An imaginative tale of two strangers and the unbelievable journey that connects them.

As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji. The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons' stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites. In Japanese with English Subtitles.

When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial strife, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico. Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone star in the new film from Ari Aster, the acclaimed writer-director of Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid.

In a country where eligible men greatly outnumber women, three perpetual bachelors join an intensive seven-day dating camp led by one of China's most sought-after dating coaches in what may be their last-ditch effort to find love.

A new comedy from Ethan Coen follows Honey O'Donahue, a small-town private investigator, who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. Starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, and Chris Evans.

From a visionary director of The Hunger Games franchise films, comes the highly-anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's novel set in a near-future where America has become a police state. The intense, chilling, and emotional thriller follows a group of teenage boys who are chosen to compete in The Long Walk, a brutal annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. But to win, they must maintain a steady walking speed without stopping... or get shot.

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the facade of their supposedly ideal life, a storm is brewing. As Theo's career nosedives while Ivy's own takes off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites in a modern reimagining of The War Of The Roses, based on the novel by Warren Adler.

When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

An imaginative tale of two strangers and the unbelievable journey that connects them.

As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji. The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons' stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites. In Japanese with English Subtitles.

When does practice become protest? Or protest, poetry?

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Fiona Cunningham-Reid presents an intimate portrait of internationally acclaimed artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey, who work at the intersection of art, activism, biology and ecology.Uncompromisingly preoccupied with the climate and ecological crisis, Ackroyd & Harvey's work has become a rallying cry for the environmental movement, winning them international acclaim and a global following.

With some of their pieces standing in prestigious galleries and others embedded in nature, their work not only references the natural world, but also regularly employs it.

The film offers singular access into the lives, work and partnership of the artists, and their quest to shake humanity into action on climate catastrophe - whatever the personal cost - including their collaboration with Extinction Rebellion, and co-founding the movement Culture Declares Emergency.

Meticulous and thoughtful, this careful study of a lifelong creative partnership asks questions of where art and hope - and love - stand in our very uncertain world.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Fiona Cunningham-Reid.

As the world is overrun by zombies, a group of survivors sheltering underground must decide how to deal with the undead.

“THE DARKEST DAY OF HORROR THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN…”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

Opening night begins with host Token Homo unveiling the full SYNTHETIC FLESH! programme of 26 films. Then, he is stupidly proud to introduce one of the greatest — and goriest! — displays of monster makeup FX in the history of horror cinema, DAY OF THE DEAD (1985).

The final part in George A. Romero’s iconic LIVING DEAD trilogy, DAY OF THE DEAD comes after the initial zombie outbreak in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968), and the rise of the swarm in DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978). The film tells a new story of how the last remnants of humanity have taken refuge underground, seeking survival and a solution. Romero’s favourite of the original films, the Pittsburgh-based filmmaker described DAY OF THE DEAD as a “tragedy about how a lack of human communication causes chaos and collapse even in this small little pie-slice of society”.

The film’s jaw-dropping FX were designed by legendary makeup artist, actor, stunt performer, and director, Tom Savini. A former combat photographer during the Vietnam War, Savini is renowned for creating realistic gore FX, earning him the nickname ‘The Sultan of Splatter’ among a generation of slasher fans raised on FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980) and THE POWLER (1981). However, it was Romero’s two monster movies — DAWN OF THE DEAD and DAY OF THE DEAD — that won him wider recognition, nominated for a ’Saturn Award’ for Best Make-Up Effects in 1979 and winning in 1985.

“It took over a year for DAY OF THE DEAD to arrive in the UK after its original American release. I’d never been more excited to slip through my local cinema’s lax age controls to see a film I had been reading about for that entire time. Romero’s nightmare vision haunted me from the very first ‘hello’, but it was Savini’s extraordinary zombie makeup and gore FX that captured my teenage imagination. Howard Sherman’s performance as experimental zombie ‘Bub’ reveals the true heart of the monster under layers of latex and ranks alongside horror legends like Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney. I can’t wait to celebrate the film’s 40th Anniversary with you all.” (Token Homo)

Polite notice: We are projecting DAY OF THE DEAD with subtitles from the best available digital source. DAY OF THE DEAD contains scenes of extreme violence, very graphic gore, and discriminatory language. If you need to know more, read the BBFC’s content warning (itself a litany of horrors): https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/day-of-the-dead-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmziynzq

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Four teenage boys enter a pact to lose their virginity by prom night.

Soft Limit Cinema is a film club dedicated to programming screenings that explore themes of sex, sexuality and our evolving relationship to both.

A new comedy from Ethan Coen follows Honey O'Donahue, a small-town private investigator, who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. Starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, and Chris Evans.

From a visionary director of The Hunger Games franchise films, comes the highly-anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's novel set in a near-future where America has become a police state. The intense, chilling, and emotional thriller follows a group of teenage boys who are chosen to compete in The Long Walk, a brutal annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. But to win, they must maintain a steady walking speed without stopping... or get shot.

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the facade of their supposedly ideal life, a storm is brewing. As Theo's career nosedives while Ivy's own takes off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites in a modern reimagining of The War Of The Roses, based on the novel by Warren Adler.

When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

An imaginative tale of two strangers and the unbelievable journey that connects them.

