The OffBeat Folk Film Festival is coming back for 2026! Join us from the 2nd to the 14th of May 2026 where we'll be hosting events at venues such as Cecil Sharp House, The Mildmay Club, The Walthamstow Trades Hall and The Moth Club, with many more to be announced.

Last year we sold out every single one of our 10 events and we're looking forward to hosting even more film screenings, talks and performances across 12 days in London.

OffBeat Folk Film Festival is the first of its kind and we are looking for the best films about folk and working culture in Britain. We welcome emerging and established filmmakers to apply and are looking for documentary, narrative, experimental or music videos that take a closer look at the lesser known aspects of British culture. This could be a film about the Mari Lywd to a profile of your local pub. If you’ve been to one of our screenings in Walthamstow you know we love archival documentaries, so we welcome old films as well as new.

We can't wait to watch your films!

Awards & Prizes

In 2025, ourselves and our jury awarded four awards:
Best in Folk
Best Sound and Music
The Community Award
The OffBeat Film Award

The jury was Maxine Peake, Lally MacBeth, Laura Venning, Angeline Morrison and Nick Duffy.

If you submit your film it is automatically entered for all awards.

Rules & Terms

All films must be the original work of the filmmakers, and all filmmakers must have the necessary rights.
By submitting, the filmmaker agrees that OffBeat has permission to use trailer, poster, stills and promotional material upon selection and nomination.

FAQs

Can I submit more than one film?
Yes! You can submit as many films as you like.

How much does it cost to submit a film?
Super Early Bird Submissions are open until 31st of October 2025 and cost £10 per film. Early Bird Submissions run between 1st and 30th of November and cost £15 per film and Standard Submissions are open between 1st of December and close on the 15th of February and cost £20 per film. Unfortunately, the submission price isn’t refundable if your film isn’t selected.

When do submissions close?
Submissions close on 15th February 2026 however, if your film film will be completed after that date but before the festival opens in May, then you can submit the unfinished film although we can’t promise that we will show it!

My film isn’t about the UK, is that a problem?
OffBeat is about looking at folk and working culture in Britain today. Unfortunately, it is therefore extremely unlikely that we will accept films which don’t look specifically at folk culture in Britain. If you have a folk film about another country that you would like us to help promote, just get in touch.

Does my film have to be a documentary?
No, not at all! It can be anything at all. In 2025 we screened everything from music videos to feature-length narrative fiction.

Are there premiere requirements?
No! We are happy to accept films which are already online or at any stage of their festival run. If you would like to premiere your film at the frestival, let us know in your submission.

Will there be a screening fee?
No, unfortunately we aren’t able to pay a screening fee to filmmakers at this time.

When will I be notified if my film is selected?
We will notify everyone who has submitted by the 22nd of March 2026.

How can I find out more information about The Festival?
Submissions and film - rita@offbeat.film
Collaborations and opportunities - mike@offbeat.film
Venues and filmmaker support - sophie@offbeat.film 
13 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • David Baksh

    Such a great festival and the perfect setting for our film, Dear Mr Manley. Rita and Mike are wonderfully committed and passionate organisers, who supported us and our film throughout the entire process. There's no other festival like this eclectic celebration of the Offbeat and the Outsider in Music, Art, Film and in Life. Roll on, 2027! DB

    May 2026
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  • Boris Thompson Roylance

    Rita and Mike live and breathe folk and curated an extraordinary programme of films, art and live music. A beautiful festival ingrained deeply within the folk community.

    May 2026
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  • Jennie Robson

    A wonderful festival experience - thank you for having me!

    May 2026
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  • Stewart Morgan Hajdukiewicz

    Excellent festival, the small team of organisers are personally involved and seem genuinely invested in presentation of the chosen films.

    May 2026
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  • Huw Wahl

    Wonderful festival - glad to have been invited!

    May 2026
    Helpful