The Clapham International Film Festival is an international film festival that takes place in Clapham, London, UK.

We screen feature and short films in atmospheric venues with a keen eye for independent and cutting-edge material. 2026 will see us return for our 5th edition, and we're committed to providing a platform for daring and adventurous voices.

In 2026 we are looking to showcase out there, avant-garde filmmaking, as well as funny, perplexing and impossible to categorise mp4 format files. We work around the clock to fill the rooms we inhabit with seekers of brave new films, and make things as fun as possible in the process.

The festival takes place in September, and is organised by a crack team of independent filmmakers determined to bring interesting films into our hometown.

Awards & Prizes

Each year we award a short film our White Rabbit prize for one to watch.

This is a juried prize. In 2025 our jury consisted of the architect of the London Eye, a director of one of the largest film festivals in the UK and an independent feature film director.

The selection process is vigorous. Last year film submissions were viewed on average 5 times, and we offer feedback freely to all those who submit a film to us.

Rules & Terms

By submitting your film to the Clapham International Film Festival, you are entering into an agreement with all of the festival’s terms and conditions. Mainly, you’re agreeing that if we select your work, you grant us permission to exhibit your work in public.

Entries are open to every filmmaker on Earth, and we have a local category for those who can demonstrate their connection to Clapham.

We wish to see films produced over the last 18 months. If you wish to submit older work, you will need to explain in your cover letter why we should be watching something from the archive.

We do premieres and craft bespoke events that fit the story of your film's production.

Submissions should be in English, or have English subtitles attached. If your film isn’t in English and doesn’t have any subtitles, our ability to evaluate it becomes compromised and we won’t be able to consider it.

If you send a film into any specific category and it doesn't align with what we are looking for, we reserve the right to disqualify the film from consideration.
24 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Oriana Ng

    Great festival, I wasn't able to attend as I live on another continent but Simon and Ieva made me feel like I was still included by communicating with me during prep for the festival and even sending me pictures of my screening and telling me how the audience reacted. The graphics and communication were top notch. They also shared info on their editorial line and film selection process which I appreciated a lot. They have a vision for what they want their festival to be and are very warm and welcoming towards filmmakers. Thank you so much Simon and Ieva. Hope to attend in person next year.

    October 2025
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  • Eren Kaplan

    Carefully selected films, some great q&a's and brilliant design overall. Keen to return :)

    October 2025
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  • Sophia Wilson

    We're very honored to have our short, ANOK!, selected for the shorts category at CIFF. Even though my crew had some scheduling conflicts, Simon went out of his way to send pictures of the event after the fact. It is abundantly clear that this festival values independent cinema, and I sincerely hope to attend future editions!

    October 2025
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  • Aviwe Apleni

    Great festival. Great people. They were super welcoming and helpful. Good vibes.

    October 2025
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  • Zodiak Visions

    We couldn't have been happier to be part of CIFF with our film Reddening. Excellent communication with Simon, from beginning to the end, and such a refreshing approach to programming shorts. Thank you!

    September 2025
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