Welcome to year 3 of Worcester Film Festival, where we'll be returning to our prestigious venue at The Royal Porcelain Works. We have some big plans for this year, so watch this space (and our website and social media) for news. For now, we can promise more of what has made this event such a success the past couple of years - a launch event, film screenings, Q&As, networking evenings, talks and awards gala.

Over the past couple of years we've had the pleasure of screening a UK premiere of a film that opened at TIFF, an awards gala hosted by acclaimed actor Mat Horne, networking events sponsored by the Royal Television Society and Birmingham Film Market, a talk by composer Murray Gold, funding and pitching sessions by Greenlit, Q&As with some of our officially selected and shown over 150 of your films from 36 countries... and we're just getting started.

This is an event for filmmakers and film lovers alike! So, whether you've joined us previously or are new to our festival, we look forward to meeting you.

See you there!

Timeline:

EARLY DEADLINE - 2nd March 2023
REGULAR DEADLINE - 2nd June 2023
LATE DEADLINE - 2nd July 2023
OFFICIALLY SELECTED NOTIFIED - 2nd August 2023
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED - 2nd September 2023
FESTIVAL:
Day 1 (October 4th) - Opening Night (come together for canapés and drinks to celebrate the launch of our third year)
Day 2 (October 5th) - Films, Q&As and Networking Events
Day 3 (October 6th) - Films, Q&As and Networking Events
Day 4 (October 7th) - Films, Q&As and The Awards Gala (the gala will be a black tie evening with a 3 course meal and the presentation of our awards)

Awards & Prizes

Trophies will be given at the Awards Gala (Saturday 7th October).

Film Categories:

Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Midlands Film
Best Documentary Film
Best Animated Film
Best Music Video
Best Student Film

Craft Categories:

Best Screenplay
Best Performance
Best Director
Best Cinematographer
Best Costume Designer
Best Editor
Best Hair & Make-Up
Best Production Designer
Best Sound Design
Best Composer

Rules & Terms

Films must not have had a commercial release prior to submission.
Short films must be under 40 minutes
Feature films must be 40 minutes or longer.

The Festival welcomes all forms of film production – animation, experimental, etc. However, promotional films are not eligible (e.g. films promoting tourism, charitable appeals, etc.)⁣
- Films that are available to purchase are NOT eligible; this includes DVD/Blu-ray/VHS formats.⁣
- Films that have previously been publicly screened, broadcast or otherwise made publicly available (including online) will NOT be considered.⁣

- To be eligible for the short film competitions, films must have been completed after 15th January 2022 and be 40 minutes or less in duration⁣
- To be eligible for the feature film competitions, films must have been completed after 15th January 2022 and be 40 minutes or greater in duration⁣
- Please note that films submitted through the incorrect category will not be considered.
- THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES FOR SUBMITTED FILMS.⁣

Non-English language films⁣:

To qualify for selection, all non-English language films must have an English-subtitled screening copy available.⁣

How to send your film⁣:

Please submit your film via the online submission platform, FilmFreeway. WE DO NOT ACCEPT FILMS OTHER THAN VIA THIS PLATFORM.⁣

Notification⁣:

Due to the large amount of submissions received, the Festival will only contact those filmmakers with work selected for competitions and notification will be given by August 2023. The Festival cannot offer feedback regarding films that are not selected for the programme. Please don’t be discouraged if your film is not accepted to Worcester Film Festival. There are often many influencing factors on why your film may or may not be accepted or be suitable for the Festival.⁣

Using extracts of the films and film stills for promotion⁣:

The entrant agrees that up to three minutes of their film may be used by the Festival in promotional activities including screening a clip on television, inclusion in the Festival’s trailer, and on the Festival’s website. Please ensure that uploaded stills and headshots are of print quality and that you have permission to allow the Festival to use these for promotional and press purposes in perpetuity. ⁣

Unsolicited submissions, waivers and discounts⁣:

The Festival respectfully requests that entrants do not send a DVD directly to the Festival, do not send unsolicited Vimeo etc., links to Festival staff, and do not appeal for fee waivers. The modest fees are necessary to ensure that all films are viewed and fairly considered, as well as to support the costs of curation and Festival delivery.⁣

General⁣:

Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions implies that the entrant will abide by them in their dealings with the Festival and also that the entrant is legally entitled to submit the film for consideration. Entry to the Festival implies that the entrant has the right to do so, has pre-cleared all materials that comprise the film, and is an authorised representative of the team that holds the intellectual property in the film.⁣

Entering a film to Worcester Film Festival implies the acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.⁣

The Festival wishes all potential entrants the best of luck with their submission and their film.⁣

The Festival reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time.⁣
⁣
Updated January 2023.⁣

15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ravi Ghelani

    Last year we submitted our short film 'Slave to the Page' and we had an excellent experience with Worcester Film Festival! A brilliant festival with a lovely team behind the scenes, who I found to be great with communication before and during the festival. I am elated to say what topped this off was winning Best Short Film. I would recommend Worcester Film Festival to anyone that is making films and wants to create buzzing network of film enthusiasts.

    March 2023
    Helpful
  • Hui Tan

    It is my great honor to receive your announcement!
    I deeply appreciate Worcester Film Festival to provide this opportunity for filmmakers to represent their films and share their experiences!
    Tan, Hui

    December 2022
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  • Jess Clark

    Worcester Film Festival was well run and thoughtfully curated. The standard of films in the festival was incredibly high and we were honoured that our film LOVE won an award amongst such a great selection. Fully recommend submitting to this festival which champions independent filmmaking and nurtures emerging talent.

    October 2022
    Helpful
  • Alex Di Cuffa

    One of THE best festivals we've been part of! Great organisation, involvement, information and even better atmosphere! Very friendly team and great quality films! Didn't see a bad one! Would 100% recommend and would love to be part of it again!

    October 2022
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  • Joseph Archer

    Wonderful festival that supports filmmakers as well as engages the local audience! Perfect event!

    October 2022
    Helpful