As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji. The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons' stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites. In Japanese with English Subtitles.

When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial strife, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico. Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone star in the new film from Ari Aster, the acclaimed writer-director of Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid.

"THIS JUNGO LIFE" takes us deep inside the hidden lives of young refugees and asylum seekers from Sudan and South Sudan, living and sleeping rough on the streets of Morocco; forced to flee violence and instability in Libya, and unable to return home due to ongoing war and conflict.

Produced in collaboration with the refugees themselves, and filmed entirely using mobile phones, this film offers unique and intimate access, providing a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the human spirit and innate drive for survival, as they fight for a better life for themselves and the families they left behind.

This event is a fundraiser for Captain Support UK. Captain Support is a grassroots Europe-wide network supporting people who have been criminalised for facilitating freedom of movement or for seeking to move freely themselves. In the UK, more people crossing the Channel in ‘small boats’ are being arrested, charged, and imprisoned under laws designed to criminalise people on the move. Captain Support UK provide practical assistance and social support to people who are imprisoned for crossing the border. Since the beginning of 2025, Captain Support UK have supported 82 people in prison. This includes people from Algeria, Afghanistan, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Libya, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Türkiye, Vietnam and Yemen. These people who have come to the UK seeking safety are being incarcerated in difficult to reach prisons with little access to support, legal representation, contact with family, interpretation and basic items such as clothes. Funds raised will allow Captain Support UK to continue and expand their support for those who are in prison as a result of our governments hostile policies. As well as attending our screening, you can donate to Captain Support UK through our online fundraiser - https://www.gofundme.com/f/cenub-help-captain-support-send-money-to-friends-in-prison

Are you as excited for the new Demon Slayer film as we are? Join us for a fun Demon Slayer themed quiz in the bar area followed by a screening of the film (tickets sold separately to the film)! There will also be a cosplay competition, prizes, and vendors!

Maximum six people per team. Flying solo? Don't worry, we'll find a team for you! #SetYourHeartAblaze

A new comedy from Ethan Coen follows Honey O'Donahue, a small-town private investigator, who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. Starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, and Chris Evans.

From a visionary director of The Hunger Games franchise films, comes the highly-anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's novel set in a near-future where America has become a police state. The intense, chilling, and emotional thriller follows a group of teenage boys who are chosen to compete in The Long Walk, a brutal annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. But to win, they must maintain a steady walking speed without stopping... or get shot.

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the facade of their supposedly ideal life, a storm is brewing. As Theo's career nosedives while Ivy's own takes off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites in a modern reimagining of The War Of The Roses, based on the novel by Warren Adler.

When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

Once-in-a-Lifetime Theatrical Screening Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Original Broadway Production Winner of 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, 7 Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of HAMILTON, the recording of the original Broadway cast is hitting the big screen for a limited 3-day engagement, including a Cast Reunion Featuring All-New Interviews with Members of the Original Cast and Creators An unforgettable cinematic stage performance, the filmed version of the original Broadway production of HAMILTON combines the best elements of live cinema and film to create a thrilling experience. HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre – a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education.

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.

Two sisters have decided to fight against the unfortunate fate that has befallen them in Afghanistan. They protest against the loss of their basic rights, including the right to education, work, clothing, and even the right to walking alone. Now, these two sisters are striving to make their voices heard to the world and fight for their rights against the Taliban.

https://iwilltell.com/video/shot/

the screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker and other special guests.

About the Festival:

I Will Tell isn’t just an international film festival; we are a movement reshaping the world’s imagination around equity, justice and human dignity.

We don’t just react to the issues of the day; we illuminate them before the world even knows it’s ready.

Join us for an evening of relaxed networking with fellow TV & film professionals.
Whether you're a writer, director, actor, producer, or content creator, come share ideas, make new connections, and enjoy an inspiring atmosphere with industry peers.

Join us for an afternoon of clips, discussions, and learning as part of our pre-networking event.
Whether you're a new writer, director, actor, producer, or content creator, come along and learn something new, and even teach us something!

Join us for an evening of relaxed networking with fellow TV & film professionals.
Whether you're a writer, director, actor, producer, or content creator, come share ideas, make new connections, and enjoy an inspiring atmosphere with industry peers.

Two musical legends gather at a Scottish Cottage on The Mull of Kintyre for a tense summit to discuss a potential collaboration that will ultimately result in a global Number One smash hit single.

The new surreal and hilarious comedy from Jim Hosking – director of The Greasy Strangler and An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn. Followed by an in-person Q&A with direct, Jim Hosking.

The 92-year-old previous nightclub dancer Coby Yee decides to get back on stage again after joining the senior dance troupe Grant Avenue Follies. Together they go on a tour for the last time, bridging once isolated Chinese communities in the US, Cuba and China.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A  and book signing with director Luka Yuanyuan Yang, hosted by Mint Chinese Film Festival.

The sole survivor of an interplanetary rescue mission searches for the only survivor of the previous expedition. He discovers a planet ruled by apes and an underground city run by telepathic humans.

