The Dorking Film Festival is a little film festival that shows films with a local flavour from Dorking, Surrey and the south-east of England. We’re also into independent films and world cinema.

Eligibility:

Short films eligibility
-- UK Adult Shorts – director aged 19 years or older
-- UK Young Adult Shorts – director aged 18 years or younger or director in higher education.
-- Films should have been completed in 2022 or 2023.
-- Films should be under 30 minutes in duration.
-- Filmmakers for the UK categories should be resident in the United Kingdom.
-- Entries for the Adventure Shorts category can be made from filmmakers based anywhere.

-- All non-English language films should have English subtitles.
-- All rights, permissions and clearances must be obtained prior to submission in accordance with UK copyright laws.
-- A film should only be submitted in ONE category.
-- For the age-specific categories the director should be of the appropriate age at the time the film was completed.

Format:

-- Films should be submitted on DVD/Blu-ray or via FilmFreeway.
-- Films should be submitted with contact details (including email) and the running time of the film.
-- We are particularly interested in films made in Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent or Hampshire. If you have a link to one of these counties let us know in your submission.
-- Submitted films will not be returned since we don’t have the budget.

Fees: Entry fees depend on the category.

Short films fees
-- Entry is FREE to everyone who submits their film by post.
-- Entry is FREE for any filmmakers with links to Surrey via FilmFreeway. Contact us for the fee waiver code.
-- Entry is FREE for filmmakers submitting films in the Young Adult, Documentary and Adventure categories via FilmFreeway who are based in East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent or Hampshire. Contact us for the fee waiver code.
-- Entry is £10 via FilmFreeway for everyone else.

Delivery address: DVD screeners with a completed entry form should be sent to the following address:

Submissions
Dorking Film Festival
Ground Floor, Octagon House
20 Hook Road
Epsom
Surrey
KT19 8TR

Receipt of submission:

-- If you would like to receive confirmation that we have received your submission please indicate this on the submissions form.

Selection & screening:

-- Selection will be conducted by the Dorking Film Festival team.
-- Our word is final.
-- We aim to inform successful applicants by 17 September 2023.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thank you so much for the award to "Adult" and for your support of Ukraine!

    October 2023
  • Sean Alexander Carney

    I was honoured to be selected by Dorking Film Festival and received great communication and hospitality. Thank you for selecting my film Remembering Nearfield which raises awareness of Electrohypersensitivity – a neglected and misunderstood disability caused by electromagnetic radiation from man-made environmental sources.

    October 2023
  • Carl Thomason

    A cool little festival in a picturesque spot. Insightful panel too. Well done 👏🏻

    October 2023
  • Me and Thee Films @MeTheefilms
    Thanks to Dorking FF 2021 for selecting 1000 Days for the 2021 festival. Sadly the month long online screening ( due to current times) meant we could not screen 1000 Days, with them. Thats the only reason we haven't starred Hospitality and Networking.
    However Communication was great, from David Perilli The Festival Director, who was supportive, encouraging and understanding. I would recommend this festival

    August 2021
  • Mark Forbes

    Thank you Dorking Film Festival for selecting my short documentary film `Memories of Mortlake` which has been selected in 20 film festivals and 4 film awards.

    July 2021