Kind Words

“The UK Film Festival is the most focussed, passionate and quality driven film festival in the UK, their invaluable support helped get me to the Oscars in 2015, where I won the Academy Award for best short film”

Mat Kirkby  – Oscar winner and Director at Ridley Scott Associates

 


 

“Their immense passion for support to new and fresh undiscovered voices makes the UK Film Festival a very important career stepping stone for every filmmaker.  Thanks to the UKFF I managed to achieve unprecedented results and advance significantly in my career.”

Petros Silvestros – Director – Twice Berlinale Winner

 


 

“UKFF is an amazing festival discovering and showcasing an incredible selection of local and international films. We were honoured to have our UK premiere here which offered us great exposure both in the UK and across the festival circuit.”

Jamie Donoughue, Director of “Shok” – Oscar Nominee

 


 

“Utterly spanking programme, and what a lovely bunch of filmmakers. Truly a gem of a festival.”

Harry Lighton, Director

 


 

“The screening and the feedback were amazing! I had a great time at the fest and I met some really cool people, the event was superbly organized! Well done! I’ll definitely be submitting my next work.”

Marcos Mereles, Filmmaker

 


 

“Thanks again for a fantastic experience, it’s an awesome festival.”

Angus Gibson, Documentary maker

 


 

“Entering The UK Film Festival’s screenplay competition was the best chance I have ever taken. It took my script and breathed new life into it, attaching an award-winning director and placing it with a prestigious international production company in less than a year. The support since winning has been phenomenal, respectful and generous. If you are looking for a script competition that you can place your trust in, this is it.”

Joadie Jurgova, Scriptwriter

 


 

“The UK Film Festival has a very strong reputation in the UK as a premier event in the independent filmmaking calendar. It is a deserved reputation built up over a number of years, so any recognition from them is of real value.”

John Fraser, Scriptwriter

 


 

“You and your team made me feel very welcome and valued as a filmmaker even though I had only made a short, which is not always the case at festivals!”

Ruth Grimberg, Filmmaker

 


 

“What can I say… probably one of the best trips to Europe ever for me. It was a real pleasure to meet you, and your staff. They were all very helpful and nice to me. I really enjoyed all the screenings, and the time I spent there.”

Carlos Sequini, Musician, Composer

 


 

“Thank you so much, it has been such a joy to be part of such a wonderful festival…”

Abby Colquhoun and Beatriz Gonçalves, Directors

 


 

“Thank you very much for this amazing experience. Although Covid put a stop to the live aspect, UKFF has really ensured we have still felt seen and heard. It really is an amazing festival…”

Jack Harper, Director

 


 

“I really enjoyed the variety and the quality of films and I made beautiful discoveries!”

Raphael Biss, Director

 


Guardian Newspaper Review:

Film is not all about awards, but if you need a seal of quality for this relatively new festival, last year’s overall winner, Mat Kirkby’s “The Phone Call”, went on to win the Oscar for best live-action short. In addition, the festival’s writing competition, in which the best script is made into a film, has also produced the winners at the Berlin film festival two years in a row. Some on show this year have already won awards, meanwhile: Colombian motherhood story “Leidi” took the top prize at Cannes while Belfast childhood comedy “Boogaloo And Graham” won the Bafta (and an Oscar nomination). Kirkby returns to judge this year’s shorts, which play in feature-length programmes, with prizes in documentary, animated, international and British shorts up for grabs. There are also filmmaker Q&As and a few features, including a version of Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot starring Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman. Good company to be in, then. 

Read more here