“THE BIZARRE WORLD YOU MET IN ‘PLANET OF THE APES’ WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING… WHAT LIES BENEATH MAY BE THE END!”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

In 1968, John Chambers’ pioneering makeup special effects for PLANET OF THE APES changed the industry forever and inspired generations of artists to follow in his footsteps. Loosely based on the 1963 novel by Pierre Boulle, the film — about astronauts on a mission from earth crashing on a distant future planet ruled by apes — was a major commercial success, spawning a series of sequels, two TV series, a remake, and a blockbuster CGI-era re-boot. We’re showing the first of four original sequels, BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970), a daring departure that saw Chambers working with a lower budget to produce a wider array of makeups for its truly deranged story.

Token Homo is stupidly proud to be joined for this edition of BAR TRASH by Dan Frye, a makeup and special effects artist and prop maker with a career spanning more than 40 years in New York, Los Angeles and London. Amongst Dan’s early career highlights are work with Larry Cohen on A RETRUN TO SALEM’S LOT (1983) and IT’S ALIVE III (1987), and Frank Henenlotter on BRAIN DAMAGE (1988), BASKET CASE 2 (1990), and FRANKENHOOKER (1990). Later career highlights in the UK include SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004), DOOMSDAY (2008), GAME OF THRONES (2015–2016), and DR WHO (2015–2016). Dan’s appearance is subject to work commitments.

Featured special makeup effects artist: John Chambers (1922–2001) was a pioneering legend in makeup special effects and one of the few makeup artists to have a film made about his real life (mis)adventures (‘Best Picture’ Academy Award winner ARGO, 2012).

Polite notice: We are projecting BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES with subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

Silents Synced pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music to bring audiences a unique big screen experience. This reimagining of the iconic Nosferatu (1922) features Radiohead’s Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001) albums. An unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nosferatu (1922) is the quintessential silent vampire film, crafted by legendary German director F. W. Murnau. Rather than depicting Dracula as a shape-shifting monster or debonair gentleman, Murnau’s Graf Orlok (as portrayed by Max Schreck) is a nightmarish, spidery creature of bulbous head and taloned claws — perhaps the most genuinely disturbing incarnation of vampirism yet envisioned. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience this imaginative new take on an iconic horror classic!

A cinema sensation, The Curse of Frankenstein single-handedly revived the horror genre and brought Hammer to the attention of a worldwide audience eager for more. Almost overnight, Peter Cushing became world famous as the maniacal surgeon intent on creating life from death – and Christopher Lee's portrayal of the Creature will be the only one ever powerful enough to rival Karloff's. Making its worldwide debut on 4K, this classic British horror has been painstakingly restored from the best existing film elements, creating the definitive viewing experience of this legendary feature. After years of intense study, Victor Frankenstein brings a dead animal back to life through the power of science. Overawed with success he decides that he must now build the perfect human being – from body parts!

When Danny Goode is released from prison after serving time for insider trading, he is keen to get back to his city-boy life as soon as possible. But stripped of his trading license and with a criminal record he soon learns that he can’t get his old life back.
With the help of his old friend Jon, Danny returns to his home-town and tries to reconnect with his ex-wife Chloe and their son Ben. With no job he starts washing pots in Jon's res-taurant run by Jon, and helps at the boxing club where they used to train as teenagers.
There, Danny meets Billy Foster, a local promoter who runs a £10,000 winner-take-all unlicensed boxing match. Desperate for cash, Danny challenges the prizefighter, setting himself up for an unlicensed fight against a formidable opponent.
As Danny trains towards his fight, the former city-boy must learn that people and relation-ships are more important than money, and what is really worth fighting for.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

The Opening Night party is a chance for everyone to meet, talk about film, and celebrate inde-pendent cinema. It’s open to all, whether you work in film or not, or have a film in the festival, it’s an opportunity to have a drink and celebrate and support indie film. There will be a red carpet for photos as well. There is no dress code but there will be a photographer around so be aware and let the photographer know if you don’t wish to be photographed. Come and party with us!

This event is open to all, but please RSVP at the link provided.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

Astrophobia by Jack Stewart Penfold, 10 mins
Dance With the King by Sonia Amini, 13 mins
Mould - Snails by Martyn Thomas, 3 mins
Olga by Z Tennyson, 16 mins
Ring Ring by Adrian León, 14 mins
Undertone by Shaun Munro, 13 mins
We Few Survivors by Sam Denison, 10 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

The People The Platform by Alex Lubetkin, 13 mins
This Is The Beginning by Atticus Athill, 13 mins
11+ by Alexander Arnold, 8 mins
Big Man by Aneil Karia, 21 mins
Stroke of Genius by Karel Van Bellingen, 12 mins
The Break by Can Yilmaz, 9 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:
Wish List by Ron Mulvey, 4 mins
Mr Vertigo by Marios Hamboulides, 21 mins
This Damnation by Russell De Rozario, 12 mins
Gently Worn by Marie-Andrée Lemaire, 11 mins
Gone For Milk by Will Farrell, 10 mins
Flat Pink Roses by Jay Amin, 16 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

For the fourth year running, My SMASH Media has partnered with London Independent Film Festival to host a Pitching Session ahead of the LIFF Mini-Market.

The SMASH Pitch session is open to all but is required attendance for shortlisted participants, who will have the opportunity to practice their 3-minute pitch. Pitching is rarely a walk in the park, so the team at SMASH is keen to help filmmakers understand what to include in their pitch, as well as feel relaxed and confident when it comes to selling a project to potential backers.

Join us and pick up some useful tips.

