Founded in 2001, WOW Wales One World Film Festival has long been the only UK festival dedicated principally to films from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while also holding the status of the longest-running festival in Wales.

For 23 years, the festival has brought a wide range of the very best international films to cinemas across Wales. Its annual programme of feature, documentary, and short films showcases thought provoking, eye-opening films from places you rarely get to see on screen.

Taking place every year in March, WOW brings the best of international Welsh or UK premieres in Aberystwyth and other cinemas across Wales.

International and feminist, the festival champions diversity, equality and the inclusion of voices outside of the mainstream. Every year at least half of the programme’s films are made by female filmmakers, and since 2023 WOW's team is 100% female-led and diverse.

WOW Wales One World Film Festival, in collaboration with environmental advocates and filmmakers, proudly presents our commitment to driving measurable environmental change and fostering climate literacy among future generations.

In 2021, we revamped our 'Green Screen' initiative, evolving it into the dynamic 'Ecosinema' strand. This transformation was marked by our inaugural Ecosinema mini-festival online, setting a new standard for eco-themed storytelling within our festival.

Keeping Ecosinema as a film strand in the festival, WOW continues to showcase eco-themed films in cinemas and often collaborates with organisations such as The Landworkers Alliance and the 'Creating Safer Space' project to deliver special screenings, Q&As and panel discussions to its audiences.

Submissions for our 2025 Festival will open soon.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Awards for:

1) Best Short Film
2) Best Feature Fiction Film
3) Best Feature Documentary Film
4) Best Ecosinema Film

Rules & Terms

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Films in consideration for the festival’s programme must be Welsh premieres at the time of the festival.

2. All entries must be subtitled in English. Dialogue lists are not accepted.

3. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry to the festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

4. The festival keeps the full right to change the date of its event and the deadlines for entry.

Submission Guidelines:

1. All films must be submitted via online screener hosted by FilmFreeway, Vimeo, Cinando, or other online video platforms.

2. Only complete entries (including fee payment and screener) will be considered.

3. All films selected for WOW Wales One World Film Festival’s in-cinema screenings will be screened on DCP unless otherwise arranged by the submitting filmmaker and programming team.

4. Films that are selected by our team cannot be withdrawn for any reason.

3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Margaret Kane-Rowe

    Such a lovely supportive festival. Thank you for including our film in your brilliant line-up.

    April 2023
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  • Naya Kartaadiredja

    What a fantastic festival to show a movie. The festival lives and breathes nostalgia and excitement in the air. It honors filmmakers for their craft and is the heart of great festivals. From the big time movies with seasoned filmmakers to the beginners, every film is appreciated with respect and love.

    April 2023
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  • Alan Hamwan

    Thank you, WOW team. Being part of such a fantastic film festival, a lovely experience, with friendly communication and promptness, was an honour. Well-organised, also smooth technical handling was truly impressive. I hope that the film festival will constantly develop.

    April 2023
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