SCI-FI-LONDON is the UK's only dedicated science fiction film festival and is recognised internationally as a great place to premiere.

We seek out thought-provoking, challenging and exciting genre films, be they short form, features or relevant documentaries.

In 2020 we held our festival in cyberspace. Like many, Covid-19 restrictions limited our activities. For our 2021 edition, we are were able to hold the festival at the Stratford Picturehouse in London’s Olympic Borough. We also showcased all our short films online.

Now, for 2022 we are planning another live event, in several venues across the capital. We are also looking to maintain an online showcase and will introduce some events for those who cannot travel to the festival. More details will follow as we have them.

About us:
The London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film or SCI-FI-LONDON as we like to be known promotes science fact as well as fiction.

Filmmakers often tell us that sci-fi is tough to make due to a perceived need for special effects or lack of credible stories. Our festival looks at new ways of telling stories and puts cutting-edge research and practice in the spotlight.

Also, we are keen to encourage female directors and writers to submit without any financial hindrance - so drop us a line or look out for our F-RATED fee amnesties.

Scientists, comic artists, leading genre writers and filmmakers explore where fact and fiction intersect. Where 'what if' meets 'wtf'.

Awards & Prizes

We have awards for Best Feature, Best Short and Audience Awards at each festival.

Rules & Terms

Submitting is easy, and our rules very simple.

PLEASE NOTE: We will want a DCP of your film for screening in the cinema - if you dont have one, you can make one yourself for free - read this document for instructions
http://sci-fi-london.com/sites/default/files/MAKE_A_DCP_INFORMATION.pdf

We now ONLY accept online screeners, via FF or links to other services like Vimeo, but only with a valid FilmFreeway reference.

Your film does not need to be a UK premiere, though we'd prefer it. However, it does need to have been completed in the last 15 months.

For screening, should your film be accepted, we will require a DCP (to our specification, details will be sent to you) AND an HD MP4 copy for our online shorts programme, backup and archive purposes.

DO NOT SEND PRESS PACKS, PHOTOS, TESTIMONIALS OR ANYTHING ELSE WITH YOUR SUBMISSION - it is a waste of paper and post. If we accept your film, we will ask for the other things we need. PLEASE - make sure you upload a full press kit and trailer to your film's listing.

So, the process is this - our selection team view the film, if we like it...it's in!

Films submitted to the festival will be promoted on our social media, website, in printed materials (such as the festival programme) and our press and marketing activity (this can include presenting films that we have selected to the press. You give us the right to use the name of the film, the images submitted for the uses listed. We will of course ask you if we want to screen your film in any tour or similar activity, as we often get asked to do guest spots at other festivals.

Once a film is submitted and accepted to the festival you guarantee to not withdraw it from the festival under any circumstances. You also guarantee to make sure we actually receive screening materials at least two weeks before the festival. If the screening is a world premiere, please talk to us about a)making a big deal about it and b) keeping us in the production loop!

We will put part of the festival online, and we may wish to include your film.
All online films are geo-locked to the UK and behind secure DRM. If we accept your movie, please clarify if you DO NOT want your movie put in our secure screening room.

**Please note: We are careful to watch and evaluate every film submitted to our festival. Therefore, if you submitted the film you intend to submit in a previous year and were not accepted, please make sure that you have significantly changed your film (new sound mix, different ending, re-edited, shortened etc.) if you wish us to reconsider it.

PLEASE NOTE: We will want a DCP of your film for screening - if you don't have one you can make one yourself for free - read this document for instructions
http://sci-fi-london.com/sites/default/files/MAKE_A_DCP_INFORMATION.pdf

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing your film.
41 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • michael lavine

    Team Sci Fi London did an incredible job! Email and social media promo campaigns were executed flawlessly, The Catalog and Promo Poster were both gorgeously designed and most importantly, the line-up of Sci-Fi films was top notch, loaded with heavy hitting cinema. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it across the pond this year, but thank you for including my short The dark Odyssey in such a great collection of Sci Fi films!

    December 2021
    Helpful
  • He Murdered Sleep Film

    A delightful festival! Was not able to travel to it due to the pandemic, but next time for sure. Thanks for having our film!

    November 2021
    Helpful
  • Andrew McGee

    A wonderful festival run by an enthusiastic and passionate team! Myself and the rest of the Venus team were so pleased to see our film on the big screen in a cinema venue, it was a real pleasure to be part of.

    November 2021
    Helpful
  • Lovina Yavari

    thanks for having Red String of Fate!

    November 2021
    Helpful
  • Keith Allott

    It's been an ambition of ours to screen at Sci-Fi London for many years so to be selected was great news. Communication was great and we were made to really welcome at the screening. We had a great time at the festival and would definitely recommend others to submit their films.

    November 2021
    Helpful