Submit your film to LIFF 2025

We are delighted to accept submissions for the 39th Leeds International Film Festival, taking place 6 to 23 November 2025. One of the major national film events in the UK, we are proud to be an Oscar® Qualifying Festival for the winners of our Louis le Prince International Short and World Animation Competitions, as well as BAFTA and BIFA qualifying for our British Short Film Competition winner. 

Submit Here

Why Submit?

Presenting more than 250 films over 18 days every November, LIFF is an epic celebration of global film culture with a focus on supporting new filmmaking talent.

LIFF presents two feature film competitions, feature film audience awards, and nine short film competitions with cash prizes. 

There is a combined total of £8,000 in cash prizes, split up by the following categories:

Louis le Prince International Short Film Competition (£2000 cash prize)
World Animation Competition (£1000 cash prize)
British Short Film Competition (£1000 cash prize)
Documentary Short Film Competition (£1000 cash prize)
Fantastic Short Film Competition (£1000 cash prize)
Yorkshire Short Film Competition (£500 cash prize)
Leeds Screendance Competition (£500 cash prize)
Leeds Queer Short Film Competition (£500 cash prize)
Leeds Music Video Competition (£500 cash prize)

Each competition’s winners are chosen by esteemed juries of filmmakers, critics, programmers and industry professionals. We welcome filmmakers to attend the festival, providing opportunities to network and meet other filmmakers and our programmers. 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LAST YEAR'S JURY HERE

Our Programmers

We have a team of over 21 programmers at LIFF who specialise in each submission category. 

Find out more

• How to Submit

  To submit to LIFF head to our filmfreeway page, make sure to read our terms and eligibility listed on our page: Leeds International Film Festival - FilmFreeway.

• Deadlines & Dates

  27 March - Earlybird Deadline
  29 May - Regular Deadline
  31 July - Final Deadline
  15 September - Filmmakers will be notified of the status of their submissions
  6 - 23 November - Leeds International Film Festival

• More Information

  If you have any further questions please get in touch at leeds.film@leeds.gov.uk.