Folkestone Film Festival (6)

Festival start: 05 April 2026      Festival end: 05 April 2026

Our IMDb qualifying festival champions independent filmmakers with original ideas. We are primarily a Short Film Festival but award feature length submissions and include clips and trailers at our awards events. Award Winners are welcome to add their accolades to our IMDb page.

Winners will receive Official Laurels and Digital Certificates. Printed Certificates are presented at live events only.

Award winners can add their accolades to our IMDb page here: https://m.imdb.com/event/ev0073770/2025/1/

Folkestone Film Festival are recognised by the Global Recognition Awards for our significant contribution to independent cinema and our commitment to inclusive filmmaking. We try to minimise financial barriers for filmmakers by keeping submission costs low.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
https://youtube.com/@folkestonefilmfestival?si=D-ntZzi7Li9k0hEF

We are a small festival who love to hold Q&A sessions with filmmakers. We thank you for your patience when waiting for us to respond to emails and uploading online content. Selected submissions will be notified via Festhome and Email.

We look forward to seeing your films soon!

A big thank you to our sponsors A. Simmons, the Jewellers of the South East. Our festival partners, Silver Screen Cinema. BritFlicks, FilmmakerDASH, StudentFilmmakers Magazine & Kent Kino.

• Judges Awards

• Audience Awards

1. Submission Deadlines
Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.

2. Submission Format
Submissions must be made downloadable for screening in 1080p resolution.

3. Submission Eligibility
• We accept films from around the world, English subtitles encouraged .
• No minimum completion date, but newer films prioritised at screenings.
• There is no premiere for feature film.
• There is no premiere policy for short films.
• Work-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted.

4. Premiere Status
• There is no premiere policy for feature films.
• There is no premiere policy for short films.

5. Film Classification
We cannot accept anyone underage during any screening of the Festival.

6. Submission Fee
Submission fees are non-refundable.

7. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
• Quality of narrative and production values.
• Independent nature of the production.

8. Notification.
Successful submissions will be notified via email and receive Folkestone Festival laurels, and accompanying artwork.

9. Scheduling.
Screenings are scheduled at our discretion. We reserve the right to make changes at any time for any reason. We will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in schedule. No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection.

10. Promotion.
Selected films must acknowledge that we reserve the right to promote the films on our website and social media using both images and video that you provide.

11. Festival Awards
We reserve the right to increase or decrease the number of awards given out each season. We can only send certificates internationally via email.

12. VISA applications.
We cannot assist with VISA applications. Sadly, VISA applications take too much time away from running the festival programming.