Festival Success

We are extremely proud to shout out the numerous successes of projects and teams we have supported through BFS Funding Futures. Our films have received official selections and nominations at prestigious festivals both nationally and internationally, with more always on the horizon!

 

‘Mother of Mine’ held its World Premiere at the BAFTA Qualifying BFI London Film Festival in October 2023 to a sold out screening. This was followed by Official Selection at Bolton International Film Festival 2023, UK Film Festival 2023, and Cinecity Brighton Film Festival 2023; as well as Online Premiere at Directors Notes and exhibition on Film Shortage.

 

‘Realness With A Twist’ ran in competition at Iris Prize Film Festival 2023 in the Best British Short category, and went on to win the Youth Jury Award. Then as part of the Iris Prize Best Short collection, Realness was exhibited live on Channel 4 and remained available to stream on All4. The project also went on to win awards for Best Director at the Independent Film Awards 2023, Best Short Film at Bendigo Film Festival 2024, and Best Director at Film The House UK Parliament Film Competition 2024; also receiving a nomination for Best Short Film at the British Short Film Awards 2023.

 

Alongside success at Iris Prize, ‘Realness’ had an amazing run at several high-profile queer festivals and events, including Football Pride Manchester 2023, Roze Film Festival Amsterdam LGBTQ+ 2024, Out Film Connecticut LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2024, Rainbow Visions Film Festival 2024, Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival 2024, Queer Rhapsody Film Festival 2024, Long Beach QFilm Festival 2024, and Out On Film Atlanta’s LGBTQ Film Festival 2024.

 

‘Chickenshit’ were recognised with a highly-prestigious BIFA longlist position for Best British Short Film in 2024. BIFA play an incredibly important role in the promotion and recognition of the brightest British Independent Film Talent. With this recognition, Director Ellie Rogers joins the ranks of fellow alumnus Molly Manning Walker, who also had great success at BIFA 2023 with their debut feature film ‘How to have Sex’.

 

‘Chickenshit’ were also awarded Best Drama and Audience Honourable Mention at Hollywood Queers Short Film Festival 2024, and were nominated for Best Cinematography and Sound at Women X Film Festival 2024 as well as Best LGBTQ+ Short at Palm Springs International Shortfest 2024. Much like ‘Realness’, they had a successful run with queer-focused festivals such as, Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2024, Oslo/Fusion LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2024, and Out On Film Atlanta’s LGBTQ Film Festival 2024.

 

‘Good Vibes Only’ from our second slate of funded films has also seen great success after premiering at the BIFA qualifying Kino Film Festival in 2024. In the same year, they were shortlisted by the 1.4 Awards of Brilliant Filmmaking in their ‘On The Cusp’ showcase and were selected for the North East International Film Festival. The film had its US premiere at Holly Shorts Monthly Film programme in Los Angeles and has been recognised online by Film Shortage and Omeleto.

 

More recently, ‘Inebriated’ - a project from our Round 3 of funding - had their premiere at Frightfest 2025, which celebrates all things thriller, fantasy and horror.

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