The 2026 Ealing Film Festival will showcase the best in national and international short films, with an emphasis on local filmmaking. Submit your film now and then join us 15th-18th October 2026 for screenings and the chance to meet other industry professionals – right in the heart of Ealing.
We welcome dramas, comedies, sci-fi, horror, animation, documentaries; in fact, the range of films is limited only by the imagination of filmmakers. Films of any length up to 20 minutes are welcome, including titles and credits.
Our categories for 2026 are:
- Homegrown
- Comedy
- Narrative Drama
- Documentary
- Horror/Suspense
- Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- Animation
- Green Planet
- Student Film
- Experimental
- Short Cuts – New
‘Short Cuts’ is a new category for 2026 featuring films of 3 minutes or less. These can include VFX showcases, Smartphone videos, proof-of-concept pieces, single scenes, or music videos — but you still need to tell a story and engage the viewer – and your film must be shot in landscape format (for any potential cinema screening).
To qualify for the ‘Homegrown’ award, a film must have been made predominantly in Ealing or a neighbouring borough, or by filmmakers living or studying in the area at the time of production. The qualifying neighbouring boroughs are Hounslow, Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham.
Key Dates
8 November 2025 Submission Opening Date
31 March 2026 Deadline.
31 May 2026 Deadline.
30 June Deadlines.
31 July 2026 Final Deadline.
All payments must be made through FilmFreeway. You can find our full submission rules on our FilmFreeway page.