Film Festivals in the Midlands

midlandsmovies • April 2, 2026

Quite simply, here is our ongoing and updated list of Film Festivals in the Midlands (2026/2027 edition):


THE MIDLANDS MOVIES AWARDS  - Midlands region

27 June 2026 (submissions open October)

https://filmfreeway.com/MidlandsMoviesAwards


SHORT IS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL - Solihull

2026 Dates TBC

https://filmfreeway.com/ShortIsBeautiful


WOLVERHAMPTON FILM FESTIVAL - Wolverhampton

29th April 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/Wolverhamptonfilmfestival


CINE-EXCESS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - Birmingham

19th - 24th October 2026

https://www.cine-excess.co.uk

https://filmfreeway.com/Cine-Excess


THE STRATFORD ON AVON FILM FESTIVAL  - Stratford on Avon

15th - 16th August 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/StratfordonAvonFilmFestival


THE POCKET FILM FESTIVAL  - Stafford

2026 Dates TBC

https://www.unseencinema.co.uk


COVENTRY PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL - Coventry

24th - 26th April 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/CoventryPhoenixFilmFestival


WIRKSWORTH HORROR FILM FESTIVAL  - Wirksworth

2026 Dates TBC

https://www.wfcn.co/festival/whff


SHARED VISIONS FILM FESTIVAL (previous Nottingham International Festival)  - Nottingham

19th - 21st April 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/sharedvisions

https://sharedvisions.co.uk


LEICESTER FILM FESTIVAL - Leicester City

20th December 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/LeicesterCityFilmFestival


BORDERLINES FILM FESTIVAL - Herefordshire/Shropshire rural film festival

March 2027 Dates TBC - 25th Anniversary year

http://www.borderlinesfilmfestival.co.uk


BIG PICTURE FESTIVAL - Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire

2026 Dates TBC

https://filmfreeway.com/BigPictureFestival


BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL - Birmingham

6th - 15th November 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/Birminghamfilmfestival


MANSFIELD TOWN FILM FESTIVAL  - Mansfield, Notts

25th - 27th September 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/MansfieldTownFilmFestival


BUXTON SHORT FILM EXHIBITION - Buxton, Derbys.

July 2026 Dates TBC

https://buxtonfilm.org.uk


BIRMINGHAM INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL  - Birmingham

25th October - 12th November 2026

http://birminghamindianfilmfestival.co.uk


THE UK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL  - events in Leicester, Coventry & London

1st - 10th May 2026

https://www.tonguesonfire.com


PARACINEMA – Derby

2026 Dates TBC

https://paracinema.co.uk


MAYHEM HORROR FILM FEST  - Broadway, Nottingham

2026 Dates TBC

http://www.mayhemfilmfestival.com


FLATPACK FEST  - Birmingham

8th - 16th May 2026

http://www.flatpackfestival.org.uk


BEESTON FILM FESTIVAL  - Beeston, Nottingham

23rd - 26th April 2026

https://www.beestonfilm.com

https://filmfreeway.com/BeestonFilmFestival


REPTON FILMFEST - Repton, Derbyshire

3rd - 5th July 2026

https://www.reptonfestival.co.uk


WIRKSWORTH FILM FEST - Derbyshire

11th - 20th September 2026

https://www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk

THE SHORT STACK FILM FESTIVAL  - Broadway, Nottingham

Bi-monthly local short film screenings

https://www.facebook.com/groups/841340665914084


NORTHAMPTON FILM FESTIVAL  - Northampton

2027 Dates TBC

http://www.northamptonfilmfestival.co.uk/

https://filmfreeway.com/northamptonfilmfestivaluk


WORCESTER FILM FESTIVAL - ODEON, Worcester

22nd - 26th September 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/WorcesterFilmFestival


INDIE-LINCS - Lincoln Performing Arts Centre (University of Lincoln)

2027 Dates TBC

https://www.indie-lincs.com


DEAFFEST UK International Deaf Film & Arts - Wolverhampton

8th - 10th May 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/Deaffest2026


BLACK COUNTRY HORROR SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL - Stourbridge

21st November 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/TheBlackCountryHorrorShortsFilmFestival


BIRMINGHAM ANIME FILM FESTIVAL - Birmingham

2026 Dates TBC

https://www.baff.uk


EARTH STORIES FILM FESTIVAL - Staffordshire

2027 Dates TBC

https://filmfreeway.com/EarthStories-1


GRINDHOUSE PLANET FILM FESTIVAL - Leicester

22nd November 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/GrindhousePlanetFilmFestival


DARKNESS IN THE FIELDS FILM FESTIVAL - Derby

2027 Dates TBC

https://filmfreeway.com/DarknessintheFieldsFilmFestival


FORWARD FILM FESTIVAL - Birmingham

1st - 4th October 2026

https://www.forwardfilmfestival.com


BIRMINGHAM HORROR FILM FESTIVAL & CONVENTION - Birmingham

2026 Dates TBC

www.birminghamhorrorfilmfestival.com


FILMGAGE FESTIVAL - Birmingham

2026 Dates TBC

www.filmgagefestival.com


STAMFORD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - Lincolnshire

7th October 2026

https://filmfreeway.com/StamfordInternationalFilmFestival


Other useful Film Festival information can be found at these links:

http://film-directory.britishcouncil.org/festivals-directory

By midlandsmovies April 26, 2026
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Pete Key, Jai Blanks and Jacob Christie for Countenance  Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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