The world’s first moving images were filmed in Leeds in 1888 by Louis le Prince. Today Leeds is a major European centre for film production and exhibition, the home of Screen Yorkshire, and the new home for the UK’s leading independent TV company Channel 4.
Founded in 1987 and one of the UK’s leading film events, Leeds International Film Festival is renowned as a dynamic event with a reputation for challenging and innovative programming.
A qualifying event for both the Academy Awards and BAFTAs, LIFF presents nine national and international competitions for short films with total cash prizes of over $5000.
Quotes about LIFF from film industry and press:
‘Leeds International Film Festival has been key in the support and promotion of international filmmakers, including myself, throughout its history. The quality of films and commitment to film makers has been paramount to the success of the festival’ – Francis Lee, Director of God’s Own Country
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- Louis Le Prince International Short Film Competition ($1270 winner prize)
- World Animation Competition ($1270winner prize)
- British Short Film Competition ($640 winner prize)
- Yorkshire Short Film Competition ($640 winner prize)
- Leeds International Screendance Competition ($640 winner prize)
- Leeds International Queer Short Film Competition ($640 winner prize)
- Leeds International Music Video Competition
- Leeds Short Film Audience Award
- Leeds Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature
- Leeds Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
- Dark Owl International Fantasy Short Film Audience Award
- Dead Short Audience Award
LIFF is a qualifying film festival for the Academy Awards and the BAFTAs. The winning shorts in LIFF’s Louis Le Prince International Short Film Competition and World Animation Competition are eligible for the Academy’s Short Film Awards. British shorts selected for LIFF may be considered for nomination for the BAFTA Short Film Awards.
Please note you only need to submit into one category: if your film is eligible for other categories then our programmers will consider it for those also. Choose the category that is most suitable for your film origin, type or genre.
Eligibility:
• All Films must be submitted to the Film Festival by 9th August 2019.
• If you have more than one film to submit, you may be entitled to fee discounts for multiple entries – please email [email protected] for more details.
• Only films completed after 1st January 2018 will be considered for the competitive sections.
• Any genre and any length of film will be considered – anything under 45 minutes is classified as a short, anything over 45 minutes is classified as a feature. Maximum film length for the Screendance and Queer Short Film Competitions is 15 minutes
Premiere Policy:
• For feature-length films, though LIFF does not insist on a premiere, LIFF may not consider films that have some circulation in the UK already – for example, if they have toured other UK film festivals. Please contact the Film Festival office if you would like clarification on your film if it has already screened or is going to be screened in the UK.