Welcome to Buzz Cinema, a UK film festival filmmakers from the UK, especially Herts, Beds and Bucks.

Our festival in Leighton Buzzard is a hub for emerging filmmakers and industry professionals. It's packed with vibrant screenings, inspiring workshops, and challenges.

As a festival, we:
Bring together local and national creatives and filmmakers to inspire future collaborations.
Create a space to showcase work made by local people to the community where they live.
Encourage anyone to get involved with making a film and visual storytelling by making skill learning accessible.
Build a hub for filmmakers and industry professionals outside of London.

Sound like something you want to get involved with? Check our website and social media to stay up to date on workshops, screenings and 48-hour film challenges.

PLEASE READ THE RULES & TERMS BEFORE SUBMITTING.

Buzz Cinema offers awards for Best Film in the following categories:

- Narrative Film (drama, comedy, horror/thriller, animation, family film)
- Documentary Film
- Music Video
- Experimental / dance / visual art film
- Local Film
- Young Filmmakers

About The Festival

1. Buzz Cinema Festival 2026 is being held in Leighton Buzzard (Bedfordshire, U.K.)
2. The aim of the festival is to:
a. Bring together creatives and filmmakers, encouraging sharing knowledge and inspiration.
b. Create a space for filmmakers in Herts, Beds, Bucks to show their work to the communities where they live
c. Celebrate and encourage creativity and collaborations between all generations and backgrounds.
3. In addition to the film screening, the festival also organises special events such as workshops, talks and a 48hr film contest. These events are to inspire and make skill learning accessible to people from all ages and backgrounds.

By submitting your films you agree to the terms and conditions of the Buzz Cinema Festival (BCF) Selection Process.

What we are looking for:
1. Made by filmmakers in the United Kingdom.
2. Short films only, 30 minutes and under.
3. All genres accepted (we do not have a VR category)– if available please include a BBFC rating.
4. Please include trigger warnings in your submission form.
5. No restriction on year of film completion.
6. No premiere status
7. Film must have English subtitles if not in English language, we may ask you to amend these if we feel comprehension is impacted.
8. Trailers will not be accepted as a submission.

What to send
Online screeners only – no DVD, hard drives, or other physical formats please.
We are only interested in your film itself for submission, and request that no additional publicity materials be sent during the submission period.

T&C
By submitting to the Buzz Cinema Festival (BCF), I confirm that I have read and accept the terms and regulations of BCF. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. I authorise the BCF to exhibit my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in the required format for screening during the festival.

I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to BCF and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.

By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to BCF the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the festival. I hereby agree to indemnify BCF, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Excellent festival - I'd highly recommend. Really clear communication and support throughout! Thanks again for screening our film!

    May 2026
  • Derry Shillitto

    A great emerging festival that will surely get bigger every year.

    May 2026
  • Frazer Lee

    Buzz Cinema's Halloween extravaganza is a must-attend event that celebrates a broad range of horror filmmaking styles. The Funky Snake Escape venue was brilliantly quirky, a very generous free drink on arrival, and we enjoyed meeting the other filmmakers and attendees. The spooky costumes were fab too! Lobke and team made everyone feel so welcome and the Q&A was fun and fascinating, with the chance to network afterwards. Thanks for screening our folk horror film 'The Stay' and Happy Halloween!

    November 2025
  • Thank you, BCFF team. Being part of such a fantastic film festival, a lovely experience, with friendly communication and promptness, was an honour. Well-organised and smooth technical handling was truly impressive. I hope that the film festival will constantly develop.

    April 2025
  • Lucca Murto

    Thank you very much for having my short film "For Them" as part of your festival. Unfortunately I couldn't be there in person, but the festival had a great communication and programme!

    October 2024