To submit your pitch visit mysmash.media/ideas/liff-mini-market. It’s all FREE to create and submit your SMASH Pitch.
Come and join us on Saturday 4th October, 15:00–16:30 at Genesis.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

A Mustard Seed by Femi Oladigbolu, 15 mins
Senior Consultant! by Simon Haines, 14 mins
Deadheading by Charlie Woodward & Benedict Esdale, 14 mins
A Legacy of Sound by Anne-Marie Michel, 8 mins
Feel Nothing Inc. by Zoë Greenbaum, 12 mins
No.1614 by Junhao Fu, 5 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

Unpinned by Baby (Babi) Isako, 18 mins
Just One Moment by Myrto Makrides, 16 mins
Holy Baby by James Coyle, 12 mins
Bluff by Naomi Wright, 10 mins
Machine of Quiet Killing by Raphael Allason, 10 mins
Herbs by Emily Steck, 11 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Join Arnaldo Stafa, Actor, Producer, and Founder of Aki Studio London, as he reveals how filmmakers can utilise social media to establish credibility, attract audiences, and advance their careers. A practical, inspiring session on blending creativity with strategy to transform independent filmmaking into long-term success.

More information:

In today’s competitive film industry, filmmakers need more than talent alone to succeed; they must also master visibility, credibility, and audience engagement. In this session, Arnaldo Stafa, Actor, Producer, and Founder of Aki Studio London, explores how independent filmmakers can use social media as a strategic tool to amplify their work and careers.

Drawing on his experience building a production company from the ground up, Arnaldo demonstrates how creative entrepreneurs can leverage social platforms to generate buzz, attract collaborators, and position their projects for long-term opportunities. He shares insights into branding, campaign-driven content, grassroots PR, and developing clear plans to grow from shorts to features. More than just marketing, his approach empowers filmmakers to see themselves as both artists and entrepreneurs, capable of building sustainable careers.

Arnaldo has produced impactful shorts, including "My Hero" and "Decode Me," and is known for combining strong storytelling with effective business strategy. With Aki Studio London, he has built partnerships across the UK and Europe, while supporting creatives in developing their own voices.

This talk provides practical guidance and inspiration for filmmakers seeking to take control of their careers, connect with their audiences, and stand out in an increasingly crowded industry.

LIFF in collaboration with Aki Studio London and Shorts2Features.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Cinema lovers, music enthusiasts, and creatives, you're invited for an unforgettable evening at the iconic Genesis Cinema in Mile End. Each month, we'll explore a different theme, showcasing incredible talent and sparking engaging conversations. This isn't just a screening; it's an immersive experience designed to connect and inspire!

What to Expect
- Curated Film Screenings: Discover captivating short films and works from talented, highlighted filmmakers.
- Live DJ Sets: Get into the vibe with our resident DJs spinning tunes that complement the evening's cinematic mood.
- Insightful Panel Discussion: Join us for a lively Q&A session with the featured filmmakers themselves! Get behind the scenes, discuss their inspirations, and delve into the art of storytelling.
- Connect & Socialise: Mingle with fellow film and music lovers. The bar will be open all evening, serving up drinks to fuel your conversations and connections.

Enjoy Classic ‘ole skool’ Martial Arts Films + Short films.

6.00pm: Main feature + short film
A Special UK Exclusive 4K Screening of Jackie Chan’s The Shadow’s Edge

Action legend Jackie Chan reunites with Tony Leung Ka-Fai, going head-to-head for a truly epic showdown you won't want to miss!

After a crew of elite criminals disappear with billions, even evading the formidable “Sky Eye” surveillance system, the police desperately enlist the help of a legend. Wong Tak-Chung (Jackie Chan), a retired tracking expert, mentors rookie officer He Qiuguo (Zhang Zifeng) and rebuilds an elite surveillance unit.

Their mission: to track down the elusive “Wolf King,” Fu Longsheng (Tony Leung Ka-Fai), the mastermind behind the heist. As the police close in, the thieves spring a trap of their own. Brains clash, loyalties are tested, and the ultimate cat-and-mouse game is about to begin…

Cast: Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Zhang Zifeng
Director: Larry Yang
2025 / HK /141 mins / 15

*General UK Release 3 Oct 2025

KFC is Back: Fri 5 Dec 2025 (Last date of year)

Insta / TikTok: @kungfucinema
FB: www.facebook.com/latenightkungfu
E: kungfulatenite@gmail.com
T: 07961 977 749

Looking for inspiration, feedback, or a creative kickstart?

Join us at Genesis Cinema for a friendly, welcoming creative writing group open to all levels of experience. Whether you're plotting your first novel, experimenting with flash fiction, or want to start flexing your creative muscles, this is the space to share ideas, get inspired, and push your writing further. Expect lively discussions, writing prompts, and a warm community of supportive writers.

New voices are always welcome. Come write with us!

Films featured:

Brumdog by Mustafa Shabbir Bhopalwala, 12 mins
Steve Edwards: The Long Run by Jim Fabio, 11 mins
Found In Lost Places by Archie Rowell, 8 mins
That Time is Now by Henry Chebaane, 6 mins
The Drowned by Adam Park, 14 mins
Till Dawn by Leon Anthony Peart, 13 mins
Squeeze by Molly Jones, 6 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

The Rounds by Asa Gartland, 20 mins
Burn to Black by Kai Antoine, Velizar Nikolov, Danny Szam, 12 mins
Success is Served by Renée-Louise Bottern, 13 mins
Seasons by Keefer Carteen, 9 mins
In the Clouds by Alexandra Bahíyyih Wain, 14 mins
The Burn by Levison Wood, 17

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

A vicious scientist alters harmless androids into violent killing machines and unleashes them for his own gain.

