Intro:
Totally Local Lancaster, in collaboration with Cinemaitaliano, are proud to announce the second edition of Lancaster International Film Festival 2025 (LIFF).
LIFF will take place in Lancaster, UK, from 4th March til 8rd March 2025.
To participate in the competition you will have to make a short film with a maximum duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes minimum.

Competition
The short films subscribed to the competition are divided in 5 categories and will be submitted for judging to a group of experts, 3 in total.
The movie selected will be projected in a local cinema.
The panel will choose two winners for each category, Best Director/Best Film and Best Actor/Actress.
The winners will be announced on the 8th March 2025 (date will be confirmed close to the date) at Asthon Hall, Lancaster LA1 1PJ during the Awards Ceremony.
If you like to attend the Awards Ceremony, tickets are available on sale on Skiddle in February 2025

Awards & Prizes

PRIZE DETAILS:
2 X Awards per category
Best Film (Best Director)
Best Actor/Actress

Rules & Terms

Please upload your film via the FilmFreeway website.

Films and Digital marketing materials should be made available to be used for our marketing purposes asap.
Any conflicts of interest between filmmakers & the selection panel should be declared to the film festival organisers IMMEDIATELY.
I have read and accept the Rules and Terms of the LIFF. 
I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these Rules and Terms.
I authorise LIFF to exhibit my film if selected. I confirm that an exhibition copy will be made available in a required format for screening during the festival.
I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to LIFF and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
By Agreeing to these Rules and Terms, I transfer to the LIFF the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the festival.
12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dion Marcos

    Fantastic festival. Really enjoyed the screening of my film and awards night and to be awarded best actor was the cherry on top of such a great night! Highly recommend!

    March 2025
    Helpful
  • Bernard Madill

    Really thrilled to have been a finalist at the Lancaster International Film Festival this year. I rate them highly but from a distance. We live in New zealand and would have loved to attend in person. I wish LIFF all the best.

    March 2025
    Helpful
  • Thomas Loone

    I had the pleasure of having my second short film ‘Homeless Tobez’ being selected for The Lancaster International Film Festival 2025. This was a truly lovely event and arriving there what instantly hit me was the warmth and welcoming nature of everybody involved-not to mention a real passion for film!

    Bruno, who organised the festival, is a lovely man and he curated a very strong and eclectic mix of very high quality short films.

    LIFF feels very much like a community effort. Everything from the sponsorships of businesses around the town, to the film students from the university who volunteered to help, it all made this feel like a true celebration of local cinema.

    My film was actually a finalist at their glamorous awards ceremony and I was gutted I couldn’t make it, because the Italian food looked sublime!

    All in all, I highly recommend submitting to Lancaster. A truly lovely evening at the movies, with plenty of heart to spare.

    March 2025
    Helpful
  • Dan Horrigan

    A really together film festival that delivers across several days and we will be back at our earliest opportunity. To be a finalist here with Read to Me was a real honour and the curation is of exceptional quality.

    March 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Dan!

  • Dean Cooper

    So honoured that my film ‘Autonomous Winter Shelter’ won best documentary . Extremely well run festival, great communication and a fantastic awards ceremony, I would strongly recommend entering and attending this excellent film festival.

    March 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much Dean!
    All the best
    LIFF