⭐ UK FILM AWARDS 2026 Film Festival & Screenplay Contest ⭐
🌐 www.ukfilmawards.com

🎬 IMDb-credited film festival — All winners, nominees & finalists will receive IMDb credit.
🌐 www.imdb.com/event/ev0074147

📖 UK FILM AWARDS Magazine
🌐 https://ukfilmawards.com/news

⭐ Awards Show & Screenings
29th November 2026 - METROPOLIS - EPSOM - LONDON

🎬 FACTS
Over 40+ Awards / Amazing Cash & Personalised Prizes / Over 120 selected last year!

🎬 MISSION STATEMENT
The UK Film Awards honours excellence across all areas of filmmaking — from the vision of directors and writers to the artistry of performers and the skill of the crew who bring each story to life.
Now in our third year, the festival continues to celebrate both established and emerging talent from around the world, shining a spotlight on originality, craft, and cinematic impact.

🏆 2025 AWARD WINNERS:
A full list of the 2025 award winners can be found on our official website or IMDb
🌐 www.ukfilmawards.com
🌐 www.imdb.com/event/ev0074147

🤩 CELEBRITY HIGHLIGHTS 2025
⭐ NOOMI RAPACE wins Best Actress in the short film Hearts of Stone
⭐ STEPHEN FRY wins Highlight Achievement for A Friend of Dorothy
⭐ SUZANNA HAMILTON wins the JURY AWARD for the short film 175
⭐ JONNY LABEY wins Best Actor for the short film Swirl State
⭐ MIRIAM MARGOLYES wins Outstanding Achievement for A Friend of Dorothy
⭐ JESSICA BARDEN wins Best Supporting Actress for Hearts of Stone

🤩 CELEBRITY HIGHLIGHTS 2024
⭐ ALAN CUMMINGS wins Best Actor for V13
⭐ ED WESTWICK wins Best Supporting Actor for Deep Fear
⭐ VIRGINIA MADSEN wins Best Supporting Actress for The Portrait
⭐ EDDIE IZZARD wins Highlight Performance for Doctor Jekyll
⭐ JASON WATKINS wins Best Actor in a short film for The One Note Man
⭐ CARA BUONO wins Best Supporting Actress for V13

This year we have a range of new Awards & Prizes that we think are the best!

⭐ UK Film Award Crystal Trophy Personalised in Gold*
⭐ Gold Personalised Certificate
⭐ Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo
⭐ Free Screen Entry & Award Ceremony
(To METROPOLIS Epsom - London UK)
⭐ UK Film Award Magazine 2026
(All Winners + Selected Profiled Inside!)
⭐ Your films, trailers, posters, highlighted on our website & socials
(Optional you choose what you want to make public or not)
⭐ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

Awards & Prizes

🎬 Feature Film Awards

🏆 Best Picture
UK Film Award Trophy + Gold Certificate + Free Screen Entry
+ UK Film Award Magazine 2026 with front cover
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

🎬 Genre winners:
Winners will receive a Gold Certificate + Free Screen Entry + UK Film Award Magazine 2026
Optional: The UK Film Award Crystal Trophy personalised in gold*
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

✔ Best Drama
✔ Best Action
✔ Best Thriller
✔ Best Horror
✔ Best Sci-fi
✔ Best Comedy
✔ Best Fantasy
✔ Best Documentary
✔ Best Animation
✔ Best Experimental

🎬 Short Film Awards

🏆 Best Short Film
UK Film Award Trophy + Gold Certificate + Free Screen Entry
+ UK Film Award Magazine 2026
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

🎬 Genre winners
Winners will receive a Gold Certificate + Free Screen Entry + UK Film Award Magazine 2026
Optional: The UK Film Award Crystal Trophy personalised in gold*
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media

✔ Best Drama
✔ Best Action
✔ Best Thriller
✔ Best Horror
✔ Best Sci-fi
✔ Best Comedy
✔ Best Fantasy
✔ Best Documentary
✔ Best Animation
✔ Best Stop-Motion
✔ Best Micro-Animation
✔ Best Experimental Film
✔ Best Ai Film

📝 Screenplay Awards (Feature Length)
🔎 All Screenplays will receive a script report with at least half a page feedback

🏆 Best Screenplay + Best Screenwriter
UK Film Award Trophy + Gold Certificate + Free Screen Entry
+ UK Film Award Magazine 2026
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

📝 Genre winners
Winners will receive a Gold Certificate + UK Film Award Magazine 2026
Optional: The UK Film Award Crystal Trophy personalised in gold*
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

✔ Best Drama
✔ Best Action
✔ Best Thriller
✔ Best Horror
✔ Best Sci-fi
✔ Best Comedy
✔ Best Fantasy
✔ Best Animation

📝 Screenplay Awards (Short Story)
🔎 All Screenplays will receive a script report with at least half a page feedback

🏆 Best Short Screenplay
Gold Certificate + Free Screen Entry + UK Film Award Magazine 2026
Optional: The UK Film Award Crystal Trophy personalised in gold*
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

📝 Genre winners
Winners will receive a Gold Certificate + UK Film Award Magazine 2026
Optional: The UK Film Award Crystal Trophy personalised in gold*
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

✔ Best Drama
✔ Best Action
✔ Best Thriller
✔ Best Horror
✔ Best Sci-fi
✔ Best Comedy
✔ Best Fantasy
✔ Best Animation

🎭 Acting & Crew Awards
IMDb: Awards & Nominations will be credited on to your IMDb page
Gold Certificate + Free Screen Entry + UK Film Award Magazine 2026
Optional: The UK Film Award Crystal Trophy personalised in gold*
+ Pure Gold Laurel Award Personalised Digital Logo for your websites + social media
+ IMDb Award status updated with your special UK Film Award