“INTELLIGENT. INDESTRUCTIBLE. AND TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

This special edition of BAR TRASH is programmed and presented by queer horror academic and professional pervert Avery McNeilly, and international drag king, comedian and costumier, Loose Willis. “The textbook on psychosexual mutant cyborgs” (Avery McNeilly), Tim Kincaid’s direct-to-video MUTANT HUNT is set in a grimy neo-apocalypse vision of New York where robots, mutants, and oppressive government control clash with new wave fashion, sci-fi infused action, and gloopy prosthetics.

We are using this event to raise money for the Good Law Project’s ‘trans rights fighting fund’. The Good Law Project is pursuing a number of legal challenges to help protect trans+ people, including challenging the discriminatory Supreme Court judgment and EHRC guidance, defending access to gender-affirming healthcare, and supporting trans+ individuals facing discrimination at work. We know times are tough, but if you have any spare funds please take part in our mega raffle (cash or card donations welcome!), or donate directly here:
https://goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/fighting-fund-for-trans-rights

Featured special makeup effects artist: Ed French has more than 90 special makeup effects credits to his name, starting his career on films like NIGHTMARES IN A DAMAGED BRAIN (1981), SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983), EXTERMINATOR 2 (1984), and BLOOD RAGE (1987).

Polite notice: We are projecting MUTANT HUNT with subtitles from the best available digital source, newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

On a silent Christmas Eve, Shekhar is forced to face the unthinkable: deciding whether to end his mother’s life. In the stillness of that dark night, as machines beep and hope fades, he’s torn apart by love, guilt, and duty. The choice he makes shatters the fragile ties within his family—and leaves him forever changed, carrying the weight of a decision no one should ever have to make.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

Blade Runners by Matthew Rowney, 23 mins
The Skin I'm in by Elena Vialykh, 15 mins
Timeless : A Symphony in Motion by Susan Lim, Tom Ball, Christina Teenz Tan, 4 mins
Headhunter by Spike Curtis, 13 mins
Seeking Thomas by Julia Lisa Zlotnick, 3 mins
First Time by Kieran Freemantle, 9 mins
Waiting by Aleksandra Bucevac, 8 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Never Had A Chance is a British Asian drama set in West London, Hounslow's Punjabi community. With the struggles of his criminal record weighing heavily, Ravi finds love. However, the constant pressure of his so called friends make it difficult for him to navigate any sense of morality.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

Scarred Face by Alexandra Jane Pettitt, 13 mins
A Spot of Bother by Ed Chappell, 2 mins
illusion of love by yuxin lin, 16 mins
A Friend of Dorothy by Lee Knight, 22 mins
The Bottle by Charles B. Unger & Jeffrey Reyna, 9 mins
Puddle Man by Jacob Joseph Held, 13 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Films featured:

Ouija go out with me? by James Kennedy, 16 mins
Ay, Marta! by Sofía Delclaux Zhukova, 14 mins
The Jasper Johns Retrospective by Joss Byron Trimming, 16 mins
The Fanciers by Theo McInnes, 15 mins
Suspicious Women in a Small Town by Alison Thea-Skot & Kathryn Bond, 2 mins
Come by Bronwen Parker-Rhodes, 12 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Got a film in development, production, or release? Bring it to our clinic. With 20+ years’ combined experience in marketing, distribution, and exhibition, the founders of Big Picture Film Club will give you direct, no-fluff advice on how to get your project moving forward.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

Classic films back on the big screen in 35mm. Truffaut's superb feature debut remains an influential landmark in the history of the cinema. Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Laud), a 13-year-old is constantly in trouble - justifiably or otherwise - with his parents and teachers. Drifting into truancy and petty theft, he soon finds himself at odds with still less sympathetic figures of adult authority. Shot on the streets of Paris, the film exudes an emotional authenticity born of the semi-autobiographical story, and displays real compassion as it charts a seemingly unstoppable progress towards delinquency. Great credit goes to Léaud, whose engaging but entirely uningratiating performance is a miracle of naturalism. Truffaut managed to gather many talents, on both sides of the camera, who would prove crucial to the development of the nouvelle vague. Marvellous stuff.

Films featured:

Day Release by Joe Murray, 7 mins
The Voicenote by Kelechi Okafor & Kandy Rohmann, 12 mins
Friday Night Flop by Simon Friedberg & Elliott Gerner, 16 mins
Don't Believe What's On TV by Genevieve Ferns, 9 mins
No One Save Me by Ben Rafferty, 12 mins
All the Kings Horses by Kiel Robinson, 11 mins
Protocol 909 by Estela Oliva, 6 mins

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every spring and autumn at the Genesis cinema - repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK - LIFF screens the work of almost 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects.

One such programme is the LIFF Mini-Market with My SMASH Media. This is a speed-pitching session where selected content creators will have the opportunity to pitch to industry professionals such as sales agents, producers, and financiers, who will offer invaluable advice to the creators. Pitch presentations for your feature film must be submitted via the SMASH platform.

