Submissions will open from July 22nd 2024.

Running from July 18th to 20th, 2025, the latest edition of WLFF is a long-awaited sequel to our break-out festival and awards giving. It will again showcase the best filmmaking talent, keeping everything as local as possible with quality seasoning from national and international categories.

Our focus remains on the drama genre, with the following goals and objectives:

- Filmmaker Engagement: We aim to attract filmmakers connected to West Lothian and extend our reach across the Lothians (West, Mid, and East).

- Audience Attraction: Our target is primarily the residents of West Lothian. We aim to establish the West Lothian Film Festival as a significant cultural and artistic event.

We highly recommend you read our 2025 Submissions Rules & Regulations (below) for information on how to submit and our eligibility criteria.

If you have any questions that are not answered in these documents, please email hello@westlothianff.scot

Proposed 2025 Film Festival Dates
Date(s): 18th July 2025 - Feature Length Friday, 19th July 2025 - Short Films, Animations, and Documentaries etc. (TBC)
Location: Mercure Livingston Hotel, Almondview, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QB, (TBC)
Dress Code: Business Casual
Schedule: 12 pm-9 pm

The full program will be confirmed via our social media channels and official website.

Award Ceremony:
Date: 20th July 2025 (TBC)
Location: Mercure Livingston Hotel, Almondview, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QB, (TBC)
Dress Code: Strictly Black Tie
Schedule: 2 pm to 10 pm

Please note that times may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Seats cannot be reserved for the festival or the award ceremony.*

The West Lothian Film Festival (WLFF) is a Scottish registered limited company (SC785352). WLFF's registered office is Summit House, 4 - 5 Mitchell Street, Edinburgh, EH6 7BD and is not funded by any significant body in Scotland or the UK. Please bear this in mind when asking for substantial discounts with those promoted on social media. WLFF operates independently from any other film festival.

The festival welcomes submissions of all production mythologies, forms, budgets, and genres, but they must be predominantly Drama.

The primary contact submitting the film must be authorised to do so, including having permission from a distributor or sales agent, if applicable. The film must have secured all necessary rights, including copyrighted music and/or images. By submitting, the applicant confirms that they hold all rights required for screening the film at WLFF.

Films submitted to previous editions of WLFF will be reconsidered. If substantial structural changes have been made since the prior submission, please contact hello@westlothianff.scot to discuss resubmitting.


Data Protection
10. Film submissions require registration of contact and film details, which will only be shared with WLFF. This information will solely be used for direct communication from the festival or its submission partners and will not be shared with third parties.

Digital Submissions
WLFF accepts submissions exclusively via FilmFreeway. Upon completing registration details, films can be uploaded as digital files via a secure external link or provided as a password-protected Vimeo link. WLFF guarantees that your film will only be used in accordance with the agreed terms and will not be made publicly available online without your consent.

Please ensure your digital upload adheres to the specifications provided by FilmFreeway.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the preview copy is fully functional.

Films Not in the English Language
Films with non-English dialogue or text must include English subtitles for both the preview and screening copies (DCP) if the submission is chosen for screening, unless contrary to the filmmaker’s intention. If you have any questions, email hello@westlothianff.scot.

Selection Procedure
At least five judging panel members review submitted films. All programming decisions are final at the Festival Director's discretion.

WLFF will not provide feedback on submissions or reasons for rejection. This is solely for resourcing reasons.

Video Library and Archive
Selected films will be accessible to accredited industry guests in a private online video library for 90 days following the festival. Primary contact details on the entry form will be available to festival delegates and included in the catalogue unless a distributor is specified.

WLFF may promote submissions to international industry talent scouts, programmers, and buyers year-round via a private password-protected online hub and private film clubs.

Selected films may be stored in the festival archive for internal research. WLFF will never publicly screen or publish a film without permission.

Further Screenings, Out-of-Competition Selection, and Touring Programs

Selected films are authorised for WLFF to archive and may be used for additional screenings or events organised by the festival for cultural purposes (non-commercial). The festival will seek permission and provide reasonable notice for further screening(s). WLFF will not grant third-party access to the film without the submitter's consent.

WLFF may curate out-of-competition screenings or themed touring programs from submitted films, including non-selected ones.
Publicity

Selected films may have stills reproduced for WLFF publications and press and may be included in preview screenings to promote WLFF 2025.

Submission Agreement and Regulations: By completing the submission and payment process, you agree to WLFFs. Submission implies acceptance of these rules. In case of disagreements regarding the interpretation of the regulations, the festival's interpretation will prevail.

Non-compliance with these regulations may result in disqualification. These regulations are subject to change without prior notice.

Delivery Instructions for Selected Films
Upon notification of selection, detailed delivery instructions will be provided. WLFF does not cover shipping costs for physical drives.

Attending the Festival
Attendance of the WLFF is entirely at the cost of the attendee. WLFF does not have funds available to cover the accommodation, travel, or any other associated costs of attending. It is advisable to contact Screen Scotland for advice on any grants available to attend film festivals.

