The Festival of the Moving Image (FOMI) is University College London's (UCL) esteemed student film festival, organized by the UCL Film & TV Society. Established in 2007, FOMI has a rich history of promoting emerging student filmmakers, emphasising creativity and innovation in the cinematic arts.

FOMI serves as a platform for students to showcase their work, forge new connections, and foster a love for independent film within the student body and the broader London public.

This year FOMI celebrates its 18th edition from May 19th to 23rd at the Bloomsbury Theatre and Studio. The festival's theme this year is "Recollection" and offers a diverse program that includes:

- Panel Discussions: Engaging conversations with filmmakers and industry professionals on topics such as environmental activism in documentary filmmaking.

- Student Short Film Competitions: Screenings of selected films from a large pool of submissions, highlighting the talents of student filmmakers worldwide.

-Script Writing Competitions: This year’s festival will feature an exciting scriptwriting competition, inviting storytellers to craft compelling narratives that reflect the theme of "Recollection." Winning scripts will be brought to life in a live table read, where actors will perform them in front of an audience, offering a unique opportunity for writers to see their work interpreted and explored in real-time.

- Awards Ceremonies: Recognition of outstanding student films, with external industry organisations and companies sponsoring awards (Previous years had Letterboxd and MUBI)

Awards & Prizes

Best Fiction Short
Best Animated Short
Best Documentary Short
UCL Excellence Award (for outstanding achievement or innovation by a UCL-affiliated filmmaker)
Guest of Honour Ceremonial Award

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Actor / Actress
Best Cinematography – Recognizing visual artistry and camera work
Best Editing – Honoring the craft of film structure and pacing
Best Production Design – Celebrating the creation of the film’s visual world
Best Costume Design – For excellence in wardrobe and character styling
Best Sound – Recognizing immersive and effective sound design/mixing
Best Visual Effects – Honoring the creative and technical use of special effects
Best Original Score – For an outstanding and original musical composition
Best Original Song – For a standout song written specifically for the film
Judges’ Choice Award – A special mention by the judging panel for a standout film or moment

Award for High-Quality Cinematography
Award for Originality in Plot or Screenplay
Award for Outstanding Use of Minimal Resources (for films that made magic on a shoestring budget)
Award for Creative Direction or Vision (recognizing unique artistic choices or storytelling approach)
Award for Emerging Talent (for a standout newcomer – director, writer, or actor)
Award for Audience Engagement (for the film that left the strongest impression on viewers )

Rules & Terms

Entries which do not comply with the guidelines risk disqualification.

1. General Information
1.1 Submissions via email submission or FilmFreeway will open on 4th April 2025.
1.2 Submissions will remain open until 23:59 GMT on 4th May 2025. We recommend submitting your film as early as possible to avoid disappointment or technical difficulties.
1.4 Submissions must be accompanied by a submission of the following form. Submissions without this will not be considered.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRE3BUzfdd9ftwHMQT9Xq4jgnuyWH1ek_kZHTeSceLMusU1g/viewform?usp=pp_url

1.5 The filmmakers themselves must select one nominee to submit their films. Files must follow the format ‘FilmTitle_NomineeFullName’. This is to avoid large numbers of bulk entries or misplacement of your submission file.

2.Eligibility;
Films
2.1 All films must be a finished cut.
2.2. Films can be any style or genre, but must be no more than 20 minutes in length.
2.3 All films must either be in English, dubbed in English or subtitled in English.
2.4 All films must have completed production no later than April 1st 2025.
2.5 For a film to be eligible for consideration, at least one out of the following three must have been students during film production: Director, Producer, Writer. Proof of student enrolment may be required.
2.6 Submissions must have a minimum resolution of 1080p.

Scripts
2.1 All scripts must be original works and not adaptations of existing material unless the writer holds the rights to the source material.
2.2 Scripts can be for any genre but must not exceed 20 pages
2.3 All scripts must be submitted in standard industry format (12pt Courier, properly formatted title page, and correct scene headings).
2.4. Scripts must be written in English.
2.5. To be eligible, the Writer, or one of the Writers if the script is a team submission, must have been a student during the script’s development. Proof of student enrollment may be required.
2.6 Scripts that have been produced into a film prior to April 1st, 2025, are not eligible for submission.

3. Submission Procedure
3.11 Films and Scripts must be submitted in the correct format. Submissions which do not correspond to the required format will not be considered.
3.12 Entrants will be asked to upload a copy of the film’s poster onto the project page on FilmFreeway, if available. While not necessary during submissions, a poster will be required immediately if your film is selected for the shortlists. The festival will use this for marketing purposes.
3.2 All entrants must specify the year in which their film was made and list their cast and crew, specifying which have student status.
3.3 Entrants must only select one genre.

4. Judging
4.1 Films will be considered according to the following criteria: student films with strong intentionality, in addition to originality and creativity in executing their ideas.
4.2 Technical awards may be awarded at the disposition of the jurors. Wherever the person responsible for a film’s particular technical aspect was a student, that person will automatically be considered.
4.3 Scripts will be judged based on originality and overall writing quality. Consideration will also be given to how effectively the script demonstrates intentionality and creativity in its execution.

5. Permission
5.1 By submitting your film to the Festival Of the Moving Image you give us permission to screen your film during the festival or spin-off screenings. You also give us permission to use and crop your film to advertise the festival and its screening. Full details will be confirmed regarding usage rights prior to their use.
5.2 By submitting your script to the Festival of the Moving Image, you grant us permission to organise a live reading or performance of your work as part of the festival or related events. However, we will not adapt or produce your script into a film.