Independent Film Awards

Welcome to INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS, the world’s biggest independent film gathering based in the UK. Our quarter-annual competition (Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter/Spring) are open for all genres Filmmakers, Screenwriters, and Composers.

INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS, IFA, for short is a chance for filmmakers to take their work to the next level. We celebrate the best of the best in the independent film community and work to bring opportunities, celebration, and connections to the filmmakers.

Submit your masterpiece today.

The Festival's Jury composed of members from the film industry will award in each category the best films through private screenings.

🏆 All Finalists, Winners & Honorable Mentions will receive Official Laurels. All Winners & Honorable Mentions will be listed on our website and on our social networks.

🏆 All Winners and Honorable Mentions will also receive a digital HQ Official Certificate.

All films must have English language subtitles if the film is not English speaking.

All Film Festival entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted, but a separate submission and a separate entry fee must accompany each entry.

The decision of the jury committee will be final.

Independent Film Awards reserves rights to change or re-schedule the dates, venue, awards & categories without consent or information to contestants.

The organizers reserve the right not to award any or all of the prizes.

By submitting, you agree that you own all copyrights and intellectual properties to your work.

We reserve the right to use any part of your submission for promotional purposes on our website and social media accounts.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Beate Gördes

This seems questionable. The website address doesn't exist, there's no actual screening, no listed jury—just the laurels. I suspect some of the positive reviews might be confusing this 'Independent Festival' with the 'NY Independent' festival.

May 2025

Helpful
Stephen Floyd

Thank you! I was thrilled to learn that my full-length Cold War screenplay «The Llandudno File» was recognised as a Finalist at your Festival.

April 2025

Helpful
Harriet Brennan

We were thrilled that 'The Master Puppeteer' was selected as a finalist in the Independent Film Awards. Everything about the festival was excellent and we recommend it to all film makers.
This accolade will spur us on in our filmmaking.
Thank You!

April 2025

Helpful
Robert Brown

A great film festival! I was delighted that my short animated film 'The Green Lady' recieved an honourable mention here!

April 2025

Helpful
Dimitri Devyatkin

A fine festival. An honor to compete with you.

April 2025

Helpful

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

March 31, 2025
Opening Date
May 21, 2025
Regular Deadline Spring
June 25, 2025
Late Deadline Spring
August 20, 2025
Regular Deadline Summer
September 20, 2025
Late Deadline Summer
November 20, 2025
Regular Deadline Autumn
December 21, 2025
Late Deadline Autumn
February 20, 2026
Regular Deadline Winter
March 23, 2026
Late Deadline Winter
May 20, 2026
Regular Deadline Spring
June 10, 2026
Late Deadline Spring
June 20, 2026
Notification Date
June 26 – 28, 2026
Event Date

Categories & Fees

BEST FEATURE FILM
Narrative fiction films with a duration of 220 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST SHORT FILM
Short narrative fiction films with a duration of 40 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Documentary films with a duration of 180 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
Short documentary films with a duration of 40 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST STUDENT FILM
Student films with a duration of 120 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST SUPER SHORT FILM
Short narrative fiction films with a duration of 5 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM
Experimental films with a duration of 150 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST ANIMATION FILM
Animation films with a duration of 150 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST DIRECTOR FEATURE FILM
Films with a duration of 220 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST DIRECTOR SHORT FILM
Films with a duration of 40 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST DIRECTOR SUPER SHORT FILM
Films with a duration of 5 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST FIRST TIME DIRECTOR SHORT FILM
Films with a duration of 40 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST FIRST TIME DIRECTOR FEATURE FILM
Films with a duration of 220 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST DIRECTOR MUSIC VIDEO
Music videos with a duration of 7 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Music videos with a duration of 7 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST INDIE FEATURE FILM
Low budget films with a duration of 150 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST INDIE SHORT FILM
Low budget films with a duration of 40 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST WEB/TV SERIES
Web/TV Series with a duration of 90 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST ACTRESS SHORT FILM
Short films with a duration of 40 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST ACTOR SHORT FILM
Short films with a duration of 40 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST ACTRESS FEATURE FILM
Films with a duration of 220 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST ACTOR FEATURE FILM
Films with a duration of 220 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Films with a duration of 200 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST EDITING
Films with a duration of 200 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Films with a duration of 200 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Films with a duration of 200 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Films with a duration of 200 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST PRODUCTION
Films with a duration of 200 minutes max.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST FEATURE SCRIPT
Every genre is accepted and a screenplay can have from 40 pages up to 200 pages
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST SHORT SCRIPT
Every genre is accepted and a screenplay can have max. 40 pages.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST TV PILOT SCRIPT
Every genre is accepted and a TV script can have from 10 pages up to 100 pages
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST FIRST TIME SCREENWRITER FEATURE FILM
Every genre is accepted and a screenplay can have from 40 pages up to 200 pages
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST FIRST TIME SCREENWRITER SHORT FILM
Every genre is accepted and a screenplay can have max. 40 pages.
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now
BEST FIRST TIME SCREENWRITER TV PILOT
Every genre is accepted and a TV script can have from 10 pages up to 100 pages
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Summer
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Summer
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Autumn
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Winter
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Winter
- Standard: $25
- Regular Deadline Spring
- Standard: $22
- Late Deadline Spring
- Standard: $25
Submit Now

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Beate Gördes

Stephen Floyd

Harriet Brennan

Robert Brown

Dimitri Devyatkin