It’s FREE to create your SMASH pitch and to enter the LIFF Mini-Market. Projects must be feature-length and include:

• logline
• synopsis
• creative vision
• visual references
• ideas on cast
• comparables
• distribution ideas
• estimated budget

To submit your pitch to the LIFF Mini-Market please click mysmash.media/ideas/liff-mini-market and create your free pitch. Submit to the LIFF Mini-Market callout by Sunday 28th September, Midnight.

Please note that the industry experts may not commission your project but will share their expertise and may recommend other industry experts to contact.

Selected participants of the LIFF Mini-Market will be contacted directly and are required to attend the SMASH Pitch session on Saturday 4th October. Final decisions will be sent out by Thursday 9th October, but shortlisted applicants should keep Sunday 12th October free.

The Closing Night party and awards ceremony will be another chance to mingle and celebrate indie film. The event is open to all, whether you work in film or not, or have a film in the festival. I will announce the awards as well, and some of the judges will be in attendance too. There is no dress code, but there will be red carpet photos as well as other photos so be aware and let the photographer know if you don’t wish to be photographed. Come and celebrate!

This event is open to all, but please RSVP at the link provided.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

'Breakwater' is a psychological drama set between Oxford and the Suffolk coast, explor-ing how we connect, forgive and grieve for both others and ourselves. It follows the rela-tionship between Otto, a university student, and John, a retired angler who lives on the coast who bond over shared trauma of losing a loved one.

About the festival:

The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) is devoted to the advancement of first- and second-time filmmakers telling amazing stories with limited budgets. Hosted every October at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2025 London Independent Film Festival will screen the work of approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world. Stretching over 10 days with numerous industry events, LIFF offers an unmissable opportunity for networking and building collaborations for future projects. It's little wonder that Time Out Magazine has called LIFF "a treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests".

With a reputable support system for emerging filmmakers, LIFF includes popular training programs run by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of moving a filmmaker's career to the next level.

Please follow the festival on Instagram @londoniff and on Facebook.

“If this ever gets weird, promise me we can just stop, as nothing is more important than loving you.”
These were the words of Omar Rodríguez-López to his childhood friend Cedric Bixler-Zavala in January 2000, on the eve of recording a breakthrough album that would change their lives forever. For a decade they stayed true to this pact, until it was spectacularly broken in a haze of deception, Scientology, death and betrayal. The friends then spent the following ten years trying to heal those wounds. This is a documentary film about the artistic and personal relationship between Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (At the Drive-In / The Mars Volta). It is also the story of two immigrant outsiders and their desire to create their own place in the world. Told almost entirely through a selection culled from hundreds of hours of intimate footage filmed by Rodríguez-López over the last 40 years, the documentary charts the duo’s intense and profound journey of friendship, brotherhood, love, fame, self-discovery, and sacrifice. A story like no other, the film unflinchingly tackles the greater themes of success, addiction, death, grief, tragedy, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption head on. An intimate portrait of a lifelong friendship and a look at the world through a whole new creative prism.

D(e)ad is a film written by Izzy Roland, directed by Claudia Lonow (her mom!) and starring her family and Dropout favorites Brennan Lee Mulligan, Vic Michaelis, and more! About D(e)ad: Tillie (Isabella Roland), a floundering young woman and her charismatic, alcoholic father (Craig Bierko), struggle to resolve their fractured relationship in the weirdest possible way: after he dies, his ghost appears in mirrors to haunt everyone in the family but Tillie. Tillie’s sister, Violet (Vic Michaelis), mother (Claudia Lonow), grandparents (Mark Lonow and Joanne Astrow), stepfather (Jonathan Schmock), and even Violet’s free-spirited baby daddy (Nick Marini), must do everything they can to make Tillie see her father… even employing a very reform rabbi (Eddie Peppitone) to exorcize him… or else they will be plagued by this ghost forever.

A black doctor develops a pioneering serum and tests it on himself, turning him into a white monster with a diabolical lust for murder.

"A MONSTER HE CAN'T CONTROL... HAS TAKEN OVER HIS VERY SOUL!"

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

In William Crain’s infamous blaxploitation schlocker — DR. BLACK, MR HYDE aka ‘Decision For Doom’ (1976) — black scientist Dr. Henry Pryde (Bernie Casey) perfects a serum that has the potential to reverse liver damage. Beginning an unorthodox series of experiments, Pryde tests the serum on himself. The results are disastrous… transforming him into a hulking, white-skinned murdering lunatic!

Blaxploitation films — “black-cast or black-themed films “ that were “heavily promoted to young, inner-city, black audiences” — hail from a short-lived era in the 1970s that film historian Josiah Howard calls “America’s one and only African-American motion picture boom” (Blaxploitation Cinema). DR. BLACK, MR HYDE is one of the few films made by a black director, William Crain, who also directed another of the sub-genre’s stand-out horror titles, BLACULA (1972). Blaxploitation films remain controversial for stereotypical representation of black lives, frequent misogyny and homophobia. You have been warned!

Featured special makeup effects artist: Makeup and special effects legend Stan Winston’s iconic creations can be seen in blockbusters like the TERMINATOR series, the first three JURASSIC PARK films, BATMAN RETURNS and EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. But every career starts somewhere, and DR. BLACK, MR HYDE is among his early career credits.

