Daisy Ridley has agreed to join the judging panel for Worcester Film Festival, marking a significant boost for regional cinema in the Midlands. The 34-year-old, best known for playing Rey in the Star Wars franchise, agreed "almost straight away" to get involved, according to co-founder Henrik Harms.
Ridley won't attend the ceremony in person, but she's recorded a video for the festival that Harms described as "the most wholesome video." In it, she says it's the first time she's ever done judging for a film festival. The gesture reflects growing recognition of independent cinema outside London's traditional cultural dominance.
A Festival Built for the Region
The festival takes place at the Odeon cinema in Foregate Street from 22 to 26 September and will showcase more than 250 films across five days. Organisers say the event will feature screenings and Q&As with established and emerging talent, with the aim of bringing more of the film industry to the region and creating a space for people to enjoy independent cinema.
Ridley will be joined on the judging panel by Jessica Henwick, best known for her role in Game of Thrones. Co-founders Harms and Kirstie Gregory said, "We love this area and we're proud to be working with so many fantastic organisations."
They added: "We've really seen this region grow over the last few years and the fact that such notable talent are being attracted to our event is a testament to the region's growing reputation on the film industry stage."
Growing Audience and Industry Recognition
Nominations span independent shorts and full-length features, with 25 categories including British short film, Midlands short film, emerging filmmaker and British feature film. Since launching in 2021, the festival's audience has grown from 250 to more than 2,000 attendees. That's an eightfold increase in the festival's fifth year.
Previous editions have attracted Martin Freeman, Patrick Fabian, Ralph Ineson and Mathew Horne. Organisers have also secured partnerships with BAFTA, ODEON and RTS Midlands, and the festival is accredited by the British Independent Film Awards. These institutional links matter — they provide emerging filmmakers with genuine pathways into an industry that's historically concentrated in London and the South East.
Why This Matters:
Worcester Film Festival's growth reflects a broader shift in British cultural geography. For decades, regional filmmakers faced a choice: move to London or struggle for recognition. Festivals like this one create infrastructure outside the capital — screening opportunities, industry connections, and audiences willing to pay for independent work. The involvement of actors like Ridley and Henwick isn't just celebrity endorsement. It signals that regional festivals can offer what London-centric events often can't: direct engagement with communities underserved by mainstream cinema. As public funding for the arts remains under pressure, grassroots cultural institutions become even more vital. Worcester's eightfold audience growth since 2021 shows there's demand. The question is whether regional cinema can secure the long-term investment it needs to thrive.