The Midlands Movies Awards is an annual awards ceremony for Midlands (UK) films and filmmakers.

What are we planning?
For our 10th annivesary, Midlands Movies will again be recognising all the movie-making talent from the area in 2026. Our awards will bring attention to the many amazing local films completed in the Midlands region of the UK.

What are the rules?
Make a film in the Midlands! Our focus is on films from the area so 75% of your finished and submitted film MUST have been shot/made on location in the Midlands region of the UK. For details please check full terms & conditions below. Films submitted will be considered across all eligible categories.

How much does it cost?
To cover admin costs, we charge a small amount to enter each of your films. For just one single price your film is entered into all of the 16 categories it may be eligible for.

When will the ceremony happen?
The red carpet evening will take place Saturday June 27th 2026 at the Y Theatre in Leicester in partnership with Chrome Video (www.chromevideo.co.uk)

Who’s on the jury panel?
A jury panel of respected and experienced film professionals have the difficult task of choosing nominations and winners.

JURY PANEL 2026:

VIP JURY PANEL MEMBER - RACHEL SHENTON
Academy Award winner Rachel Shenton is a writer, actress and co-owner of Slick Films and earned her Oscar for best live-action short film for The Silent Child in 2018, which she wrote & starred in. Her film helped put the deaf community on the industry's biggest stage when her acceptance speech used British Sign Language. Rachel also founded The Midlands Screen Acting School and co-leads the Slick Films Fund, both dedicated to championing working-class talent. Rachel has starred in all series of acclaimed drama All Creatures Great and Small and also hit BBC/Netflix series White Gold, after beginning her career in Channel 4's Hollyoaks. Her US TV debut had her playing Lily Summers in ABC Family drama Switched at Birth, and on the big screen, she is starring in Lionsgate's The Strangers film trilogy reboot, directed by Renny Harlin. Rachel will choose the winner of the Best Short Film category.

* TENISHA WHITE (Filmmaker)
* ELLIE L. KILBY, HENDRIK HARMS & KIRSTIE GREGORY (Worcester Film Festival)
* SOPHIE BLACK (Filmmaker, Triskelle Pictures)
* CLAIRE BENNETT (Scriptwriter, BBC's Doctors)
* AJAY BHADRESA (Film editor, MetFilm School B'ham)
* MATT TILT (Film critic, What's In A Scene)
* GRANT BLACK (Deputy CEO, Rural Media)
* MIKE SALES (Editor, Midlands Movies)

The Hobbit and Captain America acting superstar Richard Armitage headed up 2025's panel & past VIP jury members include Parminder Nagra (DI Ray / Bend It Like Beckham), Shane Meadows (This Is England), Debbie Isitt (BAFTA winning director), Richard Billingham (Turner prize nominee / director), Dharmesh Rajput (Birmingham Indian Film Fest), Pin Cushion director Deborah Haywood, Denyce Blackman (Film Birmingham) & Steve Oram (lead actor in Ben Wheatley's Sightseers).

NEW! Submit to the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards now and receive a code for 50% off entry for the Mansfield Town Film Festival!

And finally…
We appreciate everyone’s tremendous efforts in their filmmaking endeavours and can't wait to see all the talented films, filmmakers, cast and crew from the region once more in 2026!

Awards & Prizes

CATEGORIES

1. Best Short (chosen by VIP jury member TBC)
2. Best Feature
3. Actor in a Leading Role
4. Actress in a Leading Role
5. Actor in a Supporting Role
6. Actress in a Supporting Role
7. Animated Film
8. Costume & Makeup & Hairstyling
9. Directing
10. Documentary
11. Editing
12. Music (Score or song)
13. Cinematography
14. Sound (Editing or Mixing)
15. Visual Effects
16. Writing (Original or adapted screenplay)

