The Experimental Fiction Filmmaking Festival is a unique and innovative event that showcases the best and most exciting experimental fiction films from around the world. The event brings together filmmakers, artists, scholars, and industry professionals, and it is dedicated to exploring the creative possibilities and boundaries of experimental fiction filmmaking, and promoting the development of new modes of storytelling and audio-visual communication.
The event programming features a diverse selection of films that embody the experimental fiction filmmaking ethos, ranging from short films to feature-length works, as well as expanded cinema and VR. The films are chosen for their deviation from traditional narrative and stylistic norms and their emphasis on exploration and experimentation.
In addition to film screenings, the event features panels, workshops, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers and experts in the field, engendering a deep conversation between theory and practice, inspiring innovation and development of the film form. These sessions are designed to engage all attendees in critical discussions about the creative possibilities and boundaries of experimental fiction filmmaking. The festival also provides networking opportunities for attendees to connect with industry professionals, artists, and fellow filmmakers. This facilitates the development of new collaborations, partnerships, and projects within the experimental fiction filmmaking community.
The INEFF Festival is a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers, offering a space to showcase their work and receive recognition for their creative and artistic vision. By bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences, the event fosters an environment of collaboration, experimentation, and innovation in the art of filmmaking.
The event takes place in Manchester, UK on 19th July 2025, and is organised by the International Network of Experimental Fiction Filmmaking and the University of Salford.
We don’t believe it is helpful to decide which experimental fiction film is the best. The purpose of the event is to explore the possibilities of film and to learn from each order – in pursuit of innovation and experimentation. In other words, we don’t believe in awards and setting up arbitrary hierarchies of achievement. Instead we want to celebrate the uniqueness of each film. However, the event committee will select films that we deem relevant and valuable to the event, which will be screened as part of our official programme. These films will be duly recognised as part of our “official selection”. Furthermore, a shortlist of noteworthy films will be thoroughly discussed by the INEFF panel of experts, including filmmakers, academics and industry professionals. The summary and conclusions of this discussion will be included in an official “statement of recognition”, which all shortlisted filmmakers will receive.