🎭 Acting Awards - (Feature Film)

⭐ Best Actor
⭐ Best Actress
⭐ Best Supporting Actor
⭐ Best Supporting Actress
⭐ Best Newcomer
⭐ Highlight Performance
⭐ Outstanding Achievement Award

🎭 Acting Awards - (Short Film)

⭐ Best Actor
⭐ Best Actress
⭐ Best Supporting Actor
⭐ Best Supporting Actress
⭐ Highlight Performance
⭐ Outstanding Achievement Award

🎭 Acting Awards - Shorts / Features

⭐ Young Performer
⭐ Jury Special Performance Award

🎬 Crew Awards (Feature Film)

⭐ Best Director
⭐ Best Cinematography
⭐ Best Editing
⭐ Best Music
⭐ Best Production Design
⭐ Best VFX

🔎 Judging Panel
The UK Film Awards is curated by a panel of industry professionals led by Festival Founder Lee Akehurst and Festival Director Martin J. Thomas. Each submission is reviewed with the same level of care, integrity, and artistic respect afforded to major international competitions. Our judges assess every film and screenplay on craft, vision, and narrative impact, ensuring that each project is recognised on merit alone. All screenplay entries receive a complimentary script report, offering thoughtful critique and professional insight. As the festival evolves, additional judges from across the filmmaking landscape will join the panel, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and elevating the standard of evaluation year after year.

Rules & Terms

PLEASE SUBMIT: Feature Films, Short Films, Documentaries, Animations and Screenplays. We accept films of any genre, length and language. Non-English Language films MUST have English subtitles.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT:
1. Extremist or propaganda content
2. Pornography

By submitting your film, take note that: The UK Film Awards is hereby granted the rights to utilise (trailer/teaser/poster/stills) from any film submitted for promotional purposes.
Feature Films selected will have it's trailer streamed at the official UK Film Awards website and Vimeo Channel.
Short Films selected will be streamed at the official UK Film Awards website and Vimeo Channel. However you can opt out and provide a trailer or poster or stills to represent that film.
Selected winning short films will be screened at METROPOLIS, Epsom, London UK on Sunday 29th November 2026. Winning feature films will be showcased through official trailers

🏆 Trophies are optional, all winners may order the trophy by paying production and shipping costs. We do not profit from this service.
The competition reserves the right to refuse entries and the Jury can remove a film from the competition at any time. Entry fees are non-refundable. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorised to commit the film for possible screening (private and/or public) and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.

🎬 If my film is selected and submissions are still open is my selection secure?
Yes. All films that have already received official selection notification remain selected for the UK Film Awards 2026.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the UK Film Awards, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss or damage of the screening videos entered.

Complimentary / Waived Submissions Policy
The UK Film Awards may, at its discretion, issue complimentary or waived submission entries for promotional, partnership, or outreach purposes.
Please note:
• Films submitted using a complimentary waiver or free entry are eligible for:
– Official Selection
– Screening (where applicable)
– IMDb recognition (where applicable)
– Non-competitive laurels such as Official Selection or Nominee
• Films submitted using a complimentary waiver or free entry are not eligible for:
– Monetary or cash-equivalent prizes
– Physical trophies or paid awards
– Sponsor-funded prizes or benefits
– Any award category that carries a financial, production, or material value
Only paid submissions are eligible for full competitive awards, prizes and sponsor-backed benefits.

The UK Film Awards reserves the right to introduce non-competitive jury commendations or special recognition awards at its discretion. These recognitions do not carry monetary or material value.
By submitting a film using a complimentary or waived entry, the entrant acknowledges and accepts these eligibility conditions.
By submitting your film you acknowledge you have read, understood and accepted all rules and regulations.

The UK Film Awards is operated by UK Film Studios, part of Independent Film Studios Ltd.
50 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Emma Croft

    Thank you to the UK Film Awards for awarding Invincible Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress 2025. We had a great time and enjoyed watching the short films where my short documentary was also part of the festival and screened on the night of the award ceremony. Highly recommend this festival. Really excellent organisers who are truly supporters of filmmakers. A really good festival.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Karen Anstee

    My screenplay Manny's Mitzvah was nominated in the fest but I was sadly unable to attend. However, the communication from the festival team was great and the written feedback was comprehensive, generous, kind and very useful indeed - overall I have been left with good feelings about the fest - they are professional in their attitude and caring too. I really wish I had been able to go along on the day and will definitely submit again.

    February 2026
    Helpful
  • Emma Walker

    The UK Film Awards truly champions independent film. The festival’s professionalism and passion for cinema were evident throughout, and I’m grateful to have been selected as an award winner. Thank you.

    February 2026
    Helpful
  • Luke Ollerton

    A really positive experience overall. Communication from the team was clear and professional, and it was refreshing to feel genuinely supported as a filmmaker rather than just processed as an entry.

    The feedback and recognition were thoughtful, and it’s clear the festival is run by people who care about storytelling and the creative community. I’d happily submit again and would recommend UK Film Awards to other writers and filmmakers looking for a respectful, well-run platform.

    February 2026
    Helpful
  • Bree Wyrd

    Screenwriters, this is a festival you should submit to! With your entry you get feedback on your project that is constructive and actionable. It isn't just two sentences. Honestly some of the best notes I've gotten. The experience all around was excellent. The communication is thorough and ongoing. They make you feel like part of a community. Absolutely enter this!

    February 2026
    Helpful