Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival

WHERE DOES LONELY WOLF TAKE PLACE?

The Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival was reconceived by Adrian Perez in 2020 after an inactive period, as his response for the need of a modern film festival fit for the global age. Lonely Wolf hosts 4 online seasonal competition rounds, followed by an annual week-long film festival event hosted by the British Film Institute (BFI) in Southbank, London.

WHY IS IT CALLED "LONELY WOLF"?
​WHAT MAKES LONELY WOLF?

"Why did I create Lonely Wolf? Because as a former filmmaker myself, I was lacking an online film festival that truly engages with its filmmakers and provides a positive experience for all regardless of your status in the competition. Lonely Wolf’s concrete pillars are its community of filmmakers and the experience we create for them.
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I also recognised the need for a hybrid forward-thinking festival; one that retains its carefully-curated exhibited programme through its traditionalist annual big-scale film festival and week-long cultural event, whilst champions the online film festival arena, currently saturated by below-the-radar online film festivals." -Founder and CEO Adrian Perez

Founder and CEO Adrian Perez keeps his focus on those filmmakers who don’t top the competition as much as on those who do. Lonely Wolf came into being for the very ideal that "no wolf gets left behind"; Adrian's mission for Lonely Wolf is that it pushes beyond its principal faculties of an aspirational creative contest and carefully-curated programme, to providing a forever home and educational resource for filmmakers across the globe.

Hence the name "Lonely Wolf", renowned for granting filmmakers the rare opportunity to watch all the best films of the competition from the comfort of their home, via its members-only digital cinema; which is also accessed by film buyers and the wider industry. Lonely Wolf has set itself up to ensure every filmmaker doesn't walk away from the competition merely checking a published list of results, but see themselves nurturing their growth and passion for the craft of filmmaking in the process.

Lonely Wolf is most renowned for its mystical "wolfpack" community spirit, in the form of filmmakers' constant engagement with and affinity for the brand, through their UGC content and sendings of celebratory howls via social media. Every filmmaker upon entering the competition is invited into the festival's secret "wolfpack" group, which includes some renowned Emmy and BAFTA award-winning members. Here’s a film festival championing the online arena for managing to create the buzz and networking opportunities only annual venue-held festivals are capable of. Your online networking at Lonely Wolf can take you from meeting like-minded passionate filmmakers and potential collaborators; to meeting your next investor or having your film exposed to a potential film buyer who will grant you a distribution deal; to making friends for life.

Lonely Wolf is perfect: it’s most prestigious for hosting its annual week-long carefully curated programme and cultural event at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London; but then it’s also fit for the global age in that it recognises filmmakers’ desire to skip the year-long wait for their films’ results--so we simultaneously host 4 online seasonal competition rounds.
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Why seasonal and not monthly? Because it’s a better balance this way.

Lonely Wolf’s online competition rounds run frequently but not so frequently they’re an easy laurel giveaway; each of Lonely Wolf’s rounds see you up against an average of 1K+ worldwide films; you’re up for a fight without an excruciatingly long wait for results. It’s a much more worthwhile competition and fulfilling experience.

WHY COMPETE AT LONELY WOLF?
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

* Ultimate test + fast-tracked recognition (better balance) — Lonely Wolf’s online seasonal competition rounds (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter) run frequently but not so frequently they’re an easy laurel giveaway; each of Lonely Wolf’s rounds see you up against an average of 1K+ worldwide films; you’re up for a fight without an excruciatingly long wait for results. It’s a much more fulfilling competition.

* Fast-tracked exposure / state-of-the-art digital cinema — The top ranked/best films of each competition round go onto a state-of-the-art digital cinema (non-commercial streaming platform locked under members-only password protection); that provides a private online “shopping” space/auction where a rising number of film buyers, distributors and investors are directly scouting Lonely Wolf’s carefully curated online cinema interested in buying films and investing in filmmakers. Lonely Wolf’s digital cinema is also accessible by the “wolfpack” (Lonely Wolf’s community of filmmakers part of the global competition; rising audience of 3K+ filmmakers worldwide).

* Educational resource — Win or lose, no filmmaker should walk away from a competition they’ve participated in without having the opportunity to watch the best films the competition has to offer and were up against. Adrian often refers to his festival's philosophy that “no wolf gets left behind”. Lonely Wolf’s digital cinema proves both a rare incentive and education resource for filmmakers. Combined with Adrian’s masterclasses, live-streams and digital screening rooms (thematic programmes/courses); Lonely Wolf proves most educational, nurturing filmmakers’ growth and passion for filmmaking, building on their craft whilst inspiring their future films/screenplays.

* “Wolfpack” community buzz + spirit — No online film festival does their competition quite like Lonely Wolf. Lonely Wolf’s staggered announcement of category nominees on Instagram—create a unique sense of suspense and anticipation for filmmakers; merged with the unique buzz filmmakers create in sending in their celebratory howls; plus the long-term residency they find in the “wolfpack” group on Facebook able to network and find potential collaborators and like-minded friends from the comfort of their home; many “wolfpack” members have claimed that “it’s impossible not to love Lonely Wolf” for its unique community spirit.

* Critique journal — Invaluable feedback and vital marketing tool, get your film reviews written by former FilmBoss Chief Editor & Film Critic Adrian Perez. We also offer extensive notes and feedback on unproduced screenplays.

* Renowned judges + set criteria — Led by Founder/CEO Adrian Perez: Former Disney Channels EMEA/UK Regional Marketing Manager; Award-Winning Film Editor + Former FilmBoss Chief Editor & Film Critic.

* Support of students — Student filmmakers and disabled filmmakers are entitled to a 40% discount code. Email adrian@lonelywolffilmfest.com

* Easy submission process / one-click for all — We've comprised a flat fee whereupon entering your work via format/duration you will be automatically considered across all of the festival's competition categories for awards/nominations.

* IMDb — Lonely Wolf's team make themselves responsible for syncing up your awards/nominations to your IMDb pages.

* Wide breadth of entries accepted / categories — We accept pretty much everything from short films, micro-shorts, medium-length films to feature films; to documentaries and TV pilots/web series; to animated films and music videos; to unproduced screenplays.