A full waiver can be offered to 1 person. All other cast and crew are expected to pay the total advertised cost. Discounts may be requested. Discounts will likely be offered for larger orders of tickets of 10 or more. A singular contact must email to discuss and agree (email hello@westlothianff.scot), and the ticket order must be a bulk purchase. This means that after the discount percentage or amount is agreed upon, the attendees must arrange to transfer their share of the order to the primary contact. If tickets are ordered incrementally after it is agreed that a single order will be processed, the tickets will be cancelled and refunded. The discount offer will be reviewed and possibly rescinded without notice. Bulk purchases with discounts can also be discussed for the general public or filmmakers who have not submitted films to the festival.

The Matt Farnham 'Best of Festival' Award
The Best of Festival Award is in honour of the person who inspired the idea of the festival and will forever be remembered for not only inspiring one student to make this festival a reality but for the thousands of students he inspired in almost 10 years at West Lothian College.

Special International Award of Merit
The Special International Award of Merit is the only award that is exclusive to filmmakers from outside the UK and Ireland. Aspiring and Developed Filmmakers are welcome to submit short and feature films.

Regional Categories
- Best Feature Film
- Best Short Film
- Best Young Person Film (12 years and under)
- Best Young Person Film (13 years to 18 years)
- Best Young Person Film (19 years to 26 years)
- Best Documentary
- Best Voiceover
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Most Authentic Background
- Best Director
- Best First-Time Director
- Best Producer
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Soundtrack/Original Score
- Best Sound Design
- Best Makeup & Hairstyling
- Best Costume Design

National Categories (Scotland)
- Best Student Film (Scotland)
- Best Gaelic Film & TV (Scotland and Ireland)
- Best Poster (Scotland)

Best of Home Nations
Submissions from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland are welcome.

Best of Celtic Nations
Submissions from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Galicia are welcome.

National and International
- Best Animation
- Best TV Series
- Best Screenplay

WLFF considers:
- Short Films (40 minutes or less).
- Feature Films (41 minutes or more)

The WLFF does not require UK Premiere status for all feature and short submissions.

All submitted films should be no more than 10 years old by July 2025.

Films currently available for purchase, including DVD, Blu-ray, VHS, and online digital download formats, are not eligible.

Promotional films are not eligible (e.g. films promoting tourism, charitable appeals, etc.)

Although not a requirement, the WLFF is keen to attract world, international, and European premieres and first or second features. If your submission has the potential to achieve this (if selected for the film programme), please let the team know.

*Please note – your submission fee is non-refundable. If your film does not match the criteria listed above and you still submit your film, we will not consider your film and will not refund your fee.*

The festival director has the final say in selecting all films presented at the Festival and their placement in the WLFF programme.

Regional Criteria
- Any part of your production phases occurred in the Lothians.
- A minimum of 20% of your cast and crew must have a connection to West Lothian.
- 80% of cast and crew must have 5 or less IMDB credits

Should you wish to submit to any of the craft and performance awards, a priority category must be selected first. Priority categories are the priority categories are:
- Best Feature Film
- Best Short Film
- Best Young Person Film
- Best Documentary
- Best Student Film
- Best Animation
- Best TV Series
- Best of Home Nations
- Best of Celtic Nations
- Best Gaelic Film & TV

Craft and Performance Categories are:
- Best Voiceover
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Director
- Best First-Time Director
- Best Producer
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Soundtrack/Original Score
- Best Sound Design
- Best Makeup & Hairstyling
- Best Costume Design
- Most Authentic Background

National Criteria
Your film must represent one of the following dictated by the category that you must to submit to.
- Scotland
- England
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- Ireland

International
Your film must represent a country from outside the UK and Ireland.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mitchell Ronald

    Had a terrific time and was honoured for my first feature to get 3 nominations

    November 2024
  • Great communication and professionalism of the Festival, my Short Film The Plan was nominated in the Special International Award Of Merit.
    Unfortunately we were unable to be present for the screenings at the Festival, but it was in any case a wonderful experience, thanks to the Festival Director Christopher McPhillips for his kind availability and professionalism

    October 2024
  • Had a great experience at the West Lothian Film Festival, watching some amazing work and meeting the equally brilliant people behind them. Also extending a major thank you to the judging panel for nominating our film.

    The whole setup was so professionally done and such an achievement for its first year. A massive shoutout to Festival Director Christopher McPhillips! I can't imagine how proud you must be. If it takes a village to make a film, surely it takes a city to create and lead a successful film festival.
    Wishing you all the best for next year and recommending West Lothian to all the filmmakers out there - Scotland is where its at!

    September 2024
  • Richard Tomes

    Wonderful communication! Unfortunately we were not able to attend the festival this year, but we are very pleased to have received a Nomination status. Thank you!

    September 2024
  • I was incredibly grateful for the nomination of my short film "Lost But Not Forgotten" at the West Lothian Film Festival. The festival provided a fantastic platform for networking and the screenings were top-notch, showcasing a diverse range of talented filmmakers. It was a wonderful experience to be a part of such a vibrant and inspiring event.

    August 2024