Submissions are open for the 6th edition of Folkestone Film Festival, Scheduled for 6th Nov to 8th Nov 2026. Use Code: DISCOFOLKESTONE for 45% Off Submissions 🎬🍿

Our IMDb qualifying festival champions independent filmmakers with original ideas. Primarily a short film festival, we include excerpts and trailers from feature length submissions at our events. We also screen selected features at stand-alone events when possible. Our events focus on recorded Q&A sessions with submitters, alongside moderate sized screenings. Each season varies its screenings between cinema, gallery and bar events, members of the public are always welcome to join us. We are introducing a variety of closed group screenings and recorded content days for filmmakers and screenwriters in 2026.

👉 Award Winners are welcome to add their films to our IMDb page here: https://m.imdb.com/event/ev0073770/2025/1/

👉 Winners receive Official Laurels, Trophies and Printed Certificates at Live Events. E-Certificates will be sent to those not in attendance.

Folkestone Film Festival are recognised by the Global Recognition Awards for our significant contribution to independent cinema and commitment to inclusive filmmaking. We try to minimise financial barriers whilst keeping submission fees low.

👉 Download your custom laurels:
https://filmfreeway.com/laurels/78047/FolkestoneFilmFestival

👉 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
https://youtube.com/@folkestonefilmfestival?si=D-ntZzi7Li9k0hEF

We are a small festival who love to hold Q&A’s with filmmakers. We appreciate your patience whilst we respond to your emails and upload content, we’ll upload all interviews and Q&A over several months for each season. A big thank you to our sponsors 'A. Simmons, the Jewellers of the South East' and partners 'Silver Screen Cinema, BritFlicks, FilmmakerDASH, StudentFilmmakers Magazine & Kent Kino.'

We look forward to viewing your submissions!

Awards & Prizes

• Jury Awards
• Audience Awards

Rules & Terms

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

2. Submission Format
Submissions must be made downloadable for screening in 1080p or 4K MP4.

3. Submission Eligibility
• Worldwide submissions accepted
• English subtitles encouraged
• No maximum completion date
• No premiere status required
• Work-in-progress accepted
• Distributed/Released films accepted

4. Premiere Status
• There is no premiere policy for submissions.

5. Film Classification
We cannot allow entry to anyone under the advertised age during screenings.

6. Submission Fee
Submission fees are non-refundable.

7. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
• Quality of screenplay, direction and production values.
• Independent nature of the production.

8. Notification.
Successful submissions will be notified via FilmFreeway email.

9. Scheduling.
Screenings are scheduled at our discretion. We reserve 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.

10. Promotion.
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.

11. Festival Awards
We reserve the right to increase or decrease the number of awards given each season. We can only send e-certificates via email.

12. VISA applications.
We cannot assist with VISA applications, they take too much time from running the festival.

206 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Darko Kokic

    Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the event in person. Even so, it was clear the festival was well organized, with a well-curated lineup, great communication, frequent and relevant updates, Q&A opportunities, and plenty of images and videos from the event itself. Well done!

    July 2026
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  • Trix StarT

    An Absolute Triumph for Cult and Genre Cinema" 🦇🇬🇧
    What a place for the UK film scene! 👾 Check out: https://www.youtube.com/@TrixStarT 💥

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Katie Amos

    A brilliant festival with great communication and publicity. Sadly I couldn’t make it in person, but still felt included by being able to film my own film makers intro about my film The Silence of the Land, which was shown on social media. The team work really hard on this event, I’d recommend it to all.

    May 2026
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  • Georgia Gregory-Morris

    If I listed everything I found wonderful about this festival it could rival the bible! Thank you Colin and Ben for being such brilliant and welcoming hosts. Big up Folkestone Film Festival 🫶

    May 2026
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  • Brian Harrington

    Great young festival with a clear passion for film of all genres. I'm sure It will go from strength to strength in the upcoming years. Communication was always prompt and clear. Was delighted to have my world premiere here, and overjoyed that it won best feature documentary

    May 2026
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