I WILL TELL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The I Will Tell International Film Festival is a global platform that celebrates the transformative power of storytelling, highlighting stories that inspire, challenge, and provoke deep reflection.

The festival’s name was inspired by a young girl named Anel from an impoverished community in Mozambique, whose desire to share her story in all its authenticity, simplicity, and power led her to teach festival director, Jenny Lee, the word Ndindsawapanga, meaning "I will tell." It also draws from a powerful wisdom verse which can be summarised as follows: “Telling our stories is how we overcome.”

For 18 years, we’ve been proud to showcase high-quality films and filmmakers from around the world, amplifying underrepresented voices and tackling themes of forgiveness, peace, social justice, race, gender equality, environmental issues, and the vital roles of art, music, and ordinary heroes. These films, many of which have gone on to receive nominations and awards at prestigious events like the BAFTAs and the Oscars, continue to shape cultural conversations and inspire action.

While not exclusively Christian in content, the festival embodies the heart of Christian culture—offering hope, addressing injustice, and inspiring individuals to live with courage, purpose, and love. From Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth to Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us, and our most recent winner, the Palestinian film Where Olive Trees Weep, these films invite us to deeply explore the meaning of loving our neighbors and embracing our shared humanity.

Post-screening talks with filmmakers, experts, and audiences provide a rich space for dialogue. Notable guests have included Lily James (Mama Mia!), Raymond Santana (Exonerated Five), Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Country Ambassadors, Dame Sybil Phoenix, and other influential leaders.

Past festival winners include celebrated talents like Juliet Stevenson, Will Catlett, Celia Imrie, LEDISI, Gemma Barnett, Ken Loach, Sam Soko, Catherine Joy White and Ethosheia Hylton among many others.

Our mission is to celebrate the world’s most innovative and impactful filmmakers, whether established or emerging, who create cinematic masterpieces that empower those whose voices have been marginalized or ignored. These are the stories that evoke awe, wonder, and deep emotional resonance.

We’ve held screenings at esteemed venues like the British Film Institute, Curzon Mayfair, Birmingham Town Hall, Odeon Leicester Square and the Concorde Conference Centre but we also cherish intimate venues where we can truly connect with the films and each other on a personal level.

Our jury has featured an impressive lineup of industry professionals, including Bart Gavigan (Filmmaker and Hollywood script doctor), Max Oginni (Animator, Mr. Bean), Lashana Lynch (007, Fast Girls), Prof. Robert Beckford (BBC, Channel 4), and Dionne Walker (Producer, The Hard Stop), to name a few.

As we celebrate our 19th year in 2025, we’ll continue to showcase award-winning films from over 50 countries, spanning genres from micro-animations to epic feature-length dramas. These films are followed by thought-provoking, inspirational discussions that contribute to a richer global narrative, challenging perspectives, and sparking transformation.

We are drawn to stories that challenge, awe, and shake us to our core, stories that open our minds to new possibilities. We champion films that empower and equip us to become better versions of ourselves, and those that remind us of the extraordinary power of ordinary people.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the 19th I Will Tell International Film Festival!