Rules & Terms

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

* Our focus is very much on the Midlands area so PLEASE note that OVER 75% of your finished film should have been SHOT in the Midlands region (see Wikipedia for geographical areas covered) for it to fully be considered as a Midlands film for our awards. Filmmakers should ensure their film fulfils these requirements before submitting. Films that do not meet this standard will be disqualified at any time during the process. (A final decision will be made by Midlands Movies to see if the work fits the criteria).
* Submission cost is just £12.00 per film
* There's no limit to the number of films you can submit
* Deadline for submissions is TBC
* By submitting you formally agree for Midlands Movies to use clips of your film edited into the awards ceremony production (nomination reels AND pre & post awards promotional videos etc.) as required
* There's no limitations on your film being shown in other festivals - however, we are identifying films based upon the fact that a full version must have been shown to the public for the FIRST TIME (at a red carpet event, festival, general release or online in any form) between February 1st 2025 to February 28th 2026.
* The winners will receive a certificate and trophy
* Any film submitted as part of any previous Midlands Movies Awards are NOT eligible to enter the 2026 awards.
* Final winners are decided by a panel of judges made up from the Midlands film industry (announced soon)
* The judges' decision is final
* Jury Panel Members are ineligible to vote for any film they may have any production involvement in
* Filmmakers, cast and crew who are subsequently nominated are NOT entitled to free entry into the awards ceremony. Anyone interested in attending the event itself must purchase tickets via Midlands Movies once nominations have been announced
* Films over 45 minutes in length will not be considered in the BEST SHORT category and films under 45 minutes will not be considered in the BEST FEATURE category.
* Written screenplays and scripts are not eligible for the Midlands Movies Awards.

For any queries about these terms or general questions about the awards please email midlandsmovies@yahoo.com
41 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • James Pyle

    A brilliant festival focused on a region full of talented people. Every year it's such a pleasure to attend, creating an atmosphere where everyone is so happy to come together and celebrate each other's amazing work!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks James. Your kind support in this, and other, years is always appreciated and glad you had a good night with others

  • Abigail Addison

    Our director had a wonderful time attending the Midlands Movies Awards ceremony for the first time this year. The event was hosted in a charming old theatre by the hosts who were both very warm and welcoming. She enjoyed meeting many other talented attendees! Congratulations for everyone who won the award!

    Qian was also honored to receive the award for Best Animated Film for our film, ‘Statue in the Garden’. She would like to thank the judges who selected our film, as well as Don and Chris, who captured many beautiful moments at the venue.

    Happy 10th Anniversary to the Midlands Movies Awards!

    July 2026
    Helpful
  • Jonathan Hawes

    A distinct passion for cinema is clear in everything Midlands Movies Awards does, and their ceremony within the Y Theatre is always a standout on the awards circuit. When the big night rolls around, the red carpet and theatre hall is abuzz with industry networking and there are excellent photographers on hand to capture your special night in all its glory. Hosts Mike Sales and Ed Stagg are excellent and their enthusiasm for putting Midlands cinema on the map is truly inspiring. 10/10 evening. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary, Midlands Movies!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Jonathan. Really appreciate the kind words and your support for the MM Awards over the years.

  • Shaiek Rana

    A wonderful event and you get to meet so many talented creatives! I couldn't make it to 2026 awards but did go in 2021 to collect a friends award, I was very excited to pick it up which is immortalised on youtube lol it was a wicked time with good people. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary and hopefully many more!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Shaiek for your kind support over many years. Really appreciate you supporting the awards and what we're trying to achieve by getting all your films and talent shared with a wide audience.

  • Louise Wildish

    Had such a fabulous time at Midlands Movie Awards, they looked after us so well and such an incredible space to be around other regional creatives all supporting each other. This was my first time, and the longer I was there, the more I realised how incredibly important this event is to acknowledge the incredible talent, stories and quality of film coming out. Thank you and I will certainly be coming again!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your kind words Louise. Really appreciate your involvement and support. Best wishes. MM