The Folkestone Film Festival holds bi-monthly screenings in the Folkestone Creative Quarter, and hosts a summer festival which takes place over several days in multiple venues. The Creative Quarter is an urban village of designers, filmmakers, musicians, web developers and artists. With 115 studios and offices, and over 50 shops, it is a hive of artistic activity.

We accept submissions from around the world, English Subtitles are encouraged but not compulsory. We have no conditions on content or film form, you are welcome to be as experimental as you wish. We judge films based on their own merit and champion independent filmmakers. Our panel of award winning filmmakers and vocational artists will endeavour to provide all selected films with Laurels, artwork and a short feedback.

We’ve teamed up with some exciting partners to bring you a range of valuable promotional opportunities. BritFlicks will host selected film trailers on their website and YouTube, which currently holds 43.9k subscribers! YARP Festivals and BlueSky Pie will feature best music videos & best music video songs on their social media and live events.
We can’t wait to meet you all at Screenings and Galas soon!

Awards & Prizes

• Folkestone Judges Awards
• Folkestone Jury Awards
• Folkestone Audience Awards

FESTIVAL PARTNERS AWARDS and PRIZES.
• BritFlicks Awards - Best Film Trailers - BritFlicks website promotion
• YARP Festivals - Best Music Videos - social media promotion
• BlueSky Pie Awards - Best Music Video Songs - live event promotion

Rules & Terms

1. Submission Deadlines
Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.

2. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway ONLY.

3. Submission Eligibility
• We accept films from around the world, English subtitles encouraged .
• No minimum completion date, but newer films prioritised at screenings.
• There is no premiere for feature film.
• There is no premiere policy for short films.
• Work-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted.

4. Premiere Status
• There is no premiere policy for feature films.
• There is no premiere policy for short films.

5. Film Classification
We cannot accept anyone underage during any screening of the Festival.

6. Submission Fee
All submissions for are to be paid through the FilmFreeway platform. The submission fee is non-refundable.

7. Shipping - for selected films ONLY
If selected your DCP should be sent to:

Folkestone Film Festival
7 Creteway Close
Folkestone
Kent
CT19 6LH

All shipping and postage costs for DCPs and additional materials sent to and returned must be borne by the submitting party. We will not accept Cash On Delivery shipments. We will not absorb any fees incurred in British customs. All charges must be pre-paid.

8. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
• Quality of narrative and production values.
• Independent nature of the production.

9. Notification's
Folkestone Festival endeavors to complete all selection procedures and inform all submitting parties if their film has been successful or not. Successful submissions will receive Folkestone Festival laurels, artwork and a short feedback.

10. Festival Screenings - for selected films ONLY
All films must be downloadable from FilmFreeway or sent to us via wetransfer.

11. Scheduling - for selected films ONLY
Screenings are scheduled at our discretion. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, we reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. We will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in schedule. No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection.

12. Promotion - for selected films ONLY
Selected films must acknowledge that we reserve the right to promote the films on our website and social media using both images and video that you provide.

13. Festival Awards
We reserve the right to include additional awards which suit specific submissions, such as the Maverick Award or Stand Out Film. We also reserve the right to change Award titles to suit specific submissions.