For ten years Lift-Off has been showcasing some of the most exciting national and international newcomers to indie film from the beating heart of North West England. If you are a filmmaker looking to move forward in your career Lift-Off is exactly where you should start. From one to one marketing consultations, to exposure to sales agents, talent agents and press, we are the launch pad for unsung raw filmmaking talent.

Manchester Lift-Off is not like any other film festival in Manchester or the North of England by any stretch of the imagination. We are a professional showcase, where the priority is our filmmakers making the next step in their careers. From representation at Cannes, EFM in Berlin, The American Film Market and beyond.

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FREE SUBMISSIONS TO ALL LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVALS WITH NETWORK MEMBERSHIP

Lift-Off Global Network invites you to join our Network Members' platform which will provide you with the resources you need to launch your filmmaking career.

Intermediate Membership is an annual subscription of $89, which entitles you to:

- Fee waivers to all Lift-Off Showcases (worth $300)
- Free tickets to Lift-Off Film Festivals and the Lift-Off Season Awards
- Career guidance from the Lift-Off co-founders
- The chance to apply for representation at international film markets including Cannes, EFM, and AFM

Our Professional Membership is an annual subscription of $189, everything Intermediate Membership offers you:

- Fee waivers across our entire festival network (worth $700)
- Access to an international film jobs database
- Access to scripts from our Network
- Upload your own scripts
- Access to a detailed 5-week production accelerator course

For more information please head to our website: https://liftoff.network

Awards & Prizes

Our prizes and awards stretch from the submission level, all the way through to the Lift-Off Season Awards at the end of each year. We offer as much as possible to all who submit, our officially selected filmmakers, our nominees, and winners.

At the submission level.

Value for your submission fee. Exclusive content emailed to every submitter up-to 24hrs from the time of submission.

High scoring films. If your film scores high but isn't included in our final programme you will be invited to our Lift-Off Online Film Festival initiative, an online competitions which run parallel with the respective live city screenings - where the top two winners get official selections at either of the next two Lift-Off cities.

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The Lift-Off Season Awards

To celebrate and look back on the Lift-Off Season, Lift-Off host a prestigious awards ceremony called the Lift-Off Season Awards. The black tie event sees filmmakers, press, and industry professionals gather at the world-famous Lift-Off Season Awards for a night of awards, music, and networking.

Visit https://liftoff.network/season-awards/ to find out more.

Nominees are chosen after each Lift-Off Film Festival.
The categories:

Best Feature Live Action Narrative
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Live Action Narrative
Best Short Documentary
Best Director
Best Acting Ensemble
Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Post Production
Best Screenplay
Best Actor
Best First-Time Film

We can’t wait to see which films get nominated this year!

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Script Selections

The top 5 Screenplays will be showcased across the Community platform, featured in the Lift-Off newsletter which is sent to our 35,000 filmmakers, and shared across social media.

Screenwriters will be invited to include their work in our online Community portal. The portal is a curated database of quality scripts that are looking for production.

Lift-Off Community directors and producers are actively looking for projects to develop. They can use the portal to find their next potential projects, and contact the writers directly to discuss the optioning of scripts, development and rights.
All entries should be completed scripts, short or feature length, and you should be actively looking for collaboration or development.

Rules & Terms

We accept all films and scripts in any length or genre.
Digital online submission screeners only.
Feedback is sent shortly after the commencement of the festival.

Proudly, we have no other restrictions for your work. This includes your work's premiere status, its age and/or whether your work has been made available online.
13 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Philip Barantini

    Fantastic festival, Natalie was very accommodating!

    March 2019
    Helpful
  • Anthony Hett

    I had a great time at the Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival. Their communication is excellent and they offer great opportunities to meet and network with other filmmakers.

    March 2019
    Helpful
  • Reeta Varpama

    Great festival! Really impressed by how genuinely keen the organisers are to give the filmmakers the opportunity to make the most out of the festival and screening experience. We are very proud to have been selected

    March 2019
    Helpful
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Reeta, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you.

  • Joseph Leone

    I've been very impressed with the Lift-Off Team. It's my pleasure to highly recommend any of their Global Film Festivals to any aspiring screenwriter / filmmaker

    March 2019
    Helpful
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your kind words, Joe.

  • Jacob Thomas Pilgaard

    A really great festival.

    Quick and kind communication and they really do their best to promote the films and filmmakers.

    Highly recommended!

    Highly recommended.

    April 2018
    Helpful