LIVERPOOL INDIE AWARDS 2027: 5 YEARS OF REAL INDIE CINEMA

You are invited to Liverpool's biggest indie film night!

Ranked TOP 10 MOST POPULAR festivals in the UK. Standing TOP 100 Best Reviewed on FilmFreeway for 3 years running.

Every single edition of our Liverpool Indie Awards has been 100 percent sold out. We host our screenings at the Picturehouse at FACT, right in the heart of Liverpool, playing to a packed house of creators, critics, and cinema lovers.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR 5TH ANNIVERSARY:
• The Awards: Every category winner takes home a physical festival trophy, and our Grand Prize winner receives an additional $500 USD Cash Prize.
• A Packed House: Your work will be shown on a world class screen in the city center. We do not just screen films, we fill seats.
• The Red Carpet: A professional setup with photography and short cinema interviews to give your project the visibility it needs.
• Networking That Matters: We host over 100 attending filmmakers and screenwriters from across the globe every year. This is where you meet your next producer or collaborator.
• The Track Record: Over 150 projects screened in our history. Past selections have featured Oscar qualifying directors and talent whose work is now streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.

WHO ARE OUR JURORS?
Accomplished professionals from across the film and television industry. Among them are BAFTA nominated filmmakers, BBC staff members, and creatives who have trained at prestigious institutions like the Royal College of Art. Their diverse expertise and deep passion for independent cinema ensure a thoughtful and high caliber selection process each season.

We have featured directors like AJ Sykes, whose films played BAFTA qualifying fests, and Mark Forbes, known from Raindance. Maybe your work follows in the footsteps of Ian Sciacaluga, Gillian Simpson, or Aaron Hosé. If so, we can not wait to see what you have made.

FILMMAKER FEEDBACK:
★★★★★ "Liverpool Indie Awards was a great festival to be part of. We are so grateful to Liverpool for bringing our film to a UK audience!" (Rory Duffy)
★★★★★ "Very passionate and friendly team. I experienced great communication throughout." (Hannah Ava Dahl)

Whether it is a raw short film or a finished screenplay, we want to see it.
Submit your work today for our March 27, 2027 event. Let's see what you have made.

Awards & Prizes

𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋'𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒
⦿ NOMINEE - Your project has been highly rated by our jury and is eligible to become an Award Winner in the submitted category.

⦿ SELECTED - Your project has been selected for the live screening and is also eligible to become an Award Winner in the submitted category.

⦿ AWARD WINNER - Your project has won in the submitted category and get Festival Trophy/Diploma

⦿ MAIN PRIZE WINNER - The winner of the official prestigious festival trophy and 500 USD in cash.

Rules & Terms

1. All films that are not in English, must have English language subtitles.

2. We reserve the right to not refund the submission after notification day. We will solve each refund issue individually.

3. We accept only projects completed or produced after 2022

4. Any technical issues with the submitted films are the responsibility of the filmmakers. If, at the time of judging, your video file doesn’t work or doesn’t have English subtitles (if in a language other than English), it will be automatically rejected, without a refund. Please contact us ASAP, if there are any issues with the submission process and we will find a solution.

5. The decision of the project selection status is final.

6. Short films must not exceed 35 minutes.

7. We accept multiple entries from one submitter.

8. By submitting to us, you give us consent and right to screen your film in front of a live audience and, under special circumstances, at online screening.

9. Films that are submitted must be the entrant’s original work and shall not infringe on any copyrights or any other rights of any third Parties. Contestants agree that they have obtained all required copyright permissions regarding music, sound & images, etc. presented in their film.

1é. Our festival reserve the rights to change, cancel or re-schedule the dates, venue, awards & categories. All filmmakers will be informed about any changes through email and our online platforms.

11. By submitting to this festival you agree to our terms and conditions and to receiving marketing newsletters and discounts about film festivals in the form of emails. We will never sell your information to third parties.

12. The cash prize is presented each year during the Awards Ceremony at our Live Screening Event in Liverpool.

13. We reserve the right to not screen all selected projects. Additionally, we reserve the right to change the screening lineup at our discretion.
173 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dylan Gary

    Wonderful festival put on by people that truly love film, filmmakers and audience. I was lucky enough to have my film The Uniform selected for the March '26 festival and though I was unable to attend in person, the communication was excellent throughout and the slate of films that they put together was truly inspired.
    Will definitely apply with future films and will definitely be there in person next time ... Thanks to all at LIA!

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Diane Sismour

    My team and I want to thank the Liverpool Indie Awards for recognizing The Doll Keeper as a nominee. We appreciate all the work that goes into a competition and want to thank all those involved in making it happen.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations to you and your team on your nomination!

    We were delighted to have The Doll Keeper as part of our selection. It is a pleasure to recognize such high-quality work, and we truly appreciate your kind words regarding the effort our team puts into the festival.

    Thank you for sharing your story with us, and we wish you and your team continued success with the project!

  • Miles Crossman

    We are very honoured to receive the award for Best Horror Film at the 2026 Liverpool Indie Awards! This festival happens in a great location in one of the funnest neighbourhoods I've ever been in my life, and it's run by some fantastic people. I had a great time in Liverpool and recommend going to anyone else who's nominated! I came from Canada, and it was worth it!

    April 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on winning Best Horror Film!

    It was a total blast having you with us in Liverpool! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the energy of the neighborhood as much as we do—there’s truly nowhere else like it. Knowing that the trip all the way from Canada was worth it for you is the highest compliment we could receive.

    Thank you for the kind words about our team and for making the journey to join us. We’re proud to have your film as part of our 2026 winners’ circle, and we hope to see you back in Liverpool for your next project!

  • Carling Ernstzen

    Honoured to have The Last Rehearsal nominated at the Liverpool Indie Awards. Liverpool has such a vibrant film community, and it’s wonderful to see festivals like this championing independent voices.
    Congratulations to all the incredible films and especially the winners a fantastic celebration of indie cinema.

    April 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on your nomination!

    We were thrilled to have The Last Rehearsal as part of our selection. Liverpool truly does have a unique, vibrant energy, and our goal is always to provide a platform that does justice to the independent voices within that community and beyond.

    Thank you for your kind words and for being a part of this celebration of indie cinema. We wish you the very best of luck with your film's journey!

  • Brendan Murphy

    What a dandy festival. I am so sorry I had to cancel my flight from Australia, but I didn’t want to run the risk of an anti-aircraft gun taking a potshot at the plane. Heartfelt thanks to the jury for voting Hellgate the best feature script. Validation is the lifeblood of artists. X

    April 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on your win!

    We are absolutely thrilled that Hellgate took home Best Feature Script this season. While we were truly sorry you couldn't make the long journey from Australia—and we certainly understand prioritizing safety in these times—please know your presence was felt through your writing.

    You hit the nail on the head: validation is the lifeblood of this craft, and our jury was deeply impressed by the strength of your script. We are honored to provide that "seal of quality" for your work.

    Thank you for being part of the festival, and we hope the skies are clearer for your next project!