The UK’s largest festival for young, emerging filmmakers, the BFI Future Film Festival 2025 returns from 20 February – 6 March with a hybrid format that maintains a tradition of live and in-person screenings and events at BFI Southbank (20 – 23 February) alongside a globally accessible online programme, kindly supported by Main Sponsors Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery’s CrewHQ. For the second year, the festival will also include a UK-wide programme in collaboration with BFI Film Academy delivery partners, with screenings and events echoing the spirit of the BFI Future Film Festival providing young people across the country a chance to participate in the UK’s largest festival for budding screen creatives.
Special guests offering their insight and advice to up-and-coming filmmakers attending the Festival at BFI Southbank this year include trainees and crew from CrewHQ, Warner Bros Studio Leavesden’s Skills and Training Centre, plus film and TV editors Carly Brown (DOCTOR WHO), Rachel Durance (HOARD), Celia Haining (THE CROWN) and Catarina Oliveira (BLUE PLANET II), documentary editor Xanna Ward Dixon (IF THE STREETS WERE ON FIRE), Coal Supper founders James Carbutt and Will Todd, freelance producer Sarah Mavity, illustrator and animator Alice Bloomfield, colour grader Jo Barker, wildlife filmmaker Libby Penman, Black Pear consulting director and executive coach Sarah Wright, directors Leon Oldstrong (THE LIES OF OUR CONFINES) and Alice Russell (IF THE STREETS WERE ON FIRE), director and writer Dan Thorburn, writer Mick Ford (AFTER THE FLOOD), writer and climate campaigner Jessica Riches, Climate Spring head of scripted for film and international Len Rowles, Ecologi director for climate science and impact Sam Jackson, The Unit creative lead Jordan Scott Kennedy, Inclusivity Films founder Sarah Leigh, MsMono founder Karla Williams, writer and journalist Danny Leigh, Alliots senior media accountant Samuel Ampah, Reviewed & Cleared solicitor Adrian Dicker, and Triple Exposure founder Gareth Graham.
The UK-wide programme for the BFI Future Film Festival (20 February – 6 March), in collaboration with BFI Film Academy partners and supported by BFI National Lottery funding, will feature events at Chapter Cardiff, Create Studios Swindon, Depot Cinema Lewes, The Engine Room Bridgwater, Glasgow Film Theatre, HOME Manchester, Midlands Arts Centre Birmingham, Nerve Centre Derry-Londonderry, Showroom Cinema Sheffield, The Underdog Cardiff, Vue Swansea and Watershed Bristol, while highlights of the online programme, accessible worldwide, will include sessions on writing a TV series, the representation of bisexuality in film and TV, and a deep-dive into the diverse roles of producers in unscripted TV.
Highlights of the in-person programme at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX
This year’s BFI Future Film Festival 2025 will include four jam-packed days at BFI Southbank filled with masterclasses, workshops, screenings, and networking opportunities, with events programmed across three strands: Storytelling, Business of Film and Career Ladder. With a host of industry experts and screen creatives leading the sessions, both online and in-person, the BFI Future Film Festival is the best way for filmmakers aged 16 to 25, across the UK and beyond, to break into the screen industries.
The festival kicks off at BFI IMAX on Thursday 20 February with SATU – YEAR OF THE RABBIT (Joshua Trigg, 2024) playing on the UK’s largest screen ahead of its UK cinema release this spring. This beautiful coming-of-age tale about a boy’s quest to find his long-lost mother, set against the breathtaking landscape of Laos, is UK director Joshua Trigg’s debut feature. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Trigg, who will share insights into crafting the film on a micro-budget, the unique challenges of casting via Zoom during the pandemic, and the complexities of shooting on film in a foreign country.
Highlights of the Business Of Film strand will include: Breaking into Games – A Very Biased Perspective from Coal Supper, which will chart the journey behind their video game Thank Goodness You’re Here!, with insights on publishing deals, creative integrity and motivation in game development from Coal Supper founders James Carbutt and Will Todd; The Craft of Commercials: A Producer’s Guide, a look at the art of commercial production and the producer’s role in balancing creativity, logistics and client needs from pitch to delivery, presented by Sarah Mavity, freelance producer; Development Secrets: How to Get your Ideas Made will offer expert advice on sharing your ideas, receiving feedback and navigating the development process from concept to funding, delivered by festival partner Blinkink; Imposter Syndrome: How to Mute those Gremlins for Good, a session presented by Sarah Wright, Director and Executive Coach, Black Pear Consulting, to help silence your inner critic, tackle imposter syndrome and gain confidence to connect and collaborate; Inside the Writer’s Room, a look at the growing significance of Writer’s Rooms in TV storytelling in the UK, from roles and dynamics to how they shape characters and plot twists; Location, Location, Location – How to Elevate your Production Using Locations, in partnership with Action Xtreme and Falmouth University, will explain how to source and utilise locations on a budget, with practical tips on everything from recces to logistics, health and safety and securing partnerships with location owners; and Navigating the Legal, Financial and Insurance Essentials for Short Films will unpack the legal, financial, and insurance essentials of short film production with practical insights and a real-life case study with a panel of experts including Samuel Ampah, Senior Media Accountant at Alliotts, Adrian Dicker, Solicitor at Reviewed & Cleared, Gareth Graham, and Account Executive and Sales Team Leader for Performance Film and Media Insurance and Founder of Triple Exposure. Plus, the BFI Film Academy Young Programmers Present: Building Your Own Community Cinema, from finding venues to attracting audiences, with insights from programmers on creating and sustaining indie film screenings in your local area.
Highlights of the Storytelling strand will include The Guide to Chantal Akerman and Her Cinema, a session on how the Belgian auteur’s innovative approach to cinema can inspire filmmaking through her use of single locations, cinematic time, and autobiographical storytelling, taking place as the BFI celebrates Akerman’s extraordinary impact on contemporary cinema with a (near) complete major two-month retrospective season at BFI Southbank, a BFI Distribution UK-wide cinema release of a 2K restoration of JEANNE DIELMAN (out 7 February), a UK touring cinema package of her key films and a curated BFI Player subscription collection. Other highlights of the strand include: The Art of Editing: Shaping Stories on Screen, a look at the role of editors in shaping film and TV narratives, from pacing to visual and sound integration, with experts including film and TV editors Carly Brown (DOCTOR WHO), Rachel Durance (HOARD), Celia Haining (THE CROWN), Catarina Oliveira (BLUE PLANET II) and documentary editor Xanna Ward Dixon (IF THE STREETS WERE ON FIRE); Illustrating Emotion: A Journey Through Art, Collaboration and Innovation, when illustrator, animator and BFI Future Film Festival alumni Alice Bloomfield will explore the art of turning emotions into powerful visual stories across mediums; Moving Images – the Rise of Dance and Movement in Digital Culture, a look at how to tell compelling stories and create engaging films through dance and movement, and the unique challenges and opportunities of this dynamic art form; and Storytelling Through the Lens: Empowering your Filmmaking Practice with Sony Cameras, a session on how to elevate storytelling, master cinematic techniques and enhance filmmaking with Sony cameras presented by director and writer Dan Thorburn. Plus, the BFI Film Academy Young Programmers Present: Moving Away from Apocalypse in Climate Storytelling, an look at alternative ways to tell climate change stories, with a panel of filmmakers and experts debating traditional apocalyptic narratives versus new approaches to inspire activism including writer Mick Ford (AFTER THE FLOOD), writer and climate campaigner Jessica Riches, Climate Spring Head of Scripted for Film and International, Len Rowles, and Ecologi Director for Climate Science and Impact, Sam Jackson; and How to Craft Narratives from Nature, with practical tips for storytelling on limited budgets and local resources from wildlife filmmaker Libby Penman.
Highlights of the Career Ladder strand will include: Navigating Your First Day on a Studio Production, essential tips and insights to help you thrive on your first day in a studio production environment, where CrewHQ, Warner Bros Studio Leavesden’s Skills and Training Centre, will invite trainees and crew that have been supported by their initiatives to speak through their learnings, expectations, realities and stories; How Films Find Audiences: Careers in Film Sales and Distribution, a look at the exciting world of film sales and distribution, uncovering key roles, skills, and practical advice to help you break into the industry; I Started as a Runner, But Look at Me Now!, a session in partnership with Blinkink that shows how starting as a runner can pave the way to an exciting career in the screen industries, with insights from professionals who turned their first steps into success; Colour Grading – From Set to Suite, and exploration of the colour grading pipeline, from on-set workflows to the final grade, presented by colour grader Jo Barker; and Getting into Documentary Filmmaking: Non-traditional Pathways, with insights from self-taught filmmakers and those who’ve transitioned from journalism, activism and other fields, including directors Leon Oldstrong (THE LIES OF OUR CONFINES) and Alice Russell (IF THE STREETS WERE ON FIRE).
Elsewhere, Nailing your Job Interviews will offer the chance to find out what it would be like to try out for an award-winning internship with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The Early Careers team will be taking attendees through their “Celebrity Cards” task, a taster session of one of the fun activities which feature at their Assessment Centres. Throughout the festival, BFI Southbank will also be home to a marketplace with over twenty companies including Warner Bros. Discovery’s Crew HQ, Blinkink, Sony, MAMA Youth Project and NFTS, offering advice to young creatives and answering questions about the industry. Daily networking drinks, one-on-one script surgery appointments with experienced script doctors, one-to-one portfolio surgeries with Blinkink, one-to-one advice surgeries with Triple Exposure, speed-date style networking with other Festival attendees and a movie quiz, both hosted by the BFI Film Academy Young Programmers, will also be highlights across the four-day events programme.
Highlights of the UK-wide cinema programme
This year’s festival once again includes a UK-wide programme in collaboration with BFI Film Academy partners, supported by the BFI National Lottery funding, with screenings of BFI Future Film Festival shorts and events in collaboration with local filmmakers providing young people across the country a chance to participate in the UK’s largest festival for budding screen creatives.
MIDLANDS
Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, showcases the vibrant talent of young Midlands filmmakers by screening some standout films from across the BFI Future Film Festival programme, selected by young programmers from the Midlands and followed by filmmaker networking. Meanwhile, Film Hub Midlands’ series of online events will showcase below the line skills, from the art of camera support and rigging, to make up and special effects, locations and lighting magic, and the craft of prop making.
NORTH
Both HOME, Manchester, and Showroom Cinema Sheffield will showcase the fresh Northern talent on display at the BFI Future Film Festival with screenings of standout films from the programme, followed by filmmaker networking. Showroom Cinema, Sheffield will also host an extended Q&A with director Dylan Scott (A FEW MORE MINUTES, PLEASE) and other filmmakers, along with producer Cat Marshall who will host an interactive workshop where budding film producers can receive valuable industry insights on creating viable production budgets and filming schedules.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Nerve Centre Derry-Londonderry presents a programme of short films made by emerging talent from Northern Ireland, followed by an extended Q&A with filmmaker Conor Toner (EVERYTHING LOOKS SIMPLE FROM A DISTANCE), featuring tips on navigating a career in the screen industries. Elsewhere, award-winning Virtual Reality experience Goliath: Playing with Reality, narrated by Tilda Swinton, will allow guests to delve into themes of gaming, mental health, and human connection, and the Northern Ireland Screen Academies Showcase will celebrate films and animations from six Screen Academies across Northern Ireland, celebrating the creativity and talent of the next generation of filmmakers.
SCOTLAND
Glasgow Film Theatre will present a Producing Masterclass with award-winning producer Reece Cargan, one of Screen’s Rising Stars Scotland 2022, followed by screening of festival shorts showcasing some of the most exciting young filmmaking voices from the region, and filmmaker networking.
SOUTH EAST
Depot Cinema, Lewes will offer an intensive visual masterclass led by award-winning director Robert Dee, followed by a selection of festival shorts curated by the South East’s Kino Collective, and filmmaker networking.
SOUTH WEST
Watershed, Bristol has programmed a dynamic screening of standout festival shorts selected by young programmers from the South West, followed by an inspiring filmmaker talk on turning bold ideas into cinematic reality and filmmaker networking. Meanwhile, Create Studios, Swindon, will showcase festival shorts handpicked by young programmers from the South West followed by filmmaker networking.
WALES
Chapter, Cardiff’s event The Next Wave in Wales is a day of inspiring short films from Wales and across the UK, selected by young Welsh programmers. Hear from Welsh filmmakers about their journeys, take part in pitching workshops and connect with fellow creatives at the networking drinks. Vue Swansea will also present highlights from the festival’s film programme with a special screening, and Cardiff Animation Nights will screen a selection of BFI Future Film Festival animation films at The Underdog, Cardiff.
Highlights of the online programme, available worldwide for free
Highlights of the BFI Future Film Festival 2025 online programme will include sessions on: the essentials of developing a TV series, from character creation to crafting a pilot episode, presented by Theresa Boden, writer, story development & script consultant and educator; an exploration of representation of bisexuality in film and TV, from breaking stereotypes to crafting authentic, fluid characters and stories, in partnership with The London School Trust; and a deep-dive into the diverse roles of producers in unscripted TV, from concept development to casting and editing, and the skills needed, presented by TV producer Jernice Easthope.
BFI Film Academy Young Programmers will also present a series of online events focusing on: the rise of “quarter-life crisis” films, offering insights on crafting authentic stories about twentysomethings navigating identity and life’s messy moments with a panel including director Libby Burke Wilde (EARLY TWENTIES) and co-creator of INDUSTRY Mickey Down; a session on how working-class creatives can break into the screen industries, navigate low wages and help build a more equitable industry with special guests The Unit creative lead Jordan Scott Kennedy, Inclusivity Films founder Sarah Leigh, MsMono founder Karla Williams, and writer and journalist Danny Leigh; and a look at how to navigate the screen industries as a disabled or neurodivergent creative, with tips on self-advocacy, support and inclusive working practices.
BFI Film Academy Young Programmers will also report from the Festival at BFI Southbank every lunchtime to let audiences at home know what’s happening and give insights into what they have learnt while attending events. Make sure you’re logged on and following our BFI Film Academy Instagram to see these daily posts each day at 12.30.
Free short films available to watch during the BFI Future Film Festival
The extensive events programme complements a programme of fifty-four short films by emerging filmmakers aged 16-25, all of which will be available to watch globally on the BFI YouTube channel from 20 February – 6 March, as well as at BFI Southbank during the Festival and at specific events at venues UK-wide.
All fifty-four films screening throughout the Festival will be in contention for the prestigious BFI Future Film Festival Awards. The awards celebrate the exceptional talent of young filmmakers aged 16 to 25, nominated across 10 categories, including Best Director, Best Film and Best New Talent. The BFI Future Film Festival Awards Ceremony will be held in person at BFI Southbank in London and live-streamed online on Sunday 23 February. Award recipients will receive incredible prizes, including cash and mentoring opportunities, generously provided by this year’s festival partners. The shortlists will be announced soon, along with the jury of industry experts who will judge each category.
Tickets for events taking place at BFI Southbank will be on sale from 5PM on Thursday 23rd February, with each individual session costing £7.
