Manchester Film Festival

About Manchester Film Festival

At Manchester Film Festival, we aim to not only show groundbreaking, emotive films, but to be a place of community for filmmakers and film lovers alike – creating a platform where ideas, conversations and creativity may flourish. As the biggest film festival in the North West, we take a huge amount of pride in having built up a concrete reputation over the last decade as an event which encompasses all sides of the film industry; with a sky-high calibre of programming, a diverse and curated selection of industry events, insightful and inspiring Q&As, representation for local and international productions, and above all an unwavering commitment to creating unique, valuable experiences for everyone who encounters the festival. This mission has shaped MFF’s development year on year, pushing boundaries and forging connections, and it is this same commitment to our contributors and audiences which will act as a guiding light for all editions of the festival in the future.

Awards this festival can qualify you for

• BAFTA Short · British Short Film

  Acceptance into the official programme is sufficient; no win required. British Short Film needs acceptance at TWO BAFTA-qualifying festivals in total. British productions only.

• BIFA Best Film · Best British Independent Film

  In-person official selection at this BIFA Section B festival counts toward eligibility (two Section B British festivals confer eligibility; one Section A festival is the alternative). No win required. Online-only screenings do not qualify. British independent film (BFI cultural test). 2026 window: 1 Nov 2025 to 30 Nov 2026.

• BIFA Short · Best British Short Film

  In-person official selection is sufficient; no win required. BIFA Short Section B (British): TWO Section B festivals confer eligibility (or one Section A). British production, under 40 minutes.

Manchester Film Festival submission FAQ