London Migration Film Festival takes an activist-led approach to film, centring stories by and about migrants, refugees and displaced people. Run by the Migration Collective, the festival platforms both emerging and established filmmakers, and blends screenings with panels, workshops and performances. It’s less about film as art, more about film as a tool for connection, solidarity and political dialogue.

The London Palestine Film Festival (LPFF) is an annual celebration of cinema from and about Palestine, showcasing films that explore the culture, history, and politics of the region. LPFF provides a unique platform for Palestinian filmmakers, bringing their stories to global audiences and fostering meaningful conversations about identity, resistance, and the power of storytelling.

Let’s be honest - LSFF isn’t just another short film festival. It’s one of the few places that consistently makes room for the rough-edged, the rule-breakers and the genuinely original. They’re not afraid to programme stuff that’s messy or strange or made with no money, and that makes a real difference.

MASSIVE puts young audiences front and centre with early preview screenings of major new releases, often free or cheap to attend. They champion British filmmaking and make a night at the cinema feel like an event, complete with merch and packed-out screenings. If you’re after film inspo or behind-the-scenes chats with new talent, their socials are worth a scroll.

For over a decade, Midlands Movies has been spotlighting the region’s film talent through news, reviews, and its popular annual awards. With categories spanning short and feature work, and a strong community ethos, it's helped keep Midlands filmmakers firmly on the map.

My Community Cinema maps the 1,600+ volunteer-run film clubs and community screens across the UK - all affordable, local and welcoming. A handy way to find screenings or connect with grassroots film folk near you.

No Direction Home offers directors a quiet corner to talk honestly about the craft. Kept intentionally small and invitation-only, the group meets quarterly for chats, guest interviews and a drink, with the expectation that everyone turns up ready to share what they know. It’s a down-to-earth way for directors to learn from each other and stay connected in a job that can feel surprisingly solitary.

With its roots in anthropology and its heart in the cinema, Open City Documentary Festival is one of the UK’s most curious and careful spaces for nonfiction film. Alongside a festival that treats short films, retrospectives and experimental work with equal care, they run training programmes, publish a journal, and host genuinely inclusive events that pull communities together in smart, generous ways.

A project by filmmakers Turab Shah and Arwa Aburawa, Other Cinemas works at the intersection of film exhibition, education and production, spotlighting Black and non-white filmmakers and stories. Based in Brent, they run a free film school, screen work in welcoming community settings, and create films that engage with local and global issues - all as part of a long-term push for a fairer film culture.

What started as a simple forum thread on Shooting People is now a thriving organisation. The Queer Filmmakers Network connects LGBTQIA+ filmmakers across the UK through regular meet-ups, screenings and events—creating space for queer stories on both sides of the lens. They’ve grown from “anyone up for a drink?” to a CIC with a mailing list, a website, and a packed events calendar.

A five-week film programme based in London, Radical Film School supports early-career directors creating politically and formally radical work. With sessions led by experienced filmmakers and a focus on collective practice, it’s open to those from underrepresented backgrounds in UK film and entirely free to attend. The course runs annually in November/December, with applications opening in September.

From medieval towers to Shoreditch bars, Rebel Reel Cine Club creates one-off cinema nights that mix film with art, music, and performance. Their programme stretches from cult classics to obscure docs, with settings as carefully chosen as the films themselves. Every screening is a chance to see cinema in a new light—and in a new place.

From its start in a 90-seater cinema, Reel Brum has grown into a buzzing Midlands film hub - complete with screenings, a regular pitch night, its own strand at Flatpack Festival, and not one but seven film funds. If you're a filmmaker in Birmingham, this is where it’s at.

Shiny are doing the work when it comes to connecting new and underrepresented directors with the commercial industry. Through their awards, showcases and talks, they’re demystifying the ad world and creating real access for directors looking to get into branded content.

Sine Screen is an emerging film collective championing independent cinema from East and Southeast Asia. Based in London and run by a team of filmmakers, curators, and creatives, they programme events across the UK that explore memory, migration, and identity, making room for the kinds of films and conversations often missing from the mainstream.