Welcome — this site is brand new
Details of our next edition will appear here as soon as they’re announced.
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West London Film Festival — a boutique international independent film festival in West London
Looking back
A reflection on the festival so far
Two editions in, with full houses, honest Q&As and a growing community of filmmakers.
Read the reflectionFrom our founder
A letter from our founder
Why the third edition matters, and what’s changing next time around.
Read the messageGet involved
Three ways to be part of what we’re building
01
Submit a film
Submissions for our next edition aren’t open yet, but here’s what to expect: entries via FilmFreeway, categories for shorts, features and documentaries, and an early-bird window that rewards filmmakers who submit first. Get the full process before the call opens.
How submissions will work →02
What we look for
Character-driven stories, bold new voices, and films from across the world sit at the heart of our programme. See the artistic vision that shapes every film we select.
Our artistic vision →03
Stay in touch
Dates for the next edition are still being finalised. Register for our newsletter to be first in line for submission dates, tickets and festival news, or reach out to the team directly with a question.
Get in touch →Editorial
The Journal
Notes on film, festivals, and where the medium goes next.
What Italy still teaches the rest of cinema
From the neorealists to Sorrentino and Rohrwacher, Italian film keeps returning to one idea: that ordinary life, looked at closely, is worth a cinema screen.
Read →Why small festivals matter more than ever
In an age of endless feeds and giant festivals, the boutique festival has a quieter, harder job: to put strangers in a room and let a film surprise them.
Read →The future of cinema is a dark room full of strangers
Streaming did not kill the cinema. It reminded us what the cinema is actually for. A note on where film goes next, and why the room still wins.
Read →