Polite notice: We are projecting DR BLACK, MR HYDE without subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

Presented by Cult Classic Collective the screening is followed by a panel discussion with Nick Walker. An unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover; demons are pursuing him after he escaped their sadomasochistic underworld.

Under The Open Sky is a beautifully-crafted observational documentary that offers a rare, intimate portrait of a nomadic camel-herding family in the desert lands of Western India. Spanning five years, the film follows Ahmed and his family, as they face an existential dilemma: to continue their traditional way of life or to adapt to a rapidly modernising world. The film traces their quiet but powerful struggle to hold onto their ancestral way of life as they are increasingly displaced by industrialisation, climate shifts, and economic pressures.

The UK premiere of American feature film, Water Girl.

The London premiere of UK documentary ‘Shoot The People’

Where is home for you? Home is… family, language, memory, and the places we fight to belong. This strand brings together stories of resilience and identity, asking what home means when it’s fragile, lost, or reimagined.

Films featured:

THE PROFESSIONAL PARENT
Where are you really from?
Brumdog
Two Breaths
LARGO

The double UK Premiere of American documentary ‘How to Sue the Klan’ and Ugandan Documentary ‘HOPE - a future beyond rape, murder and war crimes’

Stories of queer love — new, hidden, and forbidden — showing that desire and discovery cross every border.

Films featured:

MAGID / ZAFAR
Arman
Silver Static
Pulling Away
The Lime Green
Shirt
Homecoming
No Place For A
Kid

Drawing on 20 years of home videos, this blend of fact and fiction follows three horror-obsessed friends on an ecstatic journey into their personal and supernatural fears when they find themselves embroiled in a real-life scary movie.

The screening of UK Feature Film: Heavyweight. A gripping sports drama where a young boxer must confront past traumas and inner demons before stepping into the ring.

Intimate settings become pressure cookers in these films, where characters face buried secrets, shifting identities, and the turning points that reshape their lives.

Films featured:

Shrapnel
Last Resort
Odette
THAT DOOR
The Last Dance

From the boxing ring to the running track and the skatepark, these films capture the grit, sacrifice, and determination it takes to chase a dream—and the personal battles faced along the way

Films featured:

On The Ropes
Stride
Skategoat

From viral scandals to virtual love, artificial intelligence to the end of Earth itself, this strand explores how technology reshapes who we are, how we connect, and where we might be headed next.

Films featured:

Smokescreen
Wish You Were Here
Alleged
Iris
Last Night in Irl
OK/NOTOK
The Launch
How The World Is Going To End

A kidnapped diver is taken to an island inhabited by a mad scientist and his half-animal, half-human creations.

“TEST TUBE TERRORS. HALF BEAST... ALL MONSTER!”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

Eddie Romero was THE great midnight movie auteur of the Philippines. After completing his infamous Blood Island trilogy, he melded THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1932) and ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932) into a scandalously manimalistic amalgamation of both that’s somehow like nothing else you’ll ever see. With imaginative makeup effects by another Filipino exploitation industry stalwart — Tony Artieda — the island’s subhuman menagerie includes an airborne man-bat (Tony Gosalvaz) and the incomparable Pam Grier as Ayesa, The Panther Woman, in one of her earliest movie appearances. This is also one of the best alternative uses of Neil Grant Richardson’s library music “Approaching Menace” which you’ll probably better know as the opening theme for TV quiz show MASTERMIND!

“While the plot rarely rises above its schlocky parameters, Tony Artieda’s creature designs survive on sheer gusto and energetic performances from the cast, with future star Grier’s full-tilt inhabitation of the feral cat-woman and Tony Gosalvaz’s laughter/cheer-inducing flight lodging firmly in the memory banks.” (Horror 101)

Featured special makeup effects artist: Tony Artieda (occasionally credited as ‘Antonio’) worked in the Filipino exploitation film industry across 5 decades including cult classics THE BLOOD DRINKERS (1964), BEAST OF BLOOD (1970), BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT (1971), BEYOND ATLANTIS (1973), and DRIVING FORCE (1989).

Polite notice: We are projecting the English language dub of THE TWILIGHT PEOPLE with subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

Blending the personal and the fantastical, these animated tales trace the moments of change that define us, offering glimpses into identity, resilience, and the many ways we learn to be.

Films featured:

Cave
THE NAME
Bubble Boy
Mother’s Child
Hot Mess
Consumed
A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m A Lesbian
Two Black Boys In Paradise
Gardening
The 12 inch Pianist
The Eating of an Orange

The screening of Ghanaian feature film ‘ The Fisherman’. A whimsical and heartwarming story of a retired Ghanaian fisherman whose life is turned upside down by a talking fish, leading to laughter, chaos, and a quest to reclaim his dreams.

These films explore the bonds, burdens, and legacies passed between generations—fathers, grandfathers, and children navigating love, loss, and the courage it takes to heal and let go.

Films featured:

Violin Boy
Sunshine
Sins of a Father
Sugar Dumplin
Father’s Son
Irpinia

The Screening of UK Short Film ‘Under The Gun’ a crime film starring David Haye with his acting debut - and Documentary: The Banjo Boys. A vibrant documentary tracing Madalitso Band’s journey from Malawian street corners to the world stage, capturing their struggles, resilience, and the unifying power of music.

