Now in its third year, the Wine Dark Short Film Festival (WDSFF) is London's first film festival dedicated to mental health, disability and neurodiversity. Now in its second year, WDSFF celebrates often-unsung voices in the film industry. The festival will proudly showcase short films that are either created by D/deaf, disabled, or neurodiverse filmmakers or explore themes related to mental health, disability, and exclusion.

The festival offers more than just screenings. Filmmakers will have the opportunity to network, collaborate, and promote their work among like-minded creatives. Our programme includes film talks, Q&As, and discussions on disability and neurodiversity, featuring experts and industry professionals.
The festival will conclude with an award ceremony with categories including Best Disability Narrative, Best Access Coordination, and the Audience Choice Award.

Accessibility is at the heart of WDSFF. The venue will be fully accessible, all screenings will be relaxed to accommodate neurodivergent guests, and films will be screened with captions and subtitles.

Awards & Prizes

Awards will include:
Best International Film
Best UK Film
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Student Film
Best Neurodiversity Narrative
Best Disability Narrative
Best Mental Health Narrative
Best Lead Performance
Best Ensemble
Best Director
Best Cinematographer
Best Editor
Best VFX

Rules & Terms

Eligibility
Original Content: The film must be original and the submitting party must hold all necessary rights and permissions for content, including music, images, and third-party content.
All short films must be either made by D/deaf, disabled or neurodiverse filmmakers, or deal with topics to do with mental health, disability and/or exclusion.

Submission Format
Online Submissions: Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway.
Screening Format: Accepted formats for screening include DCP and Blu-ray. Digital files for pre-screening must be in MP4 or MOV format.
If the submission is successful, we will require a high resolution export of the film.
Language
Subtitles: All films must have English subtitles..
Rights and Permissions
Clearances: The submitter must secure all rights, licenses, clearances, and releases necessary for participation.
Agreement: Submission of the film constitutes an agreement to these rules and terms.
Promotional Materials
Poster:
High-resolution poster (portrait orientation).
Formats: JPEG and PNG.
Photos:
High-resolution stills from the film (maximum of 3 images).
Formats: JPEG or PNG, at least 1920x1080 pixels.
Synopsis and Logline:
Brief synopsis (50-100 words).
Logline (one or two sentences).
Additional Considerations
Screening Rights: By submitting, you grant The Wine Dark Film Festival the right to screen your film at the festival.
Marketing and Promotion: Filmmakers agree to allow the use of provided materials (poster, trailer, photos) for promotional purposes.

11 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Steven Speliotis

    It was an honor to have “Fire In My Belly” shown in the Wine Dark Short Film Festival... I hope Richard’s story of determination inspired others to never give up.

    December 2025
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  • CONOR O MAHONY

    Many thanks for screening The Mood Swings as part of your festival. It was great to get the opportunity to spread our message highlighting the damage stigma does to people with mental health diagnoses. The work you do is so important in helping people that struggle on a daily basis. Well done!

    November 2025
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  • Georgina McGuigan

    Brilliant experience with WDSFF. It was an honour to have my work shared amongst so many inspiring stories, from all over the world. The screening itself was warm, enlightening and truly supportive. I look forward to next year's!

    November 2025
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  • MARAL FOROUZESH None

    “Thank you for taking the time to review my work. Your communication seemed warm and professional, which is very valuable for an independent creator. I wish your festival much growth, light, and meaningful films.”

    MARAL FOROUZESH & FILKOOL

    November 2025
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  • Anna Merryfield

    Thanks so much to the lovely festival organisers for putting together such a lovely event and generally being so thoughtful and great to communicate with. We're very grateful for the selection of our film Only When You Bury Me in this Earth and the best lead-performance award for our lead actor.

    It is so rewarding as a filmmaker to be able to attend small festivals like this. It really makes all the hard work worth it.

    October 2024
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