Discover Film Awards

The Discover Film Awards is one of the biggest short film festivals in the world with over 4,000 annual submissions from 60+ countries, global premiers in London's Leicester square with packed cinema audiences, filmmaker parties, red carpet events, script-pitching round tables with funding available for new projects and an annual cash prize fund of over USD 60,000, including the prestigious Craghoppers Film Prize.

Spread over 5 days in October 2018, The Discover Film Awards involve public cinema screenings at the Prince Charles cinema in London's Leicester Square. Quentin Tarantino describes it as his favourite cinema in London saying it is "everything an independent movie theatre should be”. As well as public screenings, the festival includes discussions at universities, networking events, a filmmaker supper, an opening party, a closing party and awards event that brings together investors, distributors, journalists, film producers and media professionals.

A major supporting partner of the festival is Craghoppers, the global outdoor clothing brand, which awards The Craghoppers Film Prize as part of The Discover Film Awards. This celebrates the very best talent of student and established short filmmakers. It includes a student cash prize of £2,000 (USD 2,750). The ultimate Craghoppers Film Prize is up for grabs at the October Discover Film Awards and entries will be shortlisted from all entries from the April and October festivals, no matter what genre or who has entered. The first prize is £20,000 (USD 30,000) in cash and the second prize is £10,000 (USD 15,000) in cash.

Unlike a lot of festivals, we make no apologies for having a commercial edge. Our head of programming & chair of judges has produced and directed over 50 commercially successful films and documentaries and most recently has overseen a series of global advertising campaigns. Our judging panel consists of senior professionals from the TV, music and film world.

The festival is looking to showcase the very best short films that are entertaining and tell a story. The sort of short films that people want to watch. That make them laugh. Or cry. That shock and surprise.

Selected films get the option of various paid distribution channels including trains and airlines. Distribution is optional and entirely up to the filmmakers.

As well as cash prizes, winners can get help with future film projects in the form of discounted rates from our partner firms (such as production houses) and mentoring from senior commercial film and business executives. We can also introduce filmmakers to funding sources for future projects and offer publicity across a wide range of media (print and social).