This is Hollywood baby! The promise of finding fame under the lights of one of its sound stages, finding a good night out in West Hollywood, and finding a ripped vers surfer on a Santa Monica beach has lured many a gay man. Just as in mainstream culture, California has long been dominant in the production and dissemination of gay pornography, selling the state not just as the site of beautiful bodies, but promising a lifestyle of liberation and community.

But where do you go when that utopian image you’ve been sold doesn’t come true, whether you’re consuming those images or hoping to be featured in them? What happens when you’re spent and tossed aside, like a tissue in a teenage bedroom? The films in this programme both draw on the hold California has had over gay media, in particular gay porn, and use this to create a critical discourse around how this media is created and consumed.

Victim of Circumstance sees Scott and Brandon meet in the 1980s at an orphanage. Lured by a magazine, they make their way, some months apart, to the California they see depicted in its pages.Told through a hi-intensity assemblage of found material from gay porn videos and magazines of the period, some things altogether more unsettling come to emerge from amongst the images of the Sunshine State’s sun-kissed twinks.

William E Jones’ essay film Finished is a detective story and a love story, a film noir bathed in the sunlight of tapes. An unseen narrator looks into what happened to Alan Lambert, a porn performer who he’s taken rather a liking to. A proto-parasocial relationship forms as they discover Lambert’s suicide shortly after being told he was finished in the industry, aged 25. Through clips of Lambert’s appearances and footage related to his life, a portrait of two obsessions emerges: Lambert’s almost messianic visions of grandeur and Jones’ searching desire to re-animate his subject.

Films that Fuck is an irregular screening series organised by Siavash Minoukadeh exploring uses of pornographic material in moving image practices. Taking place in cinemas and away from the restrictions of the Online Safety Act, the series creates a space for critical discussions around pornography as artistic medium.

Thanks to: Ana Lopez Masek, María Palacios Cruz, Tony Nguyen, Mark Webber

Victim of Circumstance | Kalil Haddad | Canada | 2024 | 22’ | Digital | Courtesy of the filmmaker
Finished | William E. Jones | USA | 1997 | 75’ | 16mm, transferred to digital | courtesy of the filmmaker and David Kordansky Gallery

Content warning: This programme contains intense, sustained strobe lighting and flashing images. Contains full-frontal nudity and sexual scenes.

Seasonal Affective Cinema is a quarterly film club screening films that aesthetically and thematically reflect the changing of the seasons. Join us for a sumptuous induction into autumn with a screening of Todd Haynes’ homage to Hollywood melodrama, Far From Heaven.

Julianne Moore plays Cathy Whitaker, a 1950s housewife with the “perfect” life: she has a successful husband (Dennis Quaid), lives in a beautiful suburban home, and is the pinnacle of her New England social scene. But Cathy’s carefully constructed world is shattered when her husband’s secret desires are exposed and she finds herself falling for her gardener, Raymond (Dennis Haysbert). Confronted by prejudice, gossip, and rigid social codes, Cathy has to choose between the comfort of conformity and the risk of desire.

Haynes (Carol, Safe) crafts a stunning homage to the lush melodramas of Douglas Sirk, filling the film with saturated autumnal hues, heightened emotions, and a gorgeously stylised production design. But beneath the beauty is a portrait of repression, longing, and change. Amongst the falling leaves, Cathy’s world shifts too — turning seasonal imagery into a poignant metaphor for personal transformation.

Follow us on Instagram and Substack: @seasonalaffectivecinema

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

MYSTERY FILMS are always popular at BAR TRASH where we only reveal the title when we press play! Previous reveals have included MONSTER DOG (1984), a Spanish werewolf movie staring rock icon Alice Cooper, SPACE MONSTER WANGMAGWI (1967), a long-lost South Korean kaiju film, and Jackie Kong’s incredible BLOOD DINER, revealed on vintage VHS by long-time friend of BAR TRASH, Gemma Gore.

What celluloid atrocity will Token Homo unveil this time…? All we can say is that it will be an exploitation movie linked to our season theme… But that doesn’t help much does it?

Polite notice: We are projecting our MYSTERY HORROR FILM with subtitles from the best available digital source. No refunds if you’ve already seen it (or just don’t fancy it).

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast.

A rare screening of the extended cut of Halloween (1978). Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.

In a Sudan torn apart by years of war, become immersed in the daily fight of young Sudanese activists, yearning for freedom and reform. Both harrowing and rousing, their fight reminds us of the human ability to find hope in the most oppressive of circumstances. ‘Sudan, Remember Us’ bears witness to a lost revolution and within it unearths a tribute to the power of creativity as a tool of survival and resistance.

CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.

CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.

Silents Synced pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music to bring audiences a unique big screen experience. Buster Keaton’s 1924 comedy classic is reimagined with R.E.M. 's alt-rock masterpieces Monster (1994) and New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). In this sublime comedy teetering between reality and illusion, Buster Keaton stars as a film projectionist who dreams of becoming a detective. He uses his limited skills when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend’s father’s pocket watch. Keaton reportedly broke his neck performing one of the many dangerous practical stunts in the film. Whether you’re a movie lover or a rock music fan this is an experience you won’t want to miss!!