The Spirit of Independence film festival is a unique celebration of raw, passionate independent films, identifying emerging voices and celebrating cult films that paved the way. We want to put a spotlight on brave and bold filmmaking regardless of genre, