Manchester Film Festival

Manchester Film Festival is looking for independent feature-length and short films from around the world from any genre.

Please make sure screener passwords, video files, links etc are working and/or are valid otherwise we will not be able to to take the film into consideration.

Our Standard Festival Participation Agreement (Terms and Conditions), which all submitted films are also expected to follow is as follows:

GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONS

1. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via online screener.

2. Submission Eligibility
- All submissions must have been completed after 1 January 2024.
- Manchester Film Festival requires that all films (excluding music videos) have not played to a public audience in Manchester before the festival dates.
- Works-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted.
- All films not in the English language are required to have subtitles.

3. Premiere Status
- Manchester Film Festival requires that all films (excluding music videos) have not played to a public audience in Manchester before the festival dates.
- Films must not be have been available online before or during the festival (excluding limited release in online sections of other film festivals and also exluding music videos and experimental films)

4. Film Classification
All films screened during the Manchester Film Festival receive an age rating that is decided by the Manchester City Council.

5. Submission Fee
All FilmFreeway submissions for Manchester Film Festival are to be paid by credit card or PayPal. The submission fee is non-refundable.

6. Shipping
All shipping and postage costs, if the film is selected for the Festival, for all DCPs and additional materials sent to and returned from Manchester Film Festival must be borne by the submitting party. Manchester Film Festival will not accept Cash On Delivery shipments. Manchester Film Festival will not absorb any fees incurred in British customs. All charges must be pre-paid.

7. Selection of Films
Films are reviewed based on the festivals programming goals with a focus on finding unique stories and high-quality filmmaking craft that will engage and entertain our audiences.
All films are seen by at least two members of the programming team, including a member of the team who has decision making power. All volunteer programmers go through detailed one-to-one training with the Head of Programming.
Final selections are made by the Head of Programming in conjunction with the Festival Director.

8. Notification
Manchester Film Festival endeavours to complete all selection procedures by 15th of January 2026 and inform all submitting parties, in writing, if their film has been successful or not after that time. Successful submissions will receive a Filmmaker Festival Pack that will include important information on shipping the DCP to the Festival, press and publicity, guest accreditation, contact information and how to make the most of participating in the Festival.

9. Festival Screenings
Selected films MUST provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or video file (.mov or .mp4) in order to be screened at the Manchester Film Festival. The film title MUST be clearly labelled on the hard drive.

10. Scheduling
Screenings are scheduled during the Festival at the discretion of Manchester Film Festival. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Manchester Film Festival reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Manchester Film Festival will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in scheduling.
No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection.

11. Cash Prizes
Cash prizes are available for the specific categories of Golden Bee Feature, Emerging Talent, Golden Bee Short and North West Short. Cash prizes are to be used towards the filmmakers next project. Cash prizes could be withdrawn at any time.

12. Waiver Requests
Manchester Film Festival only issues waivers under very specific circumstances, including but not limited to; filmmakers in countries under economic sanctions from the U.K, filmmakers from countries on the United Nation's list of LDCs, & refugees. Waivers are not issued to students, self-funded films, or films supported by grants or scholarships. Waiver requests will not be accepeted by direct email, to submit a request please complete the waiver request form at www.manchesterfilmfestival.com/waivers

GENERAL AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION IN MANCHESTER FILM FESTIVAL:

By submitting to the Manchester Film Festival I confirm that I have read and accept the terms and regulations of MANIFF. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. I authorize the Manchester Film Festival to exhibit my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the 2026 festival. I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to the Manchester Film Festival and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. I hold Manchester Film Festival harmless from damage to, or loss of any or all materials en route to, from or otherwise at the festival. I assume all legal responsibilities therein. By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to Manchester Film Festival 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 2026 festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2026 festival. I hereby agree to indemnify Manchester Film Festival, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.