We are inviting submissions of short films for consideration at the BFI Young Programmers’ Festival 2026.
The festival will take place from 14 -18 August 2026 at Showroom Cinema, Sheffield, with each day dedicated to a different thematic strand. Selected short films will be programmed as part of the festival screenings.
Submission Key Information
- Films must be 15 minutes or under (please tell us which strand in your submission)
- Films must align with at least one strand theme (outlined below)
- Films must be suitable for a BBFC 15 certificate or under (details in rules and terms)
- All submissions will be reviewed by our young programmers
Each selected film will receive a £50 screening fee
The submission deadline is 10 July 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact us at bfi.academy@srws.org.uk.
Festival Strands
Missed Connections
It’s always easy in hindsight, to think of ‘the good old days’ or ‘if only I had...’ When those fleeting moments with a person have a lasting impact on us, we dwell on the alternate universe that we could have lived. Missed Connections explores the lasting impacts of these bittersweet ‘what ifs’. Think: Before Sunrise, Brief Encounter, 500 Days of Summer.
Centre Stage at Any Age
In a world where leading men are allowed to age gracefully, their female co-stars are expected to remain frozen at 25. Centre Stage at Any Age challenges traditional stereotypes of the Leading Lady and celebrates women of all ages. Women are often pressured to change themselves through cosmetic procedures to maintain looking youthful - look at Death Becomes Her, or more recently The Substance - but what would a world look like where women are allowed to grow old alongside their masculine counterparts? This season looks to challenge the pressures Hollywood places on ageing. Focussing on women in the film industry who are often pushed out of the frame, relegated to the butt of the joke, or those who tragically try to force themselves maintain Centre Stage by doing whatever it takes to turn back the clock.
Daring to be Fabulous
Daring to be Fabulous is a season all about celebrating musicals made by people in the LGBTQ+ community. This season explores the celebration of queer identity through music, joy and community. Inspired by local stories like Everyone's Talking About Jamie, this season blends cult film, live drag performance and spectacle. The films themselves are all about embracing and celebration of your authentic self, and we hope audiences will feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to these screenings. Wraparound surrounding this season is centred around dress up, the celebration of LGBTQ+ identities and the courage to be bold.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Down the Rabbit Hole explores childhood escapism through dreamlike and surreal worlds When in times of despair, our mind wanders to the strange, whimsical or chaotic. These alternative worlds offer an escape from reality - encouraging reflection and aiding a better understanding of yourself and the paths that need to be taken. Allow yourself be guided to another world this August, hedged with fantasy and wonder.
Be Your Own Man: Disrupting Masculinity
Men are often told to ‘man up’ when they show signs of emotional vulnerability, encouraging them to suppress their feelings, equate violence with strength and ultimately view vulnerability as weakness. These expectations have contributed to the rise of spaces like the Manosphere, an extremely misogynistic online space for men. Be Your Own Man: Disrupting Masculinity is a season of films curated by four young men aged 16-19 which challenges these social pressures and explores the impact of harmful masculine stereotypes on identity, mental health, and belonging. Whilst the behaviours that stem from these behaviours are harmful, we often focus on the outcomes of this pressure rather than the root cause. This season is about encouraging individuality, creating safe spaces for vulnerability and opening conversations about the challenges men face.
Selected short films will receive a £50 fee and will be programmed and screened at the BFI Young Programmers’ Festival within the relevant strand.
