2023 BUFF Submissions are now open!

Under the stewardship of Justin Chinyere, BUFF is the longest standing black-owned film festival in Europe. Founded by Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE, filmmakers that have exhibited at our festival are now household names. Join the legacy and explore new worlds at BUFF.

Why should you submit to the leading film festival in the UK for diverse programming?

At the British Urban Film Festival, we have been a pioneering platform for all facets of diversity since our formation in 2005.

Long before diversity quotas and terminology such as BAME and non-binary, we have always welcomed, showcased, given coverage to and awarded films which embrace diverse storytelling, celebrating filmmakers from diverse backgrounds representative of the 9 diversity strands:

Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity,
Race, Religion or Belief, Sex.
All genres are welcome.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND FEES:

SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT
FROM MARCH 31

Early Bird £35 (Films & Scripts) Deadline: September 5, 2022

Script reports: £15 (add-on)

New Year £77 (Film & Scripts) Deadline: December 31, 2022

Script reports: £15 (add-on)

Mid-Season Early Bird £100 (Films & Scripts) Deadline: January 30, 2023

script reports: £15 (add-on)

Mid-season Deadline £129 (Films and Scripts) Deadline: March 30, 2023

script reports: £15 (add-on)

Late Entry £144 (Films and Scripts) Deadline: June 30, 2023

script reports: £15 (add-on)

Rules and terms: Scripts: must be no less than 20 pages and no more than 120. Feature length films: must be no less than 44 minutes and no more than 120. Short films must be no less than 3 minutes and no more than 44. All Music, Spoken Word, Dance & Moving Image videos must be no less than 3 minutes. The festival operates a no waiver policy. Email your content once payment has been made.

EMAIL CONTENT

Accreditation

BUFF is a BAFTA accredited film festival for British short films & British short animation films.
See full list of qualifying festivals HERE

BUFF is a BIFA accredited film festival for British films. See full list of qualifying festivals HERE.

All films and scripts/screenplays accepted into the 2023 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for a BUFF award.

All shortlisted films will be considered for theatrical distribution through our industry partners.

All British short films accepted into the 2023 British Urban Film Festival are eligible to be entered into the 2024 BAFTA film awards BUFF is a Section qualifying festival, meaning that your film must be selected to screen at another Section B qualifying festival before you can enter your film to BAFTA. Click on the link below for the list of Section B qualifying festivals:

All British films accepted into the 2023 British Urban Film Festival are eligible to be entered into the 2023 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).

Films accepted into the 2023 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for an African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in 2023 (subject to eligibility). BUFF will submit official selections from filmmakers of African origin and non-Africans who have contributed to the African film industry.

*Films accepted into the 2023 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for an African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in 2023 (subject to eligibility). BUFF will submit official selections from filmmakers of African origin and non-Africans who have contributed to the African film
industry.

*Films accepted into the 2023 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for the Iris Prize LGBT+ film festival and screening opportunities on Film4. BUFF will submit official selections from filmmakers of LGBT origin and films that are LGBT in theme. BAME selections which fit either criteria will be prioritised.

The final shortlist of 3 scripts (in addition to receiving a British Urban Film Festival award) will be considered for development through our industry partners.

PRESS LINKS

Please email contactus@opcomms.com for all press interviews and releases.
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