5 London Film Festivals You Have To Take In.
London film festivals flood the city throughout the year, but now is the time to make plans to attend as a fan, or get to work on a film submission. Whichever event you choose, you won’t be disappointed. When it comes to the London video production community, festivals are essential, so here are our top picks:
1. London Short Series Festival
Location:
John Lyon’s Theatre
Keeley Str. – Covent Garden
London, England WC2B 4BA
Contact:
Film is an art form generally known for its features, but sometimes, it’s the short form that can make the most impact. With this in mind, London offers the London Short Series Festival, and offers nothing but digital shorts created for online audiences. Besides film, there will be masterclasses, meet-and-greets, and networking opportunities. Whether you’re a fan of film or a filmmaker in need of guidance and inspiration, this festival is for you.
2. Wild Indie Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short Film Festival
Location:
ODEON Greenwich
Bugsby’s Way
London, England SE10 0QJ
Contact:
If you’re still in the mood for shorts in London, try this genre festival of all things science fiction and fantasy—from aliens to artificial intelligence to tech-gone-wild. The festival has various competitions and prizes, along with Q&As with the filmmakers, and with some of the films being micro in nature, meaning 2-5 minutes, they cram a lot into the screening program. You can expect a wide variety of genres in your sci-fi or fantasy experience, from comedy to romance, from swords-n-sandals to cyberpunk, there’s even the odd fan film (Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Star Trek come to mind). So if you like your SciFi and Fantasy, this is your kind of fest.
3. Underwire Festival
Location:
Contact:
In case you’re wondering if some London film festivals are dedicated to showcasing works by and about women, the answer is yes. The Underwire Festival is devoted to sharing the best female-centered films in London and the world beyond. Genres include features, shorts, and documentaries, but it doesn’t stop at film. Networking and skill-building opportunities abound. This well-publicized and reviewed event is one you won’t want to miss, and no festival would be complete without awards—theirs being The Underwire Award.
4. London Mountain Film Festival
Location:
Royal Geographical Society
1 Kensington Gore
London, England SW7 2AR
Contact:
The Royal Geographical Society offers a film festival dedicated to mountains, mountain life, and the adventure/challenge they provide. There is no better way to share information about a subject than film, and these will bring the best mountain climbers, athletes, explorers, and environmentalists in the world together. This is where mankind and womankind meet the mountains, but it’s more than just a series of films about peaks and valleys. Panels, discussions, and exhibitions on fitness, running, and mountain sports will be on hand.
5. Sundance Film Festival Shorts
Location:
Picturehouse Central
Piccadilly Circus, Corner of Great Windmill Street and, Shaftesbury Ave
London W1D 7DH
Contact:
0207 326 2649
If you’re unable to attend the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, you’ll have a chance to catch a selection of shorts from the event at Sundance Film Festival Shorts in London. Sundance is one of the most prestigious and sought-after film festivals in the world. This festival is a product of the Sundance Institute, founded by actor Robert Redford, who co-starred in 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Paul Newman.
London is packed with city film festivals throughout the year, so now is the time to make plans to attend as a fan, or get to work on a film submission. Whichever event you choose, you won’t be disappointed.