Hannah Jackson, Festival and Film Production Officer

Posted on 26 May 2026

Introducing the RDA’s Hannah Jackson, who brings her passion for festivals and film to Rochdale Development Agency, helping to shape a vibrant and distinctive cultural offer across the borough.                 

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your journey into festivals and film?

I’m Hannah and I’m the Festivals and Film Officer at the RDA. I come from an academic background specialising in regional film, and I’ve worked across film production, exhibition and festivals.

For the last three years, I’ve been part of the UK City of Culture programme in my hometown of Bradford, working on everything from outdoor cinemas and international writers’ exchanges to large-scale participatory projects. Being part of that journey really shaped my interest in how culture can animate places and bring communities together.

What does your role at the RDA involve?

I sit within the Culture and Placemaking team and my role involves supporting the planning and delivery of festivals and events across the borough, as well as contributing to the work of Rochdale Film Office.

For the Film Office, I’m involved from the earliest planning stages right through to on the day delivery, working with suppliers, coordinating logistics, producing safety documentation, and collaborating closely with staff, volunteers, performers and crews to make sure everything runs smoothly.

I also help manage filming enquiries, support production teams, and promote Rochdale as an exciting and varied filming destination.

What attracted you to the RDA, and to Rochdale as a place?

With a background in place based work, I was really excited to continue building on this at the RDA. I was drawn to the ambition and local heart evident in the events programming, as well as the opening of the Film Office. It’s abundantly clear that people here genuinely care about their work, the communities it impacts and the relationships it creates – and that’s a really special environment to be part of.

It’s also my first time working on this side of the Pennines! There’s a real sense of energy and momentum across the borough right now, with culture playing a key role in shaping how people experience the place.

What kinds of projects are you working on across the borough?

I work across Rochdale’s growing programme of festivals and events, supporting a year-round calendar that continues to expand in scale and reach. This includes flagship events like Feel Good Festival, as well as community-led and youth-focused programmes such as FAB Youth Arts Festival, Feel Good Family Picnics, IGNITE and the Darnhill Festival.

Alongside this, I support the Rochdale Film Office, managing the locations database, coordinating filming applications, supporting production teams, and helping to deliver familiarisation visits to showcase the borough to industry professionals.

What do you enjoy most about working in festivals and film?

Working in events is incredibly varied, and no two days are ever the same. I enjoy being immersed in the detail of scheduling just as much as seeing people experience events as they unfold. I love that the work reaches people, whether it’s happening on their doorstep or something they choose to travel for.

Through the Film Office, I also really enjoy getting out across the different areas and landscapes of the borough, uncovering hidden gems and imagining how they might appear on screen. Working locally across both events and film means I can build a longer term relationship with place, which in turn enriches the work I do.

What makes you get up in the morning?

I genuinely believe in positioning Rochdale as a thriving place for festivals and film, and this role gives me a meaningful opportunity to contribute to that. I care deeply about the work I do, and I recognise the real impact that engaging with culture can have in people’s everyday lives. That sense of responsibility, and wanting to do the best possible job, is a huge motivation for me.

Finally, tell us something people don’t know about you

Outside of work, I’m a big football fan, particularly interested in fan culture, club histories and their links to wider culture. For the past few years, I’ve been playing as a goalkeeper and left back in a grassroots team.

When I’m not on the pitch, I play bass guitar and, much to the dismay of my neighbours, the harmonica.