Since our debut in November 2017, Women Of The Lens Film Festival CIC is a live, in-person 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!

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!

To start 2025

Please ensure that you read additional submissions guidelines found on our website prior to any entry.

Entry is not a guarantee of programming in any festival event.

All productions must be completed at the time of submission.

Entry fees are non-refundable.

All films must be in English or have English subtitles where necessary.

Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker and each entry may be entered in multiple categories separately.

We reserve 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 2.5 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 be screened before the Festival's programming. However any screening of your production prior to our Festival will be considered during the selection process.

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

We regret we cannot give individual feedback on submissions.

For all submissions not in the English language, we ideally require embedded English descriptive subtitles or otherwise standard subtitles.

We cannot accept a work-in-progress submission that is nearly completed - for example, where the final sound mix is not yet complete. We would need to see a fully completed version of the film by the final deadline date.

If your submission is selected, you will be required to provide a DCP of your film.

We do not pay screening fees for selected submissions.

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 further submissions guidelines prior to entry on our website: www.womenofthelens.com

Overall Rating
Quality
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Networking
  • I absolutely love this festival and have enormous thanks and gratitude to Jennifer and the team at Women of the Lens for continually to support and give a platform for these films to be seen to a proper audience. The festival this year was no different, there was a good crowd and it was such a joyous evening at The Rich Mix. Was also lovely to watch the other films on the bill; 'Lost and Found & Fifty Four Days' and meet with the directors Erica Miller and Cat White. This is what these festivals are about, watching, meeting and connecting. Thank you! Much love. Dxx

    December 2024
  • Cat White

    Brilliantly organised, thoughtfully curated and excellent selection of short films. Will be submitting films again and again!

    December 2024
  • Warm, friendly and open. A great festival to be a part of

    December 2024
  • 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!