Submit

Can my film be screened somewhere else before the Norwich Film Festival?
Yes - we have no premiere status requirements. Whilst it is nice for us to be able to debut your film, we're aware that release strategies come in all shapes and sizes and we're likely not the only festival you're submitting to, so prior releases & screenings do not influence our decision making.

How old can my film be?
For 2026 entry, your film should have been completed after January 1st 2024. Films completed prior to this date will not be considered.

My film is longer than the 25 minute limit - can I still submit?
Please do not submit any film that is longer than 25 minutes, including titles/credits. We enforce this guideline in order to keep things fair to all filmmakers and we therefore cannot allow any exceptions. If your film is longer than this duration, we will be happy to consider a shortened version of your film - please email us before submitting if this is something you are considering.

My film is not yet finished - can I submit a work in progress version?
Whilst we can consider work-in-progress films, we generally advise against this unless your film is picture-locked and only has relatively minor changes remaining, such as credits, colour grade, or sound mixing. The version of the film we receive is the version we will base our decision upon, so we advise not submitting an incomplete version of the film unless you are comfortable with your film being considered in its current state. If submitting a WIP film, this must be clearly stated on your submission, otherwise it will be assumed to be in a complete state.

I submitted my film last year but was rejected. Can I submit the same film this year?
Yes, as long as it still meets criteria for 2026 entry, though we would generally advise against resubmitting unless your film has been altered since we last received it, as this may not be worthwhile for your submissions budget. Resubmissions are subject to the same review process as all other entries, so there is no guarantee of a different selection decision.

Do you accept AI-generated films?
We are not currently interested in considering films that are predominantly made using generative AI (such as in relation to visuals, writing etc).
As a festival, we are most interested in original films that celebrate human creativity & storytelling and we encourage filmmakers to consider the ethical implications of generative AI in their work. Any use of generative AI in your film must be clearly disclosed on your submission, such as in your Cover Letter. This includes AI use in relation to visuals, audio, writing/dialogue, performances and post-production/visual effects. You must also have all copyright clearances for any content in your film. We reserve the right to request further information/clarification, and if found to have violated these guidelines, your submission may be disqualified.
We recognise that AI is a rapidly evolving technology and we will continue to assess our approach to this issue.

I am having problems submitting via FilmFreeway. Who should I contact?
Please contact FilmFreeway on support@filmfreeway.com.

Can I submit in multiple categories?
Please do not submit your film in multiple categories, as this will incur duplicate submission fees which may not be worthwhile for your festival budget and cannot be refunded. If the festival team feels that your film may also be suitable for an additional category, we will automatically consider it in that category too.

Can I send my submission but add my film later, or just include a trailer?
No. Your film must be included and fully watchable at the time your submission is sent. If we cannot view your film, we cannot consider it for the festival. We do not base selection decisions on any other materials, such as trailers.

What screening formats does the Festival accept?
All submissions should be made online via FilmFreeway, using their secure online screening methods. Within this, you can choose to upload your film directly to FilmFreeway, or embed it from another site such as YouTube or Vimeo. Before submitting, please ensure that any links are correct and any required passwords are included. All films must be playable within a browser - please do not send file downloads.
We do not accept postal or email submissions.

What else do I need to include with my submission?
Alongside the film itself, please also include a short synopsis and filmmaker bio. You may also attach any still images, posters and trailers to your submission - these may be used by the festival to help promote your film if selected. If these are not ready at the time of the submission, you're welcome to send them at a later date.
Please do not send any physical materials unless requested by the festival. Anything sent which has not been requested will be recycled.

Do I need to include a Cover Letter?
FilmFreeway will give you the option to include a brief Cover Letter with your submission. You're welcome to include one, but it is not essential. We do read them though, so if there's anything extra you'd like to let us know about yourself and/or your film, a Cover Letter is the best place to put it!

Do you grant fee waivers?
Unfortunately, due to the high costs of running the Festival, we are currently unable to offer fee waivers, though we do hope this will change in the future. In the event that we are able to offer any waivers, these will be clearly communicated via our website.
We do have heavily discounted submission fees for Students and East Anglian filmmakers. Details of these can be found on our website or on our FilmFreeway festival page.

Does when I submit impact the likelihood of my film being selected?
We do not make any final decisions on whether a film will be selected until all submissions have been fairly watched and judged after submissions have closed. A film submitted on the day submissions open has the same chance of being selected as a film submitted on the day submissions close.

What happens to my film once I have submitted?
All submissions will be watched and given full consideration - we will aim for your film to be viewed and considered by 3-4 people, consisting of a mix of key festival staff and members of our Online Screening Committee. This allows us to consider if your film is right for our festival, where it could fit in our programme, and how different audiences may react to it.

If my film is selected, when will I hear from you?
If you have been successful, we will aim to contact you by the middle of August to confirm and provide details of the next steps ahead of the film's screening during our festival.

Will I hear from you if my film has not been selected?
You will receive an automated email from the festival to confirm if your film has not been selected. If you have not received an email confirming our decision after our Notification Date, please contact the festival directly so we can ensure it reaches you.
We regret that due to the volume of submissions and our limited resources, this email will not include individual feedback.

What further materials will you need from me ahead of the festival?
Full details of further materials can be found in our 2026 Submission Guidelines. We will also contact you to provide any further details and guidance.

Will I get to attend the festival?
All selected filmmakers will be invited to attend their film's screening at the festival. Exact details regarding tickets and any other events available for attending filmmakers will be communicated in the run up to the festival.
Please note that we are unable to provide any financial assistance for travel and accommodation.