Otherfield is a festival held at Laughton Lodge in the East Sussex countryside over the weekend of Friday 2nd August to Sunday 4th August. We screen films in makeshift venues. We put together workshops in barns and fields where the vanguard rub shoulders with the old guard. We combine creative endeavour with critical discourse, with an aim to inspire. We sleep in tents, eat meals together under the summer night skies and share stories around evening bonfires. Otherfield is made up of volunteers working within the film industry, who build the screening rooms, dining areas, bonfires and bars in the run up. Over the course of the year, we try our best to find films and think up workshops that we believe will be most helpful and supportive to those trying to carve a path as a non fiction filmmaker.

Launched in 2011 and dedicated to re-imagining the possibilities of nonfiction filmmaking, we are a grassroots gathering of non-fiction filmmakers and film lovers who have come together to create a space where we can discuss, share and support one another through the creative processes, ethics, politics and well being needed in our field of making, away from industry pressure. Our aim is to empower through dialogue and bring together filmmakers from all walks of life to listen, learn and grow in an environment which is fun, safe and away from the big smoke.

Dates: Friday 2nd August - Sunday 4th August, 2024
Location: Laughton Lodge, East Sussex
Timings: Gates open midday on Friday 2nd August, and the site needs to be vacated by 7pm on Sunday 4th August

Weekend Tickets include:

• Entrance to the festival
• Access to public camping and free showers
• Free access to all film screenings and workshops 

Access: If you require a complimentary Personal Assistant Ticket, please purchase 1 ticket and email us at info@otherfield.uk 

Where is the festival and how do I get there?
The site address is: Laughton Lodge, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6BY

Getting here by car: If using a sat nav, please use “Common Lane, Laughton” to find us. Laughton is about 6 miles outside of Lewes, and the festival site is just before Laughton village when approaching from Lewes. Signs for Otherfield will be on the Laughton Road/Common Lane junction. Entrance to the festival will be on Common Lane. Please follow the signs. Please park in the car park field on either side of the entrance. Camper vans should park in the south-east corner of the car park field, near the entrance to the camping field.

If you are driving and you haven't bought a parking ticket yet- please do, via the ticket box office.

Getting here by train: Nearest stations are Uckfield and Lewes. Uckfield is closer to site than Lewes, although both stations are the same distance from London (roughly 70 minutes). Brighton to Lewes is 15 minutes. If there is enough interest a shuttle bus can be arranged to pick people up at specific times.

What is the camping situation?
Most people who attend Otherfield camp in the designated camping field. Camping, with access to compost loos, outdoor showers and running water are all included in the ticket price. The camping field is a short walk away from the main festival hub where all the screenings and workshops take place. Tents and bedding are not supplied and camp fires are not allowed, but there will be a large bonfire in the middle of the field to sit around in the evening. There is also space for camper vans.

Is the event accessible for people with disabilities?
The Shawfield building is accessible and has disabled toilets. The camping field is a short walk away over rough ground to the screening building. Let us know your access needs and we will try our best to accommodate.

What should I bring with me?
Make sure you come with your ticket (unless you plan to purchase one on the door), a tent, sleeping bag and other camping essentials. Please do bring some cash with you as there is no cash machine on site.

Will there be food on-site?
All your food needs will be met on site. You can purchase a ticket in advance closer to the time of the event to cover all your meals - which is dinner on Friday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday (drinks not included). Alternatively, you can pay for your meals as you go, although it will be a bit more expensive per meal. There will be a bar serving alcoholic drinks at reasonable prices. Hot drinks and snacks will also be available to purchase throughout the day.

Please bring your own cup to Otherfield. We try to keep waste to a minimum at Otherfield so use proper cups, plates and glasses where we can and wash up what we use. We’re not going to ask you to bring a full crockery set, but bringing our own mugs would help us cut back!

How can I participate?
Otherfield has been described by some as a ‘bootcamp’ and others as a ‘retreat’. How you experience it is down to how you choose to participate. You could come and relax in a beautiful location, watch inspiring films, participate in interesting discussions and gain insight from our filmmaker's therapy sessions. Or, you can bring along a rough cut of something you’re working on to get feedback on and start new collaborations. If you want to be more involved in the running of Otherfield, you could join our team of volunteers. In exchange for your help, you will be well fed and have full access to the event. To volunteer drop us an email.

Head over to otherfield.uk to read FAQs or email us at info@otherfield.uk with any questions you may have! 

We look forward to welcoming you in August.

Lots of love,
The Otherfield team x