A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

Featuring commentary from surviving participants, as well as other filmmakers and critics, this documentary chronicles the career of director John Boorman and the tumultuous production of his film Exorcist II: The Heretic, exploring its critical and commercial failure, how it changed the industry, and the importance of risk-taking in art.

After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces officer James Belmont and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Together, they are forced into a brutal fight for survival against the elements. From acclaimed filmmaker David Ayer, Heart Of The Beast is an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet.

When a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman searches for her father. Her quest collides with an American GI on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from Hell.

' Her Private Hell contains a sequence of flashing lights which might affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

The infamous Camp Miasma slasher franchise is getting rebooted yet again. But when the latest movie’s director becomes obsessed with the mysterious, reclusive actress who played the “final girl” in the original film, a whole new kind of slasher emerges from the bottom of the lake.

Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

A tender story of first love, belonging and growing up, Beautiful Thing follows neighbours Jamie and Ste as their friendship deepens into romance over the course of one long, hot summer. Alongside them are Jamie's mum Sandra and friend Leah, two women with humour, struggles and stories of their own.

Directed by Hettie Macdonald and adapted for the screen by Jonathan Harvey from his acclaimed play, Beautiful Thing transforms the familiar landscape of a council housing estate into a world alive with warmth, wit and bold primary colours, casting everyday life in a new light.

Thirty years on, it's a joy to discover, or rediscover, this much-loved but underseen film, with the music of Mama Cass beating at its heart.

This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Hettie Macdonald, moderated by Reclaiam The Frame's Melanie Iredale.

TRASH PLANET 3: APOCALYPSE — CHAOTIC VISIONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION!

"IT KILLS... BUT CANNOT BE KILLED!"

It rises from 2000 miles beneath the earth to melt everything in its path...

Hammer Films’ X THE UNKNOWN (1956) is the classic 1950s creature feature that firmly established the British studio’s transition into a full blown house of horror. Originally intended as a sequel to their successful sci-fi shocker THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT (1955), legendary screenwriter Nigel Kneale refused to let his alien-battling scientist Bernard Quatermass be used, leading X THE UNKNOWN to be retooled as a standalone property.

Joining the gooey legions of THE BLOB (1958/1988) and CALTIKI THE IMMORTAL MONSTER (1959), X THE UNKNOWN is one of cinema’s most slime-tacular creations. BAR TRASH has previously showcased Hammer’s THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957), the studio’s ground-breakingly gory gothic in lurid EastmanColour. Released only a year before, X THE UNKNOWN is served well by brilliant black and white photography, dramatically conveying an eery threat from an unidentifiable menace as ooze from the middle of the earth threatens to consume us all.

“Anxiously evocative of an ever-more-distant 1950s Britain, and still abundantly atmospheric, there remains something very spooky and special about this shadowy sci-fi drama.” (Vic Pratt, BFI)

Polite notice: We are presenting X THE UNKNOWN with subtitles from the best available digital source. X THE UNKNOWN was originally rated 'X' by the BBFC in 1956 and is strictly for ‘adults only’.

/// 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 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details. ///

KNIFE explores renowned author Salman Rushdie’s life, career and recovery following a harrowing attempt on his life in 2022. The film includes never-before-seen footage shot by Rushdie’s wife, the American poet, novelist and visual artist Rachel Eliza Griffiths, in the time following the attack offering a graphic, unflinching, and deeply intimate account of his remarkable recovery and optimism for the future. Directed by Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney, KNIFE is inspired by Rushdie’s bestselling memoir ‘Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.’

Special preview screenings featuring a recorded Q&A with Alex Gibney, Salman Rushdie and Rachel Eliza Griffiths

A young woman decides to return to Beirut to see her estranged dying father after twenty five years. Between the struggle to forgive him and building up the courage to face him, she discovers the heart of her homeland through the people she meets.

After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces officer James Belmont and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Together, they are forced into a brutal fight for survival against the elements. From acclaimed filmmaker David Ayer, Heart Of The Beast is an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet.

When a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman searches for her father. Her quest collides with an American GI on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from Hell.

' Her Private Hell contains a sequence of flashing lights which might affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

When a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman searches for her father. Her quest collides with an American GI on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from Hell.

' Her Private Hell contains a sequence of flashing lights which might affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

The infamous Camp Miasma slasher franchise is getting rebooted yet again. But when the latest movie’s director becomes obsessed with the mysterious, reclusive actress who played the “final girl” in the original film, a whole new kind of slasher emerges from the bottom of the lake.

Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with his original film Digger, starring Tom Cruise. The most powerful man in the world (Cruise) embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

As final exam approach, a shocking “suicide notice” appeared in Enshan high school. It accuses the exam system of crushing students and threatens suicide on the exam day. The school is afraid of triggering more anxiety among students, and worried about its reputation. At the same time, they urgently try to identify the person. As the truth slowly unravels, it turned out to be a scandal in the education system.

Debbie Scott, an influencer turned film producer, runs what she proudly calls “Hollywood in the UK countryside” - a studio presented as thriving, ambitious and in control. But behind the façade sits retired Hollywood editor Richard Wadsworth, whose deteriorating memory is becoming impossible to ignore. As dementia erodes his sense of time and continuity, the film Debbie is desperately trying to finish with him begins to collapse in the edit suite. Scenes drift, timelines fracture and cuts no longer connect. As pressure mounts, the boundary between the film Debbie is producing and the life she is staging begins to blur. The (First) Last Screenplay is an intimate portrait of care, denial and an industry that believes every failure can be fixed in post.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

This is a chance to support and celebrate independent film. It is an event open to all as well as other filmmakers and film-lovers! We will have a red-carpet and a step & repeat board so please make sure you are prepared to have your photo taken (or tell the photographer not to).

You don’t need to register and the event is free. Just come along! However entry will only be allowed until the capacity is reached.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford and Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity. After Lowen uncovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity’s husband Jeremy, and finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

After decades of being blown to bits by bombs, demolished by dynamite, mangled by magnets, battered by boulders, trampled by trains, tricked by tunnels, sprung by springs, steamrolled by steamrollers, maligned by misfires, bedeviled by bungees, rattled by rockets, backstabbed by bat suits, rocked by rocket skates, upended by unicycles, quaked by quake pills, rubberized by rogue bands, and hurled headlong off every cliff in the Southwest, Wile E. Coyote (Genius) finally fights back. Teaming up with billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte), he takes on slick corporate counsel Buddy Crane (John Cena) and ACME, Inc., the profit-obsessed conglomerate behind every one of the Coyote’s chaotic catastrophes.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with his original film Digger, starring Tom Cruise. The most powerful man in the world (Cruise) embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

LOST ON THE ROAD is a comedy feature film with a journey of Lord of the Rings proportions, but set in the British countryside. It follows four estranged friends that used to play Dungeons and Dragons together who reunite for a stag weekend. Jack, the sensible groom, hopes for a simple country walk but his chaotic friends have other ideas. With his wedding fast approaching, Jack faces a quest as epic as any they once rolled dice for: deciding whether to hold onto the ring... or let it go.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Making the film is only part of the journey. Finding its audience is another.

Based on his book Film Marketing & Distribution: An Independent Filmmaker’s Guide, Jonathan Sadler takes filmmakers through the practical decisions that can help give an independent film the best possible chance of finding an audience — beginning long before the film is finished.

The session starts with perhaps the most important question a filmmaker can ask: who is your film actually for? From there, Jonathan will look at how understanding your audience should influence the way a film is positioned, presented and ultimately taken to market.

The talk will follow a film through the value chain, exploring what filmmakers can be doing at each stage: gathering useful marketing content during production; developing strong key art and trailers; building relationships and networks; identifying appropriate festivals; understanding potential distribution routes; and thinking realistically about where a film might sit in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Rather than pursuing a single dream outcome, filmmakers will be encouraged to think in terms of an A, B and C plan: the ideal launch and distribution strategy, an achievable alternative, and a fallback route that still allows the film to reach an audience.

Jonathan will also draw on more than 30 years working in film marketing and distribution to discuss some of the common mistakes independent filmmakers make — from leaving marketing until the film is completed to misunderstanding their audience, targeting inappropriate festivals or creating materials that fail to communicate what is distinctive about their film.

Topics will include:

* Identifying and understanding your audience
* Positioning your film for that audience
* Thinking about marketing from development onwards
* Gathering assets and content during production
* Festivals: what they can — and cannot — do for your film
* Building relationships with distributors, sales agents and other industry contacts
* Creating realistic A, B and C distribution strategies
* Key art, trailers and publicity
* Common marketing and distribution mistakes
* How to give your film the best chance of standing out in a crowded independent marketplace

The emphasis throughout will be practical and realistic: not on promising filmmakers a route to a major distribution deal, but on helping them make smarter decisions about their film, their audience and the opportunities available to them.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

Lost in Us by Moe Musa, 19 mins
Small Town Boy by Lee Strickland, 15 mins
Won’t Be Displaced by Piera Van de Wiel & Katharina Benjamim, 14 mins
The Homecoming by Brian Timoney, 10 mins
Full Time by Sonya Kanevskaya, 9 mins
Gumball by James Murray, 4 mins
Wonderful Things by Leigh Haggerwood, 4 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

Gobstopper by Pippa Lore Feldberg Collins, 15 mins
Blood Runner by Eda Sezer & Jonah Attalla,14 mins
Witchcraft in D minor by Danny Szam, 10 mins
Unrest by Jacob Vickers, 9 mins
Je jouissante… moi non plus by Flâneuse du Mal, 4 mins
Bloomin’ Octopus! by David Palfrey, 5 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Shaun The Sheep: The Beast Of Mossy Bottom sees the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween - until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock's beloved pumpkin patch! When Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control... With The Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun family adventure.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford and Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity. After Lowen uncovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity’s husband Jeremy, and finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with his original film Digger, starring Tom Cruise. The most powerful man in the world (Cruise) embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

Melanie is a talented singer-songwriter on the brink of a life-changing opportunity as she approaches a scholarship audition for the prestigious Highbury College of Music. It could be her chance to finally be seen, just like other successful stars who started their careers there. But with a single mother working nonstop and three younger siblings to help raise, Melanie spends most of her spare time supporting her mother and also quietly struggling with her own self belief. Deep down, Mel finds it hard to believe she actually deserves the dream she’s chasing.

One evening while babysitting her siblings and stealing precious moments to practice, an unthinkable tragedy happens. Suddenly, overnight Melanie is torn from the only life she has ever known and she is placed into the care of estranged relatives. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt, she convinces herself that her ambition caused what happened and that if she hadn’t been busy chasing her own dream, everything might have turned out differently. Broken and displaced, Melanie makes a vow to herself that she will never sing again.

As she struggles to survive in an unfamiliar world, every attempt to reconnect with music seems doomed to fail, pushing her further and further from the life she once imagined. Mel must learn that to reclaim her future and find her way back to her family she must rediscover not only her voice, but her belief in herself.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

As a Nairobi journalist probes a land battle entangling the local government and a powerful multinational corporation, covered wounds are revealed and family secrets are exposed. Followed by an in-person Q&A with director/protagonist Bea Wangondu

Films featured:

Spiff by Oscar Flohr, 19 mins
Dys is Me by Stacha Hicks, 15 mins
Red by Susan Lynch, 13 mins
Therapist by Udbhavi Upadhyay, 12 mins
Muddled Meals by Christie Arnold, 8 mins
Flat White by Sam Hocking & Rachel Nicholson, 4 mins
Human Toilet by Ben Kent, 4 mins
My Paper Bag Life by Charlotte Louise Bracegirdle, 4 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

Dirt by Isabella Speaight, 19 mins
Products of Loneliness by Patrick Fitzgerald, 14 mins
Niceties by Haley Maiden & Lilou Le Sergent, 13 mins
Full Fat by Louisa Connolly-Burnham, 10 mins
Hazard Perception by Amadeus Redha, 9 mins
Andrew Ganvickton by Joseph Pelling, 4 mins
Boobs by Olivia Nixon & Jodie Tyack, 3 mins
From Round Here with Pete Elsewhere by Tim Fox, 5 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

The SMASH Pitch Workshop will be hosted by My SMASH Media to help content-creators refine their pitching skills.

Pitching is rarely a walk in the park so the team at My SMASH Media is keen to help filmmakers feel as relaxed and confident as possible when it comes to selling a project to potential backers.

Join us and pick up some useful tips.

This workshop is open to all but also it is a requirement for those who submitted to the London Independent Film Festival Mini-Market on Sunday 11th October. You will NOT be selected for the Mini-Market if you have not attended this workshop.

—----------

The SMASH 1-2-1 Pitch Service Offer

If you would like a 1-2-1 Pitch session with a member of the SMASH team please share your SMASH Snapshot to cupid@mysmash.media for a 30-minute pitch session. Fee is £50.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Shaun The Sheep: The Beast Of Mossy Bottom sees the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween - until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock's beloved pumpkin patch! When Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control... With The Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun family adventure.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford and Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity. After Lowen uncovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity’s husband Jeremy, and finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with his original film Digger, starring Tom Cruise. The most powerful man in the world (Cruise) embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford and Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity. After Lowen uncovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity’s husband Jeremy, and finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with his original film Digger, starring Tom Cruise. The most powerful man in the world (Cruise) embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

Films featured:

Damp Sugar by Andrei Zamfir, 4 mins
Bacon by Paula Bagley, 18 mins
In Too Deep by Kelvey Goldhar-Killick, 15 mins
The Story Teller by Anna Elizabeth Haig, 11 mins
Run Club by Lauren Lyle, 8 mins
Pushing Up Plastic by Joe McGowan, 5 mins
My Hero by Jassica Magaye, 5 mins
Six Of Cups by Sasha Case, 13 mins
Midnight Bloom by Adam Fergler, 16 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

The Other Night by Sofia Martin-Birsim, 18 mins
Messes by Ines Guibal, 15 mins
Little Brother by Jack Sambrook, 14 mins
Untouched by Simon Drew, 12 mins
Fire Baby Monster by Saudat Sanusi, 10 mins
Wave Back by Jago Bevan, 9 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford and Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity. After Lowen uncovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity’s husband Jeremy, and finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with his original film Digger, starring Tom Cruise. The most powerful man in the world (Cruise) embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

Eighteen year old Joe is caught in a storm of identity and expectation. A gender crisis rips the heart out of a world that once seemed simple, now torn between the pressures imposed by a traditional family and the labels imposed by friendship groups. Joe embarks on a journey of discovery and introspection that threatens to destroy a family, a community and ultimately a life.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

Echoes by Alex Lanipekun, 18 mins
First Rehearsal by Mark Artemichev, 15 mins
A Quiet rebirth by A M Lockley, 14 mins
Peter by Hannah Van Der Westhuysen, 11 mins
The Cull by Adam Cameron King, 8 mins
Stay On Top by Kyri Paris,16 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford and Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity. After Lowen uncovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity’s husband Jeremy, and finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.

A frustrated primary school teacher gets into a physical altercation with one of her troubled pupils, leading her to hold him hostage in her basement in this comedy thriller.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with his original film Digger, starring Tom Cruise. The most powerful man in the world (Cruise) embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.

This dramatic film follows Urban Free Solo climber Adam Lockwood as he takes on the iconic Eiffel Tower climb. He is one of just a handful of people who climb tall buildings without any safety equipment, and at 24 years old he’s also the youngest. Behind his daring and athletic skill lies a story of immense personal struggle; but his fearlessness and focus help him find purpose in the face of adversity.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

On the first Thursday of the month, every month, the Genesis Poetry Slam is an electric night of spoken word performances. There will be laughter, there might be tears, there will definitely be rhymes and rhythms.

Whether you’re here to perform or simply to listen, you’ll be part of one of the friendliest, most supportive slam communities around. We don’t have that reputation for nothing.

The Genesis Poetry Slam has been running for over 15 years, and is London’s only three-round poetry slam. Up to 12 poets compete in a night of competitive poetry, to see who makes it to the final round and can claim the title of slam champion for the month.

Join us for another electric night of spoken word as poets battle it out for a place in our December Grand Final.

Genesis Cinema, Stepney Green
Doors 18:45 / Slam starts 19:30
Audience tickets: £1 (advance booking essential)

On the night, sink into a comfy sofa, grab a cocktail or a pie, and watch some of the finest poets bring their words to life.

AUDIENCE
Tickets are £1 and must be booked in advance. Whether you’re a poetry lover or brand new to spoken word, you’ll be warmly welcomed.

POETS

There are two ways to sign up for a slam slot:
Pre sign-up: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/112945284141
On the night

We’re always working to keep the process fair and accessible, and this is the best format we’ve found so far.

Pre sign-up:
Sign up via the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/112945284141. These slots are strictly first come, first served and fill fast. If you secure a pre sign-up slot, you do not need to buy a ticket – your name will be on the door.

On the night:
If pre sign-up slots are full, we may release a limited number of on-the-night slots, again first come, first served.

If you have a pre sign-up slot, please arrive by 7.00pm to keep it. Any unclaimed slots will be offered to poets on the reserve list. To keep things fair, if the slam has started and you haven’t checked in, you won’t be able to perform.

SLAM RULES

No props.
No costumes.
Reading from paper or phone is fine.
No hate.

And remember:
The points are not the point…
THE POINT IS THE POETRY.

Films featured:

Poppy by Julia Schönstädt, 17 mins
I Wrote The Love Of My Life by Machis Baboulene & Holly Bray, 14 mins
Bleach by Tobias Bates, 16 mins
Two Creatures by Ainhoa Garbalena Aramendia, 11 mins
Matilda’s Arrived by Macadie Amoroso, 10 mins
The Cliff Montgomery Show by Dan Iacono, 6 mins
The Great Intervention by Jun Noh, 5 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Bryan, a medical courier, unwittingly finds himself fighting for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford and Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity. After Lowen uncovers what appears to be Verity's chilling autobiographical notes, she wrestles with the disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity’s husband Jeremy, and finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.

Sessions is a generation defining film, it’s a stark look at how cocaine culture destroyed the mental health of millions of men around the UK. How shame and guilt took those men from their families.

Richie’s (Daniel O'Reilly) life looks picture-perfect: a new wife, a baby on the way, and a loyal best friend who always knows how to turn up the volume. But beneath the surface, Richie is silently drowning. Terrified by the pressures of impending fatherhood and financial strain, he hides his crippling anxiety behind a mask of lad culture—fueling himself with cocaine, whiskey, and denial. When his charismatic best friend Steve (Jonas Armstrong) drags him into a high-stakes property deal with a corrupt developer (Leo Gregory), Richie sees one last shot at fixing his life and proving his worth as a man.

What starts as a quick score turns into a waking nightmare. As the deal unravels, Richie loses his job, his marriage, and his grip on reality. Hunted by a creditor (Rupert Graves) and haunted by his own mind, he spirals through a haze of drugs and paranoia, desperate to hold onto the one person he thinks he can trust. Sessions is a visceral psychological thriller that unmasks the silent epidemic of the male mental health crisis, exploring the devastating cost of toxic enabling, the trauma of unspoken grief, and the urgent, life-saving need for men to finally ask for help.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

4 Minutes Before Forever by Yoann Zak, 14 mins
Afterburn by David Cordon, 15 mins
Codes by Eleanor Rhode, 11 mins
The Special by Stéph Kuypers, 12 mins
Winter by Kate Cheeseman, 13 mins
Belhem by Flint Archie Macdonald, 13 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Not long after the power grids failed, life has become a search for safety. Still reeling from the loss and shock that followed, this small group of survivors find the darkest depths of humanity in the shadows. Not everyone wants to help; some even hoped for days like these.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

Bite Me by Issy Johnston, 13 mins
For Whom The Bells Toll by Mack Velle, 12 mins
Don’t You Want Me Baby? by Gabriel Foster Prior, 13 mins
Cards Down by Maria Kraevska, 16 mins
Fish & Chips by Macadie Amoroso, 12mins
Closer Than They Appear by Rod Main, 5 mins
Milk by Emma Ballantine, 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:

Zombie by Danny Millar, 13 mins
Steel & Glory by Mathew Currie, 16 mins
The Application by Kyle Titterton,16 mins
Brunch Palace by Immanuel Dube, 12 mins
The Chronicles of the Struggling Actor by Lyud Hristov, 12 mins
Single People at the End of the World by Jessica Riches & Casey J. Newell, 6 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Films featured:

Chekhov’s Bun by Beau Fowler, 7 mins
Foreign Body by Miguel Torres Umba, 7 mins
The Intimacy Coordinator by Louisa Connolly-Burnham, 21 mins
The One by Anna Bolotina, 9 mins
To Do or Die by Aditi Raina, 5 mins
Touch Grass by Layla Furlong, 11 mins
69 by Leo Butler, 15 mins

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

In “Christmas & Chaos,” two creatively lost musicians are marooned in rural Wales—a fading pop star and a rugged, uncompromising artist. As polar opposites, their clashing styles threaten to derail their chance to impress a revered theatre director. Yet, amidst the chaos of creative tension, they uncover unexpected harmony, confronting their own vulnerabilities and the transformative power of collaboration.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

This is a chance to support and celebrate independent film and we will be announcing the winners of this year’s festival. It is an event open to all as well as other filmmakers and film-lovers! We will have a red-carpet and a step & repeat board so please make sure you are prepared to have your photo taken (or tell the photographer not to).

You don’t need to register and the event is free. Just come along! However entry will only be allowed until the capacity is reached.

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Pitch Your Feature at the London Independent Film 2026

Got a feature film project ready to pitch? The London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) Mini-Market with My SMASH Media is your chance to get in front of top sales agents, producers, and industry pros!

Submission Deadline: 27th September 2026
SMASH pitching prep session: 4th Oct 2026
Event Date: 11th October 2026 (invitation only)

What’s on offer

• Speed-pitching session with real decision-makers
• Invaluable industry feedback & networking
• Potential connections to help move your film forward
• Pitch Training from SMASH founders to prepare you for the event

What they are looking for

• Feature-length projects with a clear vision
• All Genres welcome

Who can apply

• Open to all with first and second-time filmmakers particularly encouraged to apply.

If you have projects that fit these criteria, we want to hear from you!

What you need to include in your SMASH Pitch

Your SMASH Snapshot must include at minimum:

• Logline
• Format; Genre; Setting; Runtime
• Brief Biog of key creatives
• Synopsis with all major plot points - set up; inciting incident; rising conflict; mid story twist; crisis; climax and resolution.
• Creative vision
• Visual references (poster/concept art optional)
• Budget range
• Cast ideas (That would work with your budget)
• Comparables (recent TV or Film at your budget level that capture a similar feeling or energy)

Any projects submitted without this information will not be accepted.

How to Apply

• Create your FREE SMASH Pitch at app.mysmash.media.
• Build your Snapshot with the required elements above.
• Hit ‘Share Project’ and select “London Independent Film Festival” from the Call Out page.
• Submit before 27th September 2026 at midday.

Protect your IP
At SMASH, protecting your creative work is at the heart of everything we do. Every project uploaded to the platform is automatically timestamped and securely stored, giving you a verifiable digital record of ownership. Your pitch is only shared when you choose, and with the people you choose - ensuring your ideas remain yours, always. We call it Pitch Protection, and it’s how we make sure creators can share their work with confidence, knowing their IP is safe and traceable.

Key Dates

• Submission Deadline: 27th September 2026 at midday
• Pitch Workshop: 4th Oct 2026 (mandatory for shortlisted participants)
• Live Pitch: 11th October 2026 at 14.00 -15.30 (By invitation only)

Important Notes
• Selected participants will be contacted directly and must attend the SMASH Pitch session on 4th October 2026 at the London Independent Film Festival (LIFF).
• Industry experts may not commission your project directly but will provide feedback, connections, and guidance.
• Questions? Contact: cupid@mysmash.media

About London Independent Film 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 spring at the Genesis cinema – repeatedly voted the best cinema in the UK – the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival will screen 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. 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.

Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two African-American men. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.

With infamous production struggles and studio changes - AMERICAN HISTORY X hit theatre in 1998 to critical acclaim. Now, Nearly 30 years later, see it in new light as a double-bill as Director Tony Kaye release's his new Documentary on the film that started it all.

HUMPTY DUMPTY X — PART 1
HUMPTY DUMPTY X is a 73-minute album. A song. A celebration, an existential exorcism of my process while making, and still making American History X
It is a portal into a new body of work.
It is a road toward Marlon Brando — a love letter and standing ovation to the man I believe was the greatest screen actor who ever lived — and an attempt to understand what it means for a director to to try become completely, dangerously, and beautifully free.
Out of that search comes the seed of a new acting technique. A miniature self-help manual. A meditation on instinct, courage, failure, madness and surrender.
But above everything, HUMPTY DUMPTY X is a message to artists:
It is about the principle.
It is about the sacrifice.
It is about removing fear.
Creativity begins when you stop asking permission.
You open the door of the spacecraft.
You jump.
And you fall headfirst into the beautiful mess, danger, ecstasy and madness of making something that has never existed before.
That is HUMPTY DUMPTY X — PART 1.
The egg breaks.
And something new crawls out.

Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Tony Kaye.

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 theatres, 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 committed to bringing the joy of cat videos to the masses, while doing good for the worldwide community of people working to help cats in need.

This year’s edition includes some truly pawsome new content:

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 theatres, 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 committed to bringing the joy of cat videos to the masses, while doing good for the worldwide community of people working to help cats in need.

This year’s edition includes some truly pawsome new content:

Born in Kinshasa and living in Paris, filmmaker Alain Kassanda embodies the classic immigrant dual identity: in the Democratic Republic of Congo he is seen as French, while in France he is seen as Congolese. Determined to understand the colonial legacy from which he comes, Kassanda convinces his grandparents—Colette and Justin—to sit for a series of interviews. Together, they watch old news footage, remember a visit from the Belgian king, and recall what life was like as part of the nascent Black bourgeoisie who served the colonial administration.

A Q&A will follow the screening

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.

Followed by a group discussion in the bar area with Nick Walker of the Cult Classic Collective

Sixteen-year-old tomboy Choo Xin Yu (Ranice Tay) seems like a misfit when she joins a highly competitive, elite all-girls school in Singapore. But she quickly befriends three others who share her rebellious nature. While the girls struggle to fit in, they pledge loyalty to each other and vow to start a gang as a form of resistance. When their rebellious acts — recorded by the girls on a camcorder — are discovered by their teacher, their lives are upended. What keeps haunting Choo may be more than just the ghost she suspects is in her room.

This is a screening presented by Bun Bites Screening. It will be followed by an online Q&A with the director Siyou Tan, moderated by Dr Shzr Ee Tan, a Reader in Music at Royal Holloway, University of London.
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.

Bun Bites Screening is a London-based emerging film club dedicated to spotlighting the voices of the younger generation in Asia, while fostering an inclusive community for film lovers. We curate and screen films made by young people, about young people, and in support of young visions.

This autumn, documentary filmmaker Joe Cornick will take his powerful debut feature Steel: The Blood of Us 2026 on a UK screening roadshow, alongside Hignett’s intimate 1976 documentary The Face of Change. Made exactly 50 years apart, the two films offer contrasting perspectives on Britain’s steel industry and the communities shaped by it. Cornick’s film, shot on 16mm celluloid and completed this year, documents the final years of traditional steelmaking in Port Talbot, Wales.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A.

Film noir? Comedy? Or Crime thriller?

Ten women. One purpose.
MURDER THEIR DEAREST MAN.

We are showing Kon Ichikawa's (Tokyo Olympiad) masterpiece Ten women in Black (61) for our 4th screening!

Presented by YELLOW MAGIC CINEMA + introduction

Pre drinks: 19:30
Door opens 20:40
Film starts: 20:45

A dark comedy depicting women taking control in a modernizing Japan through dynamic, modernist visuals.
A masterpiece combining Kon Ichikawa's stylish direction with the nuanced feminine perspective of his screenwriter wife, Natto Wada.

Set in the early days of television industry. Despite being married, TV producer Kaze is involved with nine mistresses. Together, his wife and mistresses—ten women in total—conspire to murder him.

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.

Josh O’Connor ( The Crown; Challengers) leads the cast in this searing revival of Clifford Odets’ knockout American classic. 1930s New York, at the height of the Depression. Joe Bonaparte is a gifted young violinist with a future in music, until a chance at fame and fortune lures him into the brutal world of professional boxing. He must confront what he’s willing to sacrifice, who he’s willing to become and how to find his place in a world that demands he choose a side. Filmed live from the Almeida Theatre and featuring a live string quartet, Olivier Award-winner Sam Yates ( Vanya) directs this propulsive drama exploring ambition, identity, and the high price of success.

January 2020. A film crew reunites near Wuhan to resume the shooting of a film halted ten years earlier, only to share the unexpected challenges as cities are placed under lockdown.

On the first Thursday of the month, every month, the Genesis Poetry Slam is an electric night of spoken word performances. There will be laughter, there might be tears, there will definitely be rhymes and rhythms.

Whether you’re here to perform or simply to listen, you’ll be part of one of the friendliest, most supportive slam communities around. We don’t have that reputation for nothing.

The Genesis Poetry Slam has been running for over 15 years, and is London’s only three-round poetry slam. Up to 12 poets compete in a night of competitive poetry, to see who makes it to the final round and can claim the title of slam champion for the month.

Join us for another electric night of spoken word as poets battle it out for a place in our December Grand Final.

Genesis Cinema, Stepney Green
Doors 18:45 / Slam starts 19:30
Audience tickets: £1 (advance booking essential)

On the night, sink into a comfy sofa, grab a cocktail or a pie, and watch some of the finest poets bring their words to life.

AUDIENCE
Tickets are £1 and must be booked in advance. Whether you’re a poetry lover or brand new to spoken word, you’ll be warmly welcomed.

POETS

There are two ways to sign up for a slam slot:
Pre sign-up: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/112945284141
On the night

We’re always working to keep the process fair and accessible, and this is the best format we’ve found so far.

Pre sign-up:
Sign up via the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/112945284141. These slots are strictly first come, first served and fill fast. If you secure a pre sign-up slot, you do not need to buy a ticket – your name will be on the door.

On the night:
If pre sign-up slots are full, we may release a limited number of on-the-night slots, again first come, first served.

If you have a pre sign-up slot, please arrive by 7.00pm to keep it. Any unclaimed slots will be offered to poets on the reserve list. To keep things fair, if the slam has started and you haven’t checked in, you won’t be able to perform.

SLAM RULES

No props.
No costumes.
Reading from paper or phone is fine.
No hate.

And remember:
The points are not the point…
THE POINT IS THE POETRY.

DON’T PRESS PLAY

FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER - LIVE WRESTLING • 80s AFTER PARTY • CABARET Something has gone very, very wrong in the world of Emporium.

The screens are glitching. Phones keep ringing. Nobody knows who to trust.

And whatever you do… DON’T PRESS PLAY.

This Friday the 13th, Emporium Pro Wrestling returns to Genesis Cinema — but somehow, the world of Emporium has become trapped inside a twisted 80s slasher nightmare.

Expect brutal battles, outrageous characters and cinematic surprises. And because this is Emporium, expect things to get weird.

You just need to turn up ready for one of London's most chaotic nights out.

BE PART OF THE NIGHT

Come dressed for the occasion.

80s realness. Final girls. Slashers. Campers. Prom queens. Or just come as yourself.

Bring signs. Make noise. Pick your survivors.

EMPORIUM: THE AFTERS

THE FREE 80s AFTER PARTY INCLUDED WITH EVERY TICKET

Expect wrestler DJs, 80s anthems, cult classics, guilty pleasures and late-night chaos until 1:30AM.

No additional ticket. No disappearing home after the main event.

Your SLASHERAMA ticket gets you the live show AND the afterparty.

FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER — GENESIS CINEMA

LOWER TIER — BETTER VIEW IN THE CINEMA — £21
UPPER TIER — £16

Genesis Cinema
93–95 Mile End Road
Bethnal Green, London E1 4UJ

Doors: 6:30PM
Show Starts: 7:00PM
Approx. Finish (including interval): 10:00PM

EMPORIUM: THE AFTERS

Starts: After the live show
Finish: 1:30AM

STRICTLY 18+

Accessibility enquiries: info@genesis-cinema.co.uk | 0207 780 2000
General enquiries: emporiumprowrestling@gmail.com

DON’T PRESS PLAY

LIVE WRESTLING • 80s AFTER PARTY • CABARET

Something has gone very, very wrong in the world of Emporium.

The screens are glitching. Phones keep ringing. Nobody knows who to trust.

And whatever you do… DON’T PRESS PLAY.

This Friday the 13th, Emporium Pro Wrestling returns to Genesis Cinema — but somehow, the world of Emporium has become trapped inside a twisted 80s slasher nightmare.

Expect brutal battles, outrageous characters and cinematic surprises. And because this is Emporium, expect things to get weird.

You just need to turn up ready for one of London's most chaotic nights out.

BE PART OF THE NIGHT

Come dressed for the occasion.

80s realness. Final girls. Slashers. Campers. Prom queens. Or just come as yourself.

Bring signs. Make noise. Pick your survivors.

EMPORIUM: THE AFTERS

THE FREE 80s AFTER PARTY INCLUDED WITH EVERY TICKET

You survived the show. Now party with the wrestlers. Genesis Cinema's private bar transforms into an 80s late-night party, as wrestlers, performers and the Emporium crowd leave the ring behind to continue the night.

Expect wrestler DJs, 80s anthems, cult classics, guilty pleasures and late-night chaos until 1:30AM.

No additional ticket. No disappearing home after the main event.

Your SLASHERAMA ticket gets you the live show AND the afterparty.

FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER — GENESIS CINEMA

LOWER TIER — BETTER VIEW IN THE CINEMA — £21
UPPER TIER — £16

Genesis Cinema
93–95 Mile End Road
Bethnal Green, London E1 4UJ

Doors: 6:30PM
Show Starts: 7:00PM
Approx. Finish (including interval): 10:00PM

EMPORIUM: THE AFTERS

Starts: After the live show
Finish: 1:30AM

STRICTLY 18+

Accessibility enquiries: info@genesis-cinema.co.uk | 0207 780 2000
General enquiries: emporiumprowrestling@gmail.com

Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese’s film explores grief, resistance, and the fight to preserve ancestral land in Lesotho.

Mantoa, an 80-year-old widow is preparing for her own funeral while grappling with the deaths of her husband and children. Her village faces forced resettlement due to the construction of a dam, threatening to erase her homeland and ancestral burial grounds. Confronted with this existential threat, Mantoa finds renewed purpose and becomes a symbol of resistance, mobilising her community to fight for their land and heritage.

This film will be introduced by Misa Mlambo - a South African creative producer and filmmaker based in London, working across film campaigns and their own practice as a writer and director.

This screening is curated by Meliza George as part of ‘Whose Land? Whose Lens?’ a season of works from the global south discussing the protection of land and therefore peoples through the lens of slow cinema. The season is presented with the National Film and Television’s Film Studies, Curation and Programming MA.

Celebrate Doctor Who Day with an exclusive big-screen event marking 20 years of the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler.

For the first time ever in cinemas, the acclaimed two-part adventure The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit have been specially re-edited into a single movie-length presentation, created exclusively for theatrical audiences. Join the Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose (Billie Piper) as they travel to Sanctuary Base 6, a remote outpost perched on a planet orbiting a black hole. When an ancient force awakens beneath the surface, the crew find themselves trapped in a battle against an evil older than time itself.

This special Doctor Who Day screening also includes exclusive bonus material, featuring previously unseen content and a brand-new interview with a special guest, reflecting on the making of one of the most celebrated stories of the modern era - from encounters with the Ood to facing the terrifying Beast, alongside behind-the-scenes memories from the set.

Tellurian Drama is a short film by Riar Rizaldi, exploring colonial history, indigenous ancestral power, and geoengineering through the story of Radio Malabar in West Java, Indonesia.

Amussu is a documentary film set in Imider, a small Amazigh community in southeastern Morocco, directed and written by Nadir Bouhmouch. In 2011, the community shut down a major water pipeline to halt the impact of Africa’s largest silver mine. The film chronicles the villagers’ eight-year peaceful resistance as they transform their protest camp into a small solar-powered village, continuing to resist through songs, poetry, theatre, weekly assemblies, and a local film festival.

This screening is curated and introduced by Meliza George as part of ‘Whose Land? Whose Lens?’ a season of works from the global south discussing the protection of land and therefore peoples through the lens of slow cinema. The season is presented with the National Film and Television’s Film Studies, Curation and Programming MA.

Replikka is a Brazilian short film directed by Heloísa Passos and Piratá Waurá, exploring the intersection of Indigenous wisdom and technology through a spiritual and meditative lens, focusing on the resilience of the Wauja people of the Upper Xingu.

My Foreign Land is a collaborative documentary film directed by Coletivo Lakapoy, Louise Botkay, and João Moreira Salles. It follows the Suruí, an indigenous people in western Brazil, during the tense final month leading up to the pivotal 2022 Brazilian presidential elections. It tracks tribal leader Almir Suruí campaigning locally in Rondônia while his daughter, young activist Txai Suruí, travels abroad to advocate for rainforest protection against logging and mining.

This screening is curated by Meliza George as part of ‘Whose Land? Whose Lens?’ a season of works from the global south discussing the protection of land and therefore peoples through the lens of slow cinema. The season is presented with the National Film and Television’s Film Studies, Curation and Programming MA.

Life on the Horn is a short film directed by Mo Harawe and set on the Somali coast, where illegal toxic waste dumping over decades has caused widespread environmental contamination and health crises. A young man remains in his village to care for his dying father, while the surrounding community gradually abandons the area.

Faya Dayi is an Ethiopian documentary by Jessica Beshir that offers a spiritual and socio-economic portrait of the Harar region, focusing on the cultivation, trade, and cultural rituals of khat - a stimulant leaf central to local life. It follows Sufi Muslims seeking enlightenment while navigating government restrictions, the allure of better futures, and the dangers of dependency on khat.

The feature film will be introduced by Nadia Denton - a Film Curator, Social Impact Producer and Author. She specialises in African cinema, art and culture, and particularly in widening access to and understanding of African and diaspora film.

This screening is curated by Meliza George as part of ‘Whose Land? Whose Lens?’ a season of works from the global south discussing the protection of land and therefore peoples through the lens of slow cinema. The season is presented with the National Film and Television’s Film Studies, Curation and Programming MA.

Emperor Paul Atreides faces the fallout from his ascent to power as political plots and a galaxy-wide holy war endanger the future only he can see.

Beloved heroes from three distinct universes are set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they've ever encountered.

Beloved heroes from three distinct universes are set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they've ever encountered.