+ IMDb Qualifying Festival
+ win a Jazzie and join an exclusive and vibrant network connecting the best new filmmakers around the world
+ unique awards, internationally recognized
+ London based networking, screening and production events
+ winning qualifies to compete in the future for fonds to support project funding
The Jazzies is a film festival that was inspired by the cool, lively and joyful jazz clubs of London. With The Jazzies you will get more than laurels on your poster. We are an independent film festival that runs monthly in-person events to bring filmmakers together in the casual, cool style of a jazz club. Being selected for our events means having the opportunity to join a society full of the most dedicated aspiring filmmakers, online and in-person. We have so far organically grown our club/community and will enable even more filmmakers to join us through this award.
Being filmmakers ourselves, as the runners of the Jazzies, we know that connections and networking are everything when it comes to reaching your full potential in this industry. But even more important than building a network with many people is building a network with the right people. That's why we are especially selective about the creatives in our community, and we invite people purely based on their work, their capabilities, independent from any other personal circumstance or previous experience.
Our award ceremonies are special: a unique combination of aspiring Jazz artists and screenings of the selected films in varying locations in Central and Greater London creates a unique, exciting atmosphere. For example, we have put on events in intimate cinemas in different neighbourhoods of London, with talks, Q&As, screenings and a lot of good vibes of course.
Winners will be invited to connect even further through intimate events, meet-ups, Jazz dinners etc. and will establish deep social and work relations.
We are open for everyone and everything. We are only looking for people who demonstrate passion and fire for the craft of filmmaking, aspiring filmmakers willing and eager to connect to others to reach their full potential.
Our awards reflect our unique, alternative approach to what a film festival can be: we don't hand out awards for uncountable categories. We try to find auteur filmmakers, creatives that leave their mark in all stages of the production process.
The Jazzies bring filmmakers together, in a unique, relaxed atmosphere that goes far and beyond a mere film festival. We are an open, exciting club for creatives who have bright futures ahead of them.
The winners of the event are qualified for IMDb
We only present 6 awards in total. At The Jazzies, we believe that winning an award should be an actual celebration of what the film has accomplished rather than a formality to accessorize a poster with. our categories are:
The Jazziest: the most outstanding film submission of the month. Energetic, bright and audacious, this film shows true ambition and accomplishes to excite the audience.
Chops: the best performance by a leading actress or actor. We are awarding actors/actresses who live in their roles, who fully dissolve in a character.
Bandleader: the best filmmaker. we are looking for creatives who dare, people who make a film 'their film', with a unique creative vision or mean of expression, the filmmakers who coin their films. Anyone can apply here, directors, editors and screenwriters alike.
Half Time/Double Time: these ones are unique, with this award we are celebrating films who feel different, which don't fit in, exceed the mainstream pace. Films which are either nostalgic, slower paced, careful and sophisticated, or snappy, innovative, exciting and feel like a fresh breeze.
Being selected for a screening will qualify you to attend the networking events, winning an award enables you to join the private community of exceptional filmmakers who regularly collaborate and exchange ideas.
Our jury consists of award winning filmmakers, professional actors, editors and producers. We aim to make the selection process as open and diverse as possible, so future club members will have the opportunity to participate in the voting.
All 6 awards are handed out on a monthly basis. We hold events monthly from mid September to mid June. Awards will still be allocated during the summer months, and winners will have the opportunity to gather during a special opening event in September that kicks off the event-season.
