Joe Lycett, Gavin & Stacey’s Mathew Horne and The Making of Adolescence Headline Forward Film & Television Festival

Birmingham’s newest Film & TV Festival is bringing the spotlight to local and global talent across multiple venues in Digbeth this summer The inaugural Forward Film & Television Festival makes its debut and will be spotlighting bold new voices and positioning Birmingham as a major player in the screen industries.

Running 16–20th July 2025, the five-day event will take over key venues including The Mockingbird Cinema, Midlands Arts Centre, Centrala, The Old Crown, and The Crossing.

Festival highlights include a live Q&A with Gavin & Stacey favourite Mathew Horne, The Making of Adolescence — a behind-the-scenes session with the camera team behind Netflix’s global hit — and a short film showcase from Brummie icon Joe Lycett, followed by an in-person discussion with the star.

The programme will also feature a selection of international film premieres, as well as local talent debuts, giving Birmingham-based filmmakers a platform to premiere their work in front of hometown audiences. These standout events lead a packed schedule of screenings, industry panels, networking mixers, and a celebratory awards night recognising excellence in storytelling.

Forward will be offering a vibrant new platform for filmmakers, TV creators, and audiences alike—right in the heart of Digbeth’s creative quarter.

Building on Birmingham’s rich legacy—from the first Odeon Cinema and Sir Michael Balcon to the worldwide success of Peaky Blinders—Forward is backed by key players including The BBC, Digbeth Loc. Studios, Create Central, Royal Television Society Midlands, Creative UK West Midlands, and Steven Knight CBE, the creator of Peaky Blinders and founder of Digbeth Loc. Studios.

“Birmingham has always been a city of creativity and innovation,” says Steven Knight. “Forward Film & Television Festival will continue that legacy by championing the next generation of storytellers—offering a platform where new voices can shine and find their audience.”

“When Steven Knight backs something on screen, you know it’s worth paying attention to,” says Cassie Smyth, festival co-founder. “Forward will not only celebrate Birmingham’s creative past but help shape its future—connecting emerging and established talent with new audiences.”

“‘I’m buzzing to see more love for filmmaking in our beloved Digbeth in the form of Forward Film & Television Festival,” says Joe Lycett.

Designed to be inclusive and accessible, Forward will feature 5 days of screenings and events across Digbeth, sixteen award categories celebrating diverse storytelling, industry panels and networking mixers bridging creators and professionals and a closing awards night celebrating standout talent

Festival co-founder Matthew Ford adds: “Birmingham’s creative scene is thriving, and Forward will showcase that talent to the world. Through projects like Reel Brum, The Mockingbird Cinema, BYFN, and Viewfinder, we’ve seen the impact storytelling can have. Forward is the next step in taking that impact global.”



Film and TV lovers, industry pros, and emerging talent are all invited to be part of this exciting new chapter in Birmingham’s cultural story.

Tickets & Info: www.forwardfilmfest.com