INTRODUCTION

View the LIFF 2025 highlights video:

We are delighted to accept submissions for the 40th Leeds International Film Festival, 5 to 22 November 2026. LIFF is an Oscar® Qualifying Festival for the categories of Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film through our Louis le Prince and World Animation grand prizes. LIFF is also BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying for British short films.

Leeds is one of the UK's major cities and is located in the UK's largest county, Yorkshire. The world's first moving images were filmed in Leeds in 1888 by Louis le Prince. Today, Leeds is a major European centre for film, the home of Screen Yorkshire, and the new home for the UK's leading independent TV company Channel 4.

Founded in 1987 and now one of the UK's leading annual film events, LIFF primarily supports the work of new filmmakers from the UK and across the world, with 86 countries represented in 2025. LIFF presents two feature film competitions, feature film audience awards, and nine short film competitions with cash prizes.

QUOTES ABOUT LIFF FROM FILM INDUSTRY AND PRESS

'Leeds International Film Festival has been key in the support and promotion of international filmmakers, including myself, throughout its history. The quality of films and commitment to film makers has been paramount to the success of the festival' - Francis Lee, British filmmaker and writer/director of God's Own Country and Ammonite

'I had a great time in the jury at LIFF. The general standard of the films selected was exceptional and the screenings where well curated. The festival team was very organised and friendly and took great care of the guests at the festival. I would go back any day.' - Niclas Gillberg, Director of Uppsala International Short Film Festival

'I loved being on the jury for the international competition, the quality of films was sky high, we had such a blast discussing them!' – Caroline Hollick, Head of Drama Channel 4

'Finding an obscure film at a festival is always enjoyable, yet the particular high standard of selection at Leeds Film Festival made the entire festival played out like a habitual uncovering of hidden gems.' – Little White Lies

'LIFF is a glorious celebration of world cinema, which brings a stellar blend of old and new movies to an increasingly global city. It’s expertly run, brilliantly staffed and, above all, perfectly programmed. A fantastic fortnight.' – Subtitled Online

'Every city should have a film festival like Leeds.' – Ken Loach, multi-award-winning British filmmaker

LIFF 2026 SECTIONS AND COMPETITIONS

1) Constellation + Feature Film Competition
Constellation is the main section at LIFF for new features, including narrative and documentary features, with special previews and premieres of new discoveries from across the world. The Constellation competition supports first or second features and filmmakers new to audiences in the UK.

2) Fanomenon + Feature Film & Short Film Competitions
Fanomenon is the UK’s leading celebration of fantastic genre filmmaking including fantasy, sci-fi, horror, action, comedy, thriller films and much more. Fanomenon has two competitions, one for fantastic feature films and one for fantastic short films.

3) LIFF SHORTS 2026 - Eight Short Film Competitions
We love short films at LIFF and we present the largest selection of shorts of a major film festival in the UK. There are eight competitions, all with cash prizes: international, animation, documentary, British, Yorkshire, queer shorts, screendance, music videos.

LIFF is an Oscar® Qualifying Festival for the categories of Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film through our Louis le Prince and World Animation grand prizes. LIFF is also BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying for British short film selections.

4) Cinema Versa
In Cinema Versa we present a special selection of documentary features, representing a broad range of styles and subjects, and screened at venues across Leeds. We also present documentary short films in LIFF SHORTS including as part of a competition.

5) LIFF Spotlights
Every year we focus on diverse film people or themes. Previous spotlights include: Spice & Fire - the films of Indian icon Smita Patil; Cinema Amour, celebrating passion for cinemas; Films Femmes Afrique - Women Creators of the Future, a focus on new films by and about African women; Disability Futures, about disability and new technology.

Awards & Prizes

FEATURE FILM COMPETITIONS AND AUDIENCE AWARDS AT LIFF 2026

LIFF presents two feature film competitions. The Constellation Competition supports first or second features and filmmakers new to audiences in the UK. The Fanomenon Competition supports new fantastic genre features - including fantasy, sci-fi, horror, dark comedy, action, thriller films and more. LIFF also presents audience awards for features, including best narrative film, best fantastic genre film, and best documentary.

SHORT FILM COMPETITIONS AT LIFF 2026

LIFF is an Oscar® Qualifying Festival for the categories of Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film through our Louis le Prince and World Animation grand prizes. LIFF is also BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying for British short film selections.

