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!

Best Narrative Feature
Best Feature Documentary
Best Narrative Short
Best Animation Short
Best Experimental Short

Best Actor, Narrative Feature
Best Supporting Actor, Narrative Feature
Best Actress, Narrative Feature
Best Supporting Actress, Narrative Feature
Best Actor, Narrative Short
Best Supporting Actor, Narrative Short
Best Actress, Narrative Short
Best Supporting Actress, Narrative Short
Best Ensemble Acting

Rising Star Award
Best Sound Design
Best Film Score
Best Screenplay
Best Editing

Audience Award Dramatic
Audience Award Documentary

AD HOC PRIZES
Ndinadzawapanga (Grand Jury Prize) is awarded for an exceptional film in any category

Special Mention

Special Jury Prizes

We accept films from a wide range of genres that amplify the voices of the unheard and address the theme in a unique way, bringing a hidden, ignored or forgotten story to light.

SUBMISSION RULES
1. A film may only be submitted to the festival by the rights owner and there must be no disputes regarding the ownership or distribution or exhibition rights of the submission in part or in entirety.

2. I Will Tell encourages freedom of intellectual expression, including controversial moral, social, political and economical issues, but reserves the right to exclude material if it judges it to be gratuitously offensive or pornographic.

3. The submitted material must not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and the submitter fully indemnifies the I Will Tell International Film Festival against any claim made for such violations of law.

4. Each film for the competition should be treated as a separate entry and accompanied by a press kit in English.

5. Films can be submitted in the original language but they must have English subtitles.

6. The decision on whether or not to accept or screen an entry in either the UK or US festival is the sole right of I Will Tell.

7. I Will Tell is authorised to partially transmit, reproduce and screen selected excerpts from the films or photographs for promotional purposes on radio, television, the internet, print and other promotional media.

8. I Will Tell reserves the right to include the official festival logo in connection with submitted clips or photographs in all promotion and publicity material.

9. All film and music rights and clearances must be obtained (in accordance with relevant copyright laws).

10. You agree and hold the I Will Tell International Film Festival harmless from and defend them from all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether groundless or not, based on any film submitted to the festival.

11. Failure to adhere to festival rules will result in disqualification of screening and forfeiture of entry fee.

12. By submitting the film into the competition, you confirm that the film complies with I Will Tell Submission Rules and certify that the film will not be withdrawn from the UK or US festival if the film is accepted.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thank you, IWTIFF team. Being part of such a fantastic film festival, a lovely experience, with friendly communication and promptness, was an honour. I hope that the film festival will constantly develop.

    November 2023
  • "I will tell" is the most heartwarming and professional Festivals, you will find around! Jenny Lee and her wonderful team, their passion for outstanding performances, the perfectly done Award Ceremony including spreading the word around the world in UK, the US and Trinidad Tobago is totally unique and special since the last 17 years! The communication is perfect, their work is outstanding! THANK YOU Jenny and your whole team, including Bart Gavigan as the Jury president, for awarding my film "SILENCE" with the "Filmlanguage Innovation Award". It was an honor being part of your magical festival and I wish you just the vry best for the future! God bless, yours Erik

    November 2023
  • Such an amazing festival team to deal with! The communication and organisation was absolutely wonderful and though we were far away we felt so included in every single aspect. We were also elated to score several nominations for our film, Amend :) Definitely worth the submission!

    November 2023
  • Our movie received so much love from the IWTI film festival. We debuted at the iconic BFI Southbank cinema in London, to a sold-out audience and got nominated for awards. We also screened in Florida.
    The festival team were very supportive, and professional, and made sure that we got as much exposure as the film needed, which elevated our status. Would recommend submitting your film, especially if your an upcoming filmmaker.

    October 2023
  • I can say I was happy that the festival screen one of my older production that has a lot of value. As far as I know my film project, was apart of it traveling section of the festivals so I do appreciate that my small short doc 'Ujamaa Holiday Market' Had some added festival screening for more people to see my love for Cinema!

    April 2023