event photography for the 2026 Penistone Film Festival, a wonderful non-profit event that "celebrates the past, present and future of cinema".

The festival included a programme of award-winning short films, silent cinema (classics and new work) and live music performance (accompanying the films). All this to support the next generation of filmmakers and bring the enjoyment of cinema to everyone. Fantastic! 

Venues and Team

It was hosted in a South Yorkshire UK town called Penistone, at the delightful 100 year old Penistone Paramount cinema and also at the church venue opposite and was spread over a weekend. Below is a selection of photos I took at the film screenings and Gala Festival Awards.

You can read more about the festival team here, but there is no sufficient way to communicate just how much effort went in. Jennifer Bulcock is the festival founder and deserves all the superlatives ever made. Jen was supported by a brilliant team of volunteers, artists/performers, guest stars and judges, as well as those supporting the event in other ways.

HIRE ME! - I'd love to do unit stills photography 

Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge film buff. I also happen to be a professional photographer so this gig was a perfect marriage and I would really love to do more in this industry, including on film sets. 

The festival founder, Jen, provided the following feedback (also see my Google reviews):

"Chris was exceptional from start to finish.

He covered three extremely full festival days with enormous care, stamina and professionalism, capturing both the important formal moments and the candid details that tell the real story of an event.

He was organised, communicative, calm, respectful and incredibly generous with his time. Chris understood what we needed without requiring constant direction and made an enormous contribution to Penistone Film Festival.

I would recommend him without hesitation for film festivals, live events, behind-the-scenes or unit stills photography."

If you need a UK based photographer (on-set stills photography, behind the scenes, event photography, anything else), then get in touch.

Festival photos

Below is a selection of my photos - I'd love to hear from you in the comments or on social media if you were there (or if you just love silent cinema...or any cinema)! I tried chatting to as many people as possible at the festival - that's the best way to "get in" with people and get good photos - I'd really love to hear from you.

Festival founder Jennifer Bulcock opened the festival at the historic Penistone Paramount cinema on the Friday evening Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose composer Bill Prokopow Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose director Adam Sigal Buster Keaton visited the Penistone Paramount historic cinema The festival continued on Saturday with classic films and short films (mostly silent or with minimal dialogue) submitted as part of the festival Mrs Fanny Barker time travellled to help host Saturday's program. Jennifer Bulcock was there too. Behind the scenes in the ticket booth at the Penistone Paramount The festival host team at the Penistone Paramount Cinema Andy Quin warms up the piano with an improvised stool from the bar Some excellent actors provided entertainment Mrs Fanny Barker hosted / Jennifer Bulcock Andy Quin was introduced and accompanied the wonderful 1920 German silent horror 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' Intermission - chatting with some of the filmmakers Interviewing festival attendees Some filmmakers had travelled internationally - these people came from Portugal with their short film Returning guests Anthony Charlot Champeil as Charlie Chaplin (the only Chaplin authorised by the Chaplin estate in the world) Anthony Charlot Champeil as Charlie Chaplin had travelled across the English channel with his short film for the festival Jared Engel and Mitchell Cheng accompanied their excellent short film Day of the Catch - they travelled across from New York for the festival Jared Engel and Mitchell Cheng accompanied their excellent short film Day of the Catch Filmgoers enjoyed the festival Day of the Catch text card: 'SPLAT!' Mitchell Cheng accompanied Day of the Catch Festival audience Day of the Catch Sunday's festival Gala awards hosted by festival founder Jennifer Bulcock St John the Baptist Church - venue of Sunday's awards Penistone Folk Ensemble provided musical entertainment and were excellent Attendee costume inspired by the 1902 silent film A Trip to the Moon Ruby Barker tried out a filmmaker's camera Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom-inspired costume Part of the core festival team - Jeremy, Jen and Laura Jeremy in action Jen Bulcock hosted with aplomb 'Art in Action' award by the British Stunt Register 'Best Student Picture' presented by Ruby Barker (Marina in Bridgerton, Netflix) 'Sporting Stories' award presented by Tony Currie (Sheffield United FC legend) to Jared Engel for Day of the Catch 'Best Original Sound & Score' presented by Andy Quin to Miguel Anjos and Tiago Morais for their short film Sonatax Miguel Anjos and Tiago Morais for their short film Sonatax - winner of Best Original Sound and Score Miguel Anjos and Tiago Morais for their short film Sonatax - these guys travelled across from Portugal for the festival Miguel Anjos and Tiago Morais for their short film Sonatax along with some silent film star Buster Keaton The festival provided some fantastic networking opportunities and especially helps young talent Andy Quin with Jen Bulcock The festival provided some fantastic networking opportunities and especially helps young talent Jennifer Bulcock, Anthony Charlot Champeil as Charlie Chaplin, Ruby Barker, Jen's mum The three nominees for 'The Buster Award' were all really excellent
David Arquette sent in a great message, very funny The Best Picture nominees
'Best Picture' was presented by director and producer Adam Sigal 'Best Picture' was presented to 'The Crossing' by director and producer Adam Sigal Buster and Jeremy Photobooth Evening music entertainment by Reductio Contemporary and classical music by Reductio Reductio in the church The church transformed into a rave venue of sorts Jennifer Bulcock closing out the festival Anthony Charlot Champeil as Charlie Chaplin, enjoying Reductio Battling Buster having a rave to Reductio