Welcome to Bedford Independent Film Festival! After our first fantastic event, we are back for 2026. We welcome films from all genres and seek to champion the work of independent filmmakers.

Why choose BIFF?

Bedford Independent Film Festival has been created by filmmakers for filmmakers. We have 25 years of combined experience in independent filmmaking, and we’re committed to delivering a festival that promotes and showcases the work of independent filmmakers from around the world. We’re open to all genres including Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Action, Comedy, Drama, Animation and Documentary.

We’re here to champion independent filmmakers and therefore, if selected, you will be invited to attend the festival with a number of free tickets for your cast and crew to celebrate your achievement. Your film will also be automatically entered into all applicable awards categories free of charge.

All selected films will be screened either in the 170 seat theatre or the 40 seat screening room.

Judging will be undertaken by our panel of festival directors and scored on multiple categories including cinematography, story, pacing, production design, sound etc.

We’re planning for an entire weekend of film screenings at our venue over three days as well as talks and seminars from industry professionals, networking events and an award ceremony during the festival.

Event Date: 10th-12th April 2026

Schedule:
https://www.bedfordindependentfilmfestival.co.uk/programme-2026

Tickets:
https://quarrytheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows?tags=bedfordfilmfest

Awards & Prizes

We do not charge extra fees to enter our awards categories. Your film will automatically qualify for every award it is eligible for.

At BIFF we feel it’s important to recognise multiple areas of technical and creative filmmaking and our awards categories reflect that.

Our team of filmmakers will assess each selected film and announcements will be made during our award ceremony on Sunday 12th April.

Filmmakers will be presented with a physical engraved award and be sent a digital certificate.

Categories:

Best Director

Best Cinematography

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Editing

Best Sound Design

Best Production Design

Best Score

Best SFX

Best VFX

Best Animation

Best Horror

Best Sci-Fi

Best Drama

Best Comedy

Best Documentary

Best Thriller

Best UK Feature Film

Best International Feature Film

Best UK Short Film

Best International Short Film

Best UK Student Film

Best International Student Film

Best of Bedford {for films with a Bedfordshire connection}

Rules & Terms

Please refer to the individual film festival dates as dictated on FilmFreeway. The venue for the 2026 Bedford Independent Film Festival in which all selected films will be screened is The Quarry Theatre.

1. Short films must be no more than 45 minutes in length, including credits.

2. Feature films must be no more than 150 minutes in length including credits.

3. Student films must be no more than 45 minutes in length including credits.

4. All rights to the film must be owned by the filmmakers and cleared (Please check your music and any archive footage).

5. Film entries are open for both UK based and international filmmakers.

6. We do not accept any films completed before 2024.

7. Any non-English language films must include English subtitles.

8. To keep our submission costs low, we are unable to provide feedback on submissions.

9. We encourage student filmmakers to submit but you must provide a valid Student ID.

10. BIFF is not responsible for non-functioning films.

11. All submitted films are watched and voted on by a jury of professionals working within the industry.

12. All selected films are watched and voted on by a jury of professionals to determine award winners.

13. All selected films are considered eligible for nomination in each category that applies.

14. A fee is required upon submission. For payment information, visit the FilmFreeway website.

15. All films must be submitted via FilmFreeway.

16. All fees are non-refundable.

17. All films submitted must be completed, we do not accept works in progress.

18. Physical awards must be collected in person at our award ceremony or winning filmmakers must pay postage to receive their awards post festival.

19. We reserve the right to use all promotional materials displayed on FilmFreeway from selected films to help announce and promote our festival on social media, our website, and official festival publications

20. We are proud to support emerging and student filmmakers. Filmmakers under 18 are very welcome to submit, with parental or guardian consent required if selected.
28 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rahul Dewan

    Bedford Independent is a lovely festival, and definitely one to keep an eye on. There is a range of interesting films in the selection and the organisers are welcoming and enthusiastic.

    May 2026
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  • Dominic Bolton

    BIFF was an absolutely fantastic festival! A really great weekend with so many brilliant and varied films screened. We're so incredibly grateful to the team for not only screening Chasing Adonis, but for honouring us with THREE awards! Thank you Bedford, see you next year!

    April 2026
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  • Ciara Delaney

    Everyone involved in putting this event together are so welcoming and talented, I had so much fun seeing what other people can come up with and getting the chance to network with them after! Would absolutely attend again :D

    April 2026
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  • Harry Mcilroy

    Keep an eye on this festival - it's going to be one of the best in the country in the next few years.

    You can really tell this is a festival run by film makers - they really nailed it. It's everything a film festival should be:

    - Really well organised.
    - Friendly team.
    - Great curation (and great films)
    - Time carved out for networking.
    - Great Award Ceremony.

    10/10. No notes.

    April 2026
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  • Dom Poots

    Truly a welcoming festival. The welcome that we received not only from the people Bedford but from festival organisers to the volunteers couldn’t have been better across the board.

    Will definitely be back with future projects.

    April 2026
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