The following short film competitions will be presented at LIFF 2026:

Louis le Prince International Short Film Competition (£2000 cash prize)
World Animation Competition (£1000 cash prize)
British Short Film Competition (£1000 cash prize)
Documentary Short Film Competition (£1000 cash prize)
Fantastic Short Film Competition (£1000 cash prize)
Yorkshire Short Film Competition (£500 cash prize)
Leeds Screendance Competition (£500 cash prize)
Leeds Queer Short Film Competition (£500 cash prize)
Leeds Music Video Competition (£500 cash prize)

WINNERS OF THE LIFF 2025 COMPETITIONS AND AUDIENCE AWARDS

LIFF 2025 FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Constellation Feature Film Competition: Perla (Alexandra Makarová/Austria, Slovakia)
Fanomenon Feature Film Competition: Roqia (Yanis Koussim/France, Algeria)
Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature: The Voice of Hind Rajab (Kaouther ben Hania/Tunisia, France)
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: Celtic Utopia (Dennis Harvey, Lars Lovén/Ireland, Sweden)

LIFF 2025 SHORT FILM AWARDS

Louis le Prince International Short Film Competition: Family Sunday (Gerardo Del Razo/Mexico)
World Animation Competition: DETLEV (Ferdinand Ehrhardt/Germany)
Documentary Short Film Competition: Their Eyes (Nicolas Gourault/France)
Fanomenon Fantastic Genre Short Film Competition: Houston, We Have a Crush (Omer Ben Shachar/USA)
British Short Film Competition: No Mean City (Ross McClean/UK)
Yorkshire Short Film Competition: Rocket Fuel (Jordon Scott Kennedy/UK)
Leeds Screendance Competition: Spoken Movement Family Honour (Daniel Gurton/UK)
Leeds Queer Short Film Competition: Sucker (Fae Al-Kalamchi/UK)
Leeds Music Video Competition: Monolink: Avalanche (Vasco Alexandre and Zoe Stiletano/Denmark, Germany)

Rules & Terms

CATEGORIES AND CONSIDERATION

1) You only need to submit into one category. If your film is eligible for consideration in other categories, we will also consider it for those categories.

2) If your film is selected for a different category to the one you submitted into, we will request approval from you for this before confirmation.

3) All submissions are fairly considered by specialist and diverse teams of British and international programmers.

4) The date of entry bears no relation to the selection decision.

5) We regret we cannot give individual feedback on submissions.

6) Where there are cash prizes for the winner of a short film competition, the prize is awarded to the director or shared equally if there is more than one director.

ELIGIBILITY

7) Films must be submitted by 31 July 2026. Film selection decisions are final and no submission fee refunds are possible.

8) Films must be completed after 1 January 2025 to be considered for the competitions.

9) If you have more than one film to submit, you may be eligible for fee discounts for multiple entries - please email leeds.film@leeds.gov.uk for more details.

10) We do not have a student short film competition but if your film school would like to submit multiple films they may be eligible for a discounted submission rate. Please email leeds.film@leeds.gov.uk

11) The duration for feature films is 41 minutes and over, and for short films 40 minutes and under (including credits). Submissions for the screendance and queer shorts categories need to be 20 minutes or under.

12) For the music videos category, LIFF is only able to select submissions made with the permission of the artist whose music is featured.

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

14) We can only accept a work-in-progress submission that is nearly completed - for example, where the final sound mix is not yet complete - and it must be completed by July 30th 2026. Please note, we cannot guarantee our programmers can watch an updated version of a film at a later date if they have already considered the film.

15) If you have a film for children and families, it may be more suitable for our sister event Leeds Young Film Festival - please email leeds.film@leeds.gov.uk for more details.

16) Use of AI in submissions must be declared. We ask for a brief description included in the cover letter or director's statement that explains its use in the film.

17) If submitting on behalf of a filmmaker, you must have their consent to submit and confirm they'll be notified of their selection.

PREMIERE POLICY

18) For feature film competitions, we require a UK Premiere. For features not selected for our competition, we prefer a UK premiere where possible but it is not a requirement. Please email leeds.film@leeds.gov.uk if you would like clarification if your film has already screened or is going to be screened in the UK before LIFF 2026.

19) For short film competitions and other shorts programmes, we do not have a premiere policy.

SELECTED FILMS

20) If your submission is selected, you will be required to provide a DCP of your film. LIFF can help in the creation of a DCP which will be supplied to the filmmaker for a charge to cover the cost of making it.

21) All films will be required to provide subtitles or ideally descriptive subtitles to ensure our ongoing commitment to accessibility.

22) LIFF does not pay screening fees for selected submissions.

23) Once you have completed the submission, you can relax! Follow us on social media @leedsfilmfest for updates. You will receive notification if your film is selected or not by 17 September 2026.

If you have any questions, please email leeds.film@leeds.gov.uk
50 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Roberto Colapietro

    Leeds was a wonderful festival that I was delighted to be a part of with my music video, I will definitely be submitting again with my next work

    December 2025
    Helpful
  • Cameron Cut

    Leeds is a brilliant film festival featuring an incredible line up of quality films. It was an honour to have Ritual featured amongst the films and will definitely submit again!

    December 2025
    Helpful
  • Helena Berndl

    Thank you so much for welcoming In Symbiosis to Leeds International Film Festival! It was a truly wonderful experience to be screening our film in the stunning Everyman Cinema and bringing our empowering message to such an engaged audience. Thank you to the team for making it happen!

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Les Docs du Nord

    Thank you very much for the welcome, the screening and the discussion with you and the public. It was a first in England. Until the next film, I hope ! Marine Place - One of us- 2025

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Hoku Uchiyama

    It's a delight and an honor to have had our film be a part of this festival. Thank you Leeds International Film Festival team!

    November 2025
    Helpful