Since our debut in November 2017, Women Of The Lens Film Festival CIC is a live festival of film programming. UK-based, it was created to celebrate and highlight the achievements of Black women in the film industries. As well as British women, we are very proud to regularly welcome and screen productions from all over the world!

This platform was created because the underrepresentation of Black women in the creative industries remains stubbornly low. We want to reveal the complexity, diversity and multiplicities of women, which is ordinarily overlooked in the conventional media-sphere. We want to introduce wider audiences to human stories with varied narratives that move beyond the common tropes reserved for Black women in typical media representations.

At Women Of The Lens, we want to create a space, which attracts industry professionals and those who have vested interests outside of the industry that build reciprocal relationships and nurtures and builds careers. We want to share knowledge which signposts opportunities and develops ideas.

Whilst our stories are by, of and for Black women, we sincerely welcome all people who will support the ethos and spirit of Women Of The Lens through their own work.

Be sure to read submission details on our website prior to your submission: www.womenofthelens.com

Stay close to social media for immediate updates: Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/LinkedIn: @womenofthelens and you can sign up to our newsletter via our website!

Awards & Prizes

To start 2024

Rules & Terms

Please ensure that you read the submissions guidelines found on our website prior to any entry. Entry is not a guarantee of programming in any festival event. Entry fees are non-refundable.

All films must be in English or have English subtitles. Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker and each entry may be entered in multiple categories separately.

We reserves the right, at any time, without notice and without limiting any and all other rights we may have under these Rules & Regulations, at law or in equity, to remove and delete your entry to the festival.

Productions are open to any genre i.e. romcom, anime, animation, drama, thriller, comedy, children, romance, sci-fi, noir, web series, podcasts.

Submissions are open for productions of lengths between 1 minute and 2 hours.

Submissions must be an original work of the applicant’s team and not based, in whole or part, on another author’s work (unless underlying material is in public domain). You agree that you will not submit any content that is libellous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, sexually, racially, culturally, or ethnically offensive, harassing, intimidating, threatening, hateful, discriminatory or abusive.

In most instances we will not have any specific restrictions on productions which have already premiered, however, productions with premier status at the Festival’s programming will be factored into our selection.

Productions may not be withdrawn from the programming after selection.
Productions may not be screened any time before the Festival's programming once it has been selected.

We reserve the right to use any material provided to us as part of our PR, marketing and promotional activities.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Women Of The Lens Film Festival CIC, its management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. 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 of or damage to the screenings entered.

Sign up to our newsletter for additional updates: @womenofthelens

All inquiries should be emailed in the first instance to: info@womenofthelens.com

Ensure that you read the submissions guidelines prior to entry on our website: www.womenofthelens.com
15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Bukola Bakinson

    We are thrilled to be selected, we look forward to attending the film festival which has been postponed to March 2022, we will aim to update this review following the festival.

    December 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Hey Bukola, thanks for leaving your response. Please be advised that all film submitters will be communicated with updates about the Festival event status as soon as possible. We wish you a very Happy New Year!

  • Janet Marrett

    Women of the Len Film Festival truly is the premier festival for UK black women, showcasing excellence in filmmaking and fresh new storytelling by hosts with a passion for making these accessible by promoting and supporting new & emerging talent. Really an honour to be included in the official selection of the 2020 edition within a such high calibre of films! Highly recommended!
    Huge thanks to an amazing team for including CLEARING in your 2020 official selection.

    December 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Hey Janet. We hope that you had a good start to 2021. It was a pleasure to feature your film in the 2020 programme. You are a rising talent and we can't wait to see more of your work. We expect big things from you!

  • Fan Sissoko

    Great festival with a refreshing selection of films. Thank you for having our film!

    December 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for submitting We The People. It is an important film about what community can achieve through collaboration. We look forward to more of your work.

  • Shona Charlton

    A warm and wonderful festival. The founder Jennifer, really values her filmmakers and really cares about their experience. You can feel the work that goes into every single piece of communication. I loved the festival poster and artwork. In a year difficult for any film festival to do their usual, WOTL has thought of many new ways to help and promote its female filmmakers. I just wish I could have engaged with it much more, unfortunately it caught me at a very busy period. Filming under Covid restrictions meant I didn't have the time. Will certainly be applying again with new projects and telling all my friends to do the same.

    December 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Shona. Thank you very much for your kind words. We will all navigate Covid in a productive way that sees a more communicative industry (and hopefully, society) that is supportive of each other. We very much look forward to seeing your new work. Do keep us up to date with it.

  • OYA Media Group

    An amazing festival to showcase our short film "Promise Me." Really appreciated the social media profile and engagement. Looking forward to attending again. Hopefully in person.

    December 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for your film. It was a pleasure to screen such a strong and important story that goes way beyond film. We look forward to seeing more of your work.