What's On

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.

Sisters in Law (2005): documentary about a woman prosecutor and judge in Kumba (Cameroon) tackling domestic violence.

Introduction and Q&A by Christina Blacklaws, a life-time activist for women’s rights. As President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Christina spearheaded a global campaign to promote women in leadership in law. She now sits on the Council of the Human Rights Institute and is actively involved supporting women’s rights.

In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice — launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

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.

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.

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 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.

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.

In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice — launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

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.

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.

Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home, and Peter is now an adult living entirely alone, having voluntarily erased himself from the lives and memories of those he loves. Crime-fighting in a New York that no longer knows his name, he's devoted himself entirely to protecting his city — a full-time Spider-Man — but as the demands on him intensify, the pressure sparks a surprising physical evolution that threatens his existence, even as a strange new pattern of crimes gives rise to one of the most powerful threats he has ever faced.

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?

Odysseus, the legendary King of Ithaca, embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War. Throughout his voyage, he is forced to confront the whims of gods, mythological monsters, and trials that stretch both his cunning and his humanity to the breaking point.

A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.

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.

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

For our 14th sensational season, BAR TRASH tackles the most urgent issue of our time the only way we know: projecting chaotic visions of mass destruction as we shelter from the coming eco-storm with a strong drink (or several). Featuring (un)natural disasters, hideous eco-slime, atomic behemoths, dystopian futures, and gladiators roaming the wastelands, TRASH PLANET 3: APOCALYPSE! serves nuclear payloads of mayhem with one killer question: how will you survive?

Tonight's screening will start with host Token Homo unveiling the full season programme of 27 features across 24 apocalyptic events!

“READIN’… WRITIN’, AND RADIATION!”

Created by the same lunatics that gave us THE TOXIC AVENGER (1984) and SURF NAZIS MUST DIE (1987), our opening night film is Troma Entertainment’s CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH (1986)! Set in the radioactive corridors of Tromaville High School, a dangerous radiation leak from a nearby power plant is turning great minds into great mutants. Get ready to pull on your hazmat suit, stock up on precious supplies, and set your geiger counter to ‘stunned’ as Token Homo exposes BAR TRASH to a nuclear age atrocity that is guaranteed to delight and offend in equal measure.

Polite notice: We are presenting CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH with subtitles from the best available digital source. Rated ’18’ by the BBFC, and strictly for adults only, CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH features discriminatory language, drug use, nudity, sex and bloody violence, all irradiated with barrel-loads of atomic stupidity. It’s no Fellini festival!

/// 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. ///

London Indian Film Festival’s internationally renowned competition selects emerging filmmakers’ works from South Asia and around the world. All the selected films are, in different ways, felt to enshrine the legendary director Satyajit Ray’s humanist vision and subtlety of story and eye.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Tuktuki director Ritoban Roy Burman.

Run time: 110 mins

Language: Multiple languages with English subtitles | Year: 2025–26 | Country: India, Pakistan, UK, USA

This Tree Won’t Fall
Dir: Deepak Ramola | 20 mins | Hindi, Garhwali with English subtitles
A compelling documentary that delves into the life of Sudesha Devi, an 83-year-old tree hugger and climate activist paying tribute to her bravery and determination as she engaged in battles to protect our natural surroundings.

Tuktuki
Dir: Ritoban Roy Burman | 17 mins | Bengalis with English subtitles
An upper middle class woman lives with her daughter and her domestic workers. After one of the workers dies, she begins to feel a strange uneasiness, and isn’t sure if the murmurs are personal or paranormal.

The First Bite
Dir: Rajdip Ray | 19 mins | Bengali, Hindi with English subtitles
After Neeta is diagnosed with a terminal illness, the doctor advises her to move to a liquid diet. Aman follows suit and changes his own diet to match Neeta’s. This is their journey as they adapt to their new way of life.

O’Sey Balamma
Dir: Raman Nimmala | 13 mins | Telugu with English subtitles
During the Sankranti festival celebrations, a matriarch and her housekeeper confront solitude through the intimacy of each other’s company.

Katti (Unfriend)
Dir: Kanishka Aggarwal | 14 mins | Hindi with English subtitles
Two young sisters navigate their redefined place in the household after the birth of a boy brings the whole family together for the traditional celebration of Kuan Pujan.

Delivery
Dir: Sreeram Pattathil | 27 mins | Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi with English subtitles
In Mumbai – a city that stops for no one, a grumpy engineer and a lively food delivery rider form an unexpected friendship over the one thing they both like – food.

In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice — launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

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.

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.

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 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.

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.

Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.

The Independent Horror Society is proud to host a special screening of one of the big UK festival hits of the year so far, SNAPSHOT. In 1888 London, an amateur inventor uses his new moving image machine to document an all-female ghost-hunting society investigating the Jack the Ripper murders, which they believe are committed by a supernatural monster. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with some of the cast and crew.

In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice — launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

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.

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?

Odysseus, the legendary King of Ithaca, embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War. Throughout his voyage, he is forced to confront the whims of gods, mythological monsters, and trials that stretch both his cunning and his humanity to the breaking point.

The 6th edition of Tibet Film Festival London returns to the Genesis and we’re kicking off with a special double bill of new documentary short films by two incredible Tibetan women directors, “Encounters: Memories, Museums, Empire and Exile” by Nyima Murry and a new short film by Kunsang Kyirong.

“Encounters” was commissioned to be part of an exhibition at Kedleston Hall - an 18th-century Grade I listed National Trust property in Derbyshire - titled How Did We Get Here?. The exhibition is a collaboration between the National Trust and members of the Tibetan community living in Britain. “Encounters” traces intertwined journeys of displacement experienced by both historical artefacts and a diasporic community to reveal the entangled histories that link Britain’s imperial rule in India with its historic invasion into Tibet. “Encounters” is a moving exploration of memory, identity, ownership, and the enduring legacy of empire.

Both directors Nyima Murry and Kunsang Kyirong will take part in a live Q&A and discussion after the screenings in conversation with Dr. Emma Martin, Senior Lecturer in Museology, Art History and Cultural Practices at University of Manchester specialising in Tibetan museology and material culture.

Bios:
Nyima Murry is a British-Tibetan designer and artist. Her research-based practice spans filmmaking, installation, and design to write alternative histories of landscape and the built environment, centring the marginalised and diasporic communities whose presence rarely survives in national or architectural archives.

Kunsang Kyirong is a Tibetan-Canadian filmmaker. Her debut feature 100 SUNSET premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was the recipient of the Best Canadian Discovery Award-Honorable Mention. Her work has exhibited at The Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, and elsewhere. She lives in Montreal.

Dr Emma Martin is Senior Lecturer in Museology at the University of Manchester. She has more than 25 years of experience as a curator of collections from South Asia, the Himalayas and Tibet. Her research sits at the intersection of colonialism(s), Tibetan Studies, museum activism, and materiality and moves between contemporary museum practice in Tibetan exile contexts and historical research on Tibetan materiality in British colonial archives.

Follow Tibet Film Festival London on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tibetfilmfestivallondon/

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.

Genesis Cinema and SwingdanceUK invite you along to our monthly Swing dance night!
Learn the steps Swing Dance Class 7.30-8.30pm with Simon!
Followed by dancing led by resident DJ Simon Selmon & guest DJs playing great dance music of the 30s, 40s & 50s & beyond for Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Shag & Balboa dancers!
A chilled atmosphere where you can meet friends, relax, enjoy a drink or a tasty pizza and dance the night away!

7.30pm Beginners Lindy Hop Class Pre-booking recommended
8.30pm Dancing with resident DJ Simon 'Mr Kicks' Selmon & special guest DJs - all welcome!

Last Entry 9.30 pm

Website: https://swingdanceuk.com/socials/some-like-it-swing/

Made For Cinema presents Avi Setton’s The Big Break as part of a new initiative to get independently made films on the big screen in a new and accessible distribution model. Join simultaneous screenings worldwide of Avi Setton’s directorial debut The Big Break with a virtual live Q&A with the director himself.

Independent cinema has a reputation for being difficult to access, both physically and emotionally. But what if those barriers are broken? This experience gives people who are looking for new voices in cinema (or just a good time on a Saturday night) and a way to have a communal moviegoing experience. It’s not stuffy or silent; it’s a social, bombastically fun time that celebrates the connections movies can make.

Synopsis: A washed-up voice actor who found love with his AI coaching app must defend his last shred of ambition—and his marriage—when his roommate invites a manic social media addict to crash on their couch.

Taiwan, 1954. The era of brutal crackdowns on political dissent known as the White Terror is at its height. When Yue (Caitlin Fang) learns her brother has been executed by the Kuomintang government, she sets out alone for Taipei to reclaim his body. On the road she narrowly escapes an abduction thanks to Kung-tao (Will Or), a foul-mouthed Cantonese rickshaw driver and war veteran with troubles of his own. He decides to help her, yet neither of them knows what Yue’s simple wish will cost.

An unlikely friendship develops between Yue and Kung-tao, but with secret police lurking around every corner, their new bond is built on thin ice. Like Hou Hsiao-hsien’s A City of Sadness, A Foggy Tale excavates this fraught chapter of Taiwanese history from a modest position, where even the smallest act of quiet defiance carries an unbearable price under state violence.

The latest release by multi-award winning filmmaker Chen Yu-hsun, the film earned 11 Golden Horse Award nominations, including a Best Leading Actor nod for Hong Kong star Will Or, and took home several wins, among them Best Narrative Film and Best Original Screenplay.

Taiwan | 2025 | Colour | 134’ | In Cantonese, Mandarin and Taiwanese Hokkien with Chinese and English subtitles

About Hong Kong Film Festival UK

Hong Kong Film Festival UK returns for its fourth edition from 25 September to 4 October in London, presenting reflective and shape-shifting cinema from Hong Kong, the wider Asian diaspora and beyond, marking the start of a more year-round festival. This year’s programme foregrounds diaspora as agency — behind the camera, on screen and between communities. Across contemporary and historical cinema, artists’ moving image and interdisciplinary art practices, the festival moves through questions of migration, colonisation, activism and gender. Together, these works reshape ideas of memory and community.

Website: www.hkff.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HKFF.UK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hkff.unitedkingdom/
X: https://x.com/hkff_UK

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.

I’m still here (2024) tells the true story of a mother who fights for justice after her husband, Rubens Paiva, is taken and disappears during the military dictatorship in Brazil.

Introduction and Q&A by Sue Branford, a journalist who reported from Brazil during the worst years of the military dictatorship. She will talk briefly about the situation in Brazil at the time of Rubens Paiva's disappearance in 1971.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Ethiopian documentary by Jessica Beshir 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.

This 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.