Genesis Cinema, 4-9 May
| Title | Director | Date | Time | Strand / Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A LITTLE BIT OF GLITTER | SIDDHARTH MENON | THU 7 MAY | 16:00 | THROUGH A QUEER LENS ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| A LOUD PIECE OF ARMOUR | MOLLY BURDETT | THU 7 MAY | 18:40 | THE FEMALE GAZE ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| A YOUNG SOFIANE | FABIEN ARA | TUE 5 MAY | 21:00 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 2) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| AUTHORS OF THE ESTATE | ABDOU CISSE | TUE 5 MAY | 21:00 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 2) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| BALLYMAN | FARUQ ADIGUN | TUE 5 MAY | 18:20 | FLIP THE SCRIPT ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| BODY OF OUR OWN | RAHEMUR RAHMAN, LILY VETCH | THU 7 MAY | 16:00 | THROUGH A QUEER LENS ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| BURY YOUR GAYS | CHARLOTTE SERENA COOPER | MON 4 MAY | 15:50 | NEW VOICES ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| CAN’T FLOAT | DAVE SCHILLING | MON 4 MAY | 15:50 | NEW VOICES ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| C.R.E.A.M | RYEN MCPHERSON | TUE 5 MAY | 18:20 | FLIP THE SCRIPT (REV SHARE SELECTION) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| DIVINE INTERVENTION | RAVENNA TRAN | THU 7 MAY | 16:00 | THROUGH A QUEER LENS ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| DYS IS ME | STACHA HICKS | TUE 5 MAY | 18:20 | FLIP THE SCRIPT ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| ENDOLIFE | LISANNE VAN INGEN | THU 7 MAY | 18:40 | THE FEMALE GAZE ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| EVERY TIME I SEE A YELLOW CAR | MATT CHANDLER | MON 4 MAY | 18:20 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 1) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| FLOWN | NDRIKA ANYIKA | THU 7 MAY | 18:40 | THE FEMALE GAZE ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| FROM SIDNEY, WITH LOVE | EAST ELLIOTT | MON 4 MAY | 15:50 | NEW VOICES ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| GOOD CHOICE, JOSEPH | JAMES FARRELL | MON 4 MAY | 15:50 | NEW VOICES ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| HOW TO HIDE IT | RAMLA ALI, RICHARD A. MOORE | MON 4 MAY | 15:50 | NEW VOICES ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| IN VIADI | ALUN MEYERHANS, ELLEN WOLF | TUE 5 MAY | 18:20 | FLIP THE SCRIPT ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| IT COMES IN WAVES | FITCH JEAN | MON 4 MAY | 21:00 | THE JOURNEY WITHIN (REV SHARE SELECTION) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| LISA IS HERE | EKATERINA VELIKHOVA | THU 7 MAY | 18:40 | THE FEMALE GAZE ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| MOLLY | DARIUS SHU | THU 7 MAY | 16:00 | THROUGH A QUEER LENS ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| RISE OF THE LEGION | ADRIAN S WOODARD SR., ADRIAN S WOODARD II | FRI 8 MAY | 18:00 | COMMUNITY AND ACTIVISM (REV SHARE SELECTION) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| ROCKET FUEL | JORDON SCOTT KENNEDY | MON 4 MAY | 18:20 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 1) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| SMALL GODS | ASHER ROSEN | FRI 8 MAY | 21:00 | THIS IS AFRICA (REV SHARE SELECTION) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| SMILE SHINES WET | AKIO FUKUSHIMA | MON 4 MAY | 18:20 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 1) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| SPOOKY | ADEOLA LAWAL | MON 4 MAY | 15:50 | NEW VOICES ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| SQUEAKY BUM | ALICIA FORDE | MON 4 MAY | 15:50 | NEW VOICES ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| SYNC | LUBOS VACKE | TUE 5 MAY | 21:00 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 2) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| THE BRIDGE | JIMMY HEDGER | THU 7 MAY | 21:00 | MADE IN THE UK (REV SHARE SELECTION) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| THE DECEMBER BLUES | MICHAEL JUNIOR ONAFOWOKAN | TUE 5 MAY | 21:00 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 2) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| THE DYING TRADE | JACK HANCOCK-FAIRS | FRI 8 MAY | 18:00 | COMMUNITY AND ACTIVISM (REV SHARE SELECTION) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| THE ENGINEER | SAM ALEXANDER-REYNARD | WED 6 MAY | 21:00 | MADE IN THE UK (REV SHARE SELECTION) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| THE KANKURANG | IMRAN CIESAY | MON 4 MAY | 18:20 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 1) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| THE LONG SPRING | OLLY GINELLI | MON 4 MAY | 18:20 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 1) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| THE TRUTH ABOUT SPACE | JEREMIAH TOWOLAWI | MON 4 MAY | 18:20 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 1) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| UGLY, AFRO HAIR | CHINWE KALU UMA | THU 7 MAY | 18:40 | THE FEMALE GAZE ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| WEIGHT OF THE SOUL | MARIA SPRINGIS | MON 4 MAY | 18:20 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 1) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| WHAT WOULD MOTHER SAY? | LOUIS CHAN | TUE 5 MAY | 21:00 | SHORTS SHOWCASE (BLOCK 2) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| WHO ARE YOU, NANU? | ANJINI TANEJA AZHAR | THU 7 MAY | 18:40 | THE FEMALE GAZE ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| Title | Date | Time | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|
| BREAKING THE AWARD CEILING (INDUSTRY PANEL TALK) |
WED 6 MAY | 15:00 | Dean Atta (Two Black Boys in Paradise) & Hayder Rothschild Hoozier (Rock, Paper & Scissors) ✦ Reserve Your Double Header Ticket |
| BUSINESS OF DISTRIBUTION (PRESENTATION) |
WED 6 MAY | 16:30 | BUFF STUDIOS ✦ Reserve Your Double Header Ticket |
| SCRIPT SHOWCASE (LIVE SCRIPT READINGS) |
WED 6 MAY | 18:50 | AILM (Written by Steven Brumwell) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| SCRIPT SHOWCASE (LIVE SCRIPT READINGS) |
WED 6 MAY | 18:50 | COLOR (Written by Michael H. Moore) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| SCRIPT SHOWCASE (LIVE SCRIPT READINGS) |
WED 6 MAY | 18:50 | MS MANDY (Written by Sophia Leonie) ✦ Reserve Your Seat |
| BUFF Awards Ceremony | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Host | Date | Time | Featuring |
| LINDA E | SAT 9 MAY | 20:30 | JO MARTIN (BUFF 2026 HONORARY RECIPIENT) ✦ Reserve Your Place |
BUFF is a BAFTA, BIFA, AMAA and Iris Prize qualifying festival. Now in our 21st year, submitting your work means your film or script could not only premiere at BUFF 2026 but also become eligible for major international awards.
From 2026, BUFF will introduce a new revenue participation and reporting model for selected feature films screening in-person at the festival.
Participating filmmakers will receive 70% of the net box office from qualifying screenings after the cinema split, alongside a verified post-festival sales report detailing ticket sales and audience engagement.
This initiative reflects our belief that independent filmmakers should benefit directly from audience demand and have access to credible market data that can support future distribution and financing conversations.
We believe that with this new approach, independent films not only continue to get made, but meaningfully seen.
Deadlines & Eligibility
Submissions for BUFF 2026 are now open.
Eligible categories:
Short Films (under 45 mins)
Feature Films (45-120 mins)
Documentaries
Animation
Music videos, TV & Web pilots
Short & Feature-length Scripts or Screenplays (20-120 pages)
How to Submit
You can enter your film or script in two simple ways:
Option 1 – Through Platforms
Submit via FilmFreeway
Option 2 – Direct to BUFF
Pay your submission fee via PayPal (choose the correct category below).
Email your file/link + synopsis, 2 film stills, key art poster, trailer, cast & crew credits, social media accounts and/or website to submit@buffestival.com with proof of payment (students must provide proof of eligibility).
- Pay your student submission fee via PayPal
Submission Fees (per entry)
(Fees are non-refundable.)
Rules & Formats
Films must be submitted in MP4 formats.
Scripts must be in PDF format.
English subtitles required for all non-English dialogue.
By submitting, you confirm you have full rights to your work.
Submissions are final – no refunds and no waivers.
Questions?
Contact: submit@buffestival.
We aim to respond to all queries within 72 hours.
Why Submit to BUFF?
Award-qualifying platform: BAFTA, BIFA, AMAA, Iris Prize, BUFF Awards.
Exposure: Showcase your work to industry professionals, press, and audiences.
Track record: BUFF alumni include films and filmmakers who have gone on to Netflix, BBC, Amazon, and theatrical release.