Selections

Submission: Your film submission marks the beginning of its evaluation process. We welcome submissions from filmmakers worldwide, irrespective of their background or experience level.

Point Scoring System: Each submitted film undergoes assessment based on various criteria such as originality, technical execution, storytelling, and overall impact. Our programming team employs a designated point scoring system to objectively evaluate these aspects.

Diverse Panel of Reviewers: To ensure comprehensive feedback and diverse perspectives, your film is reviewed by a panel comprising individuals from varied backgrounds. While our judging team for awards consists of industry professionals, our broader reviewer panel may include individuals not directly tied to the film industry, enriching the evaluation process with diverse viewpoints.

Audience Preference: In addition to technical proficiency and artistic merit, we also consider the potential appeal of your film to our festival audience. Understanding audience preferences is integral to our selection process as we curate a lineup that resonates with and captivates our diverse audience. Notably, we do not restrict our selections based on set themes, thereby providing opportunities for a wide range of films to be chosen.

Overall Assessment: Through a combination of point scoring, diverse reviewer perspectives, and audience-centric evaluation, our programming team gains a comprehensive understanding of each film's strengths and potential impact. This holistic assessment guides our final selections, ensuring a diverse and captivating lineup for our festival attendees.

We firmly believe that this multifaceted approach to selection promotes fairness, transparency, and enriches the festival experience for filmmakers and audiences alike. At our festival, every film receives the attention and consideration it deserves, reflecting our commitment to celebrating diverse voices and cinematic excellence.

When you submit your film to our festival through FilmFreeway, you'll receive notifications regarding the status of your submission directly through the platform. This streamlined process ensures that you're kept informed every step of the way. If your film is accepted into our festival, you'll be promptly notified via email or through your FilmFreeway dashboard. This notification serves as a thrilling confirmation of your film's success and inclusion in our festival lineup.

While we strive to showcase as many films as possible, unfortunately, we are not able to select every submission we receive. If your film is declined, you'll also receive a notification, providing transparency about the outcome of your submission. Please know that this does not diminish the quality or value of your work. Your film may be fantastic, but due to the high volume of submissions, we have to make difficult decisions in curating our lineup.

However, the journey does not end there. We encourage you to continue telling your stories and sharing your unique perspective with the world. As part of our commitment to supporting filmmakers, you have the option to request feedback on your submission. This feedback mechanism allows you to gain valuable insights into why your film was not selected for screening. It is important to note that this feedback is entirely optional, as we understand that every filmmaker's journey is different.

Remember, every film has its own journey, and receiving constructive feedback can be instrumental in your growth and development as a filmmaker. This structured communication process ensures that you remain engaged and informed throughout the submission and selection process. We appreciate your passion for storytelling and creative expression, and we look forward to the opportunity to celebrate your work in the future. Keep creating, keep sharing, and keep shining your light through your films.

We are committed to ensuring that our judging process is thorough, transparent, and fair. Here's an insight into how we meticulously select the films to be celebrated at our festival:

Our esteemed judging panel comprises industry professionals carefully chosen from our pool of past festival award winners. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to the table, representing the rich tapestry of the filmmaking community.

When submissions come in, our dedicated team meticulously categorises and screens each film to ensure they align with our festival's standards and criteria. Subsequently, we entrust our panel of judges with the task of evaluating these films based on specific criteria such as storytelling, cinematography, acting, and overall impact.

To uphold integrity and impartiality, we assign films to our judges through an allocator who diligently checks for any potential conflicts of interest between judges and filmmakers. Additionally, our judges maintain integrity by abstaining from voting on films where conflicts may arise.

Utilising a robust scoring system, our judges meticulously assign numerical ratings to each film they review. These scores are then aggregated to identify the standout contenders in each category.

Once the finalists are identified, our judges come together to engage in meaningful discussions and deliberations to determine the winning films. These deliberations are marked by a commitment to transparency and integrity, with judges exchanging insights and perspectives to reach a collective consensus.

While not every selected film may receive an award, we firmly believe that being chosen for our festival is a remarkable achievement in itself. Among our submissions, each selected film represents a testament to talent, creativity, and dedication.

At the grand finale of the festival, we proudly unveil the winners in each category during our prestigious awards ceremony. It is a momentous occasion that celebrates and acknowledges the exceptional contributions of filmmakers to the world of cinema.

Throughout this entire process, we extend an invitation to filmmakers to seek feedback and critiques from our esteemed judging panel. This feedback serves as a valuable resource for filmmakers striving to hone their craft and elevate their future projects.

In essence, our judging process is a collaborative and rigorous endeavour, driven by our unwavering passion for championing excellence in filmmaking. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a platform for diverse voices and stories to shine bright on the global stage.

Nominations hold a special significance, representing the pinnacle of cinematic excellence and creativity. Here's what nominations mean for filmmakers:

Our nominations process is a rigorous journey guided by our commitment to showcasing the best in independent cinema. It begins with the submission of your film, which undergoes careful evaluation by our dedicated team to ensure it meets our festival's criteria and resonates with our audience.

Once your film passes this initial screening, it is entrusted to our esteemed panel of industry professionals, including past festival award winners. These judges bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives, ensuring a thorough and impartial evaluation of each submission.

Our judges evaluate films based on criteria such as storytelling, cinematography, acting, and overall impact. Their assessments are comprehensive, reflecting a deep appreciation for the art and craft of filmmaking.

As the judging process unfolds, standout films emerge as finalists in each category. These films represent the epitome of cinematic excellence, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression on our judges.

Nominations are a testament to the talent, dedication, and creative vision of filmmakers. They signify recognition from our esteemed panel of judges and affirmation of your contribution to the world of cinema.

While not every film may receive a nomination, being considered for our festival is a remarkable achievement. It speaks to the quality and impact of your work, affirming your place among the best in independent filmmaking.

Nominations are more than just accolades – they are a celebration of your talent and a testament to the power of storytelling. We are proud to honour and showcase your work and look forward to sharing your film with our audience.

At the festival, we are thrilled to recognise and honour exceptional talent across various categories. Our esteemed judging team, comprised of industry professionals, will carefully evaluate each submission and select nominees for the following prestigious awards:

Best Film: Recognising the overall best film that demonstrates excellence in storytelling, direction, performances, and technical aspects.
Best Short Film: Recognising outstanding achievements in short filmmaking, celebrating creativity and storytelling in a concise format.
Best Documentary: Honouring the most compelling and impactful non-fiction films, highlighting important stories and issues.
Best Director: Acknowledging visionary directors who demonstrate exceptional skill in guiding the artistic vision of a film.
Best Screenplay: Celebrating outstanding writing talent and storytelling prowess, recognising scripts that captivate and engage audiences.
Best Actor: Recognising exceptional performances by male actors, showcasing their ability to bring characters to life with depth and authenticity.
Best Actress: Honouring outstanding performances by female actors, celebrating their talent and versatility on screen.
Best Supporting Actor: Acknowledging memorable performances in supporting roles, enriching the narrative and elevating the overall quality of the film.
Best Supporting Actress: Celebrating exceptional performances in supporting roles, complementing and enhancing the storytelling experience.
Best Cinematography: Recognising excellence in visual storytelling, honouring cinematographers who masterfully capture the essence and mood of a film.
Best Editing: Recognising outstanding achievement in film editing, showcasing seamless storytelling through effective editing techniques.
Best Original Score: Honouring outstanding musical compositions that enhance the emotional impact and narrative depth of a film.
Best Low Budget (Under £1000): Recognising exceptional creativity and resourcefulness in filmmaking within a limited budget.
Audience Choice Award(s): Empowering festival attendees to celebrate their favourite films, recognising the audience's top picks for their exceptional entertainment value and impact.

All award nominations and results will be publicly listed on the submission and connected individuals' IMDb pages. We encourage filmmakers to ensure their IMDb pages for their films are submitted to ensure accurate and timely recognition.

These awards serve as a testament to the creativity, talent, and dedication of filmmakers, and we are honoured to showcase and celebrate their outstanding contributions at the festival.