North West Independent Film Festival
| Website | Film Freeway - North West Independent Film Festival |
|---|---|
| Location | The Ferret |
The North West Independent Film Festival (NWIFF) is a brand new film festival, based in Preston, Lancashire.
NWIFF is a celebration of British short films from all over the UK, with a curated programme of screenings taking place in June.
The 3 core aims of the festival are:
- To showcase innovative and thought-provoking British shorts
- To be accessible for filmmakers and audiences alike
- To champion emerging voices in the art-form of filmmaking.
There are two submission categories:
- Short Film - Fiction
- Short Film - Documentary
Short fiction films can be of any genre (Drama, Comedy, Horror etc.). Animations are eligible to be submitted in this category. The maximum runtime for both categories is 15 mins (including credits).
NWIFF particularly welcome low/no budget films. They fully respect and champion filmmakers who go out and create with whatever resources they have.
Dates and Deadlines
- Opening Date - 1 January 2025
- Submission Deadline - 30 April 2025
- Notification Date - 30 May 2025
- Event Date - 21 - 22 June 2025
Awards and Prizes
There are 4 awards up for grabs:
- Best Short Fiction Film
- Best Documentary Short
- Best North West film
- Best Student Film
All award winners will receive a plaque from the festival.
Rules and terms can be found in full on Film Freeway - North West Independent Film Festival.
Meet the Team
Festival Director - Martin Law is a filmmaker and university lecturer with previous experience as a Pre-Selector for other festivals. He has created the NWIFF to fill a cultural gap by bringing independent short films to local and regional audiences. Martin is a voting member of the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
Social Media Manager - Anastasiia Dzhulaeva is a film journalist and festival professional with a Master's degree in Film and Photographic Studies from Leiden University. Passionate about British cinema and independent storytelling, she uses her expertise in digital engagement to bring films and audiences closer together.
Blog Editor - Augusto Nembrini brings a wealth of industry experience and a passion for storytelling to the NWIFF blog. He is dedicated to fostering inclusivity in the film industry, ensuring all voices are heard and celebrated.
In total, they have 20 Pre-Selectors who watch the submissions and work with the Festival Director to program the festival. These include:
Maggie Ollerenshaw - a veteran actress who has appeared on our screens in BAFTA nominated films and television for six decades. She has also written plays and radio dramas and has previously been a judge for the BAFTA Best Short Film Award.
Alan Simmons - the Curation and Editorial Manager for the Arrow Video streaming service, ARROW. He started the service's 'Sharp Shorts' collection which showcases short films from around the world.
Rebecca Towers - a freelance television producer-director and live events curator. She is a cinephile whose interests range from archival treasures to contemporary cinema.
Archie Marshall - a freelance film programmer and curator. He recently graduated from the prestigious National Film and Television School, with an MA in Film Curation and Programming.
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Map address for The Ferret
The Ferret, 55 Fylde Road, Preston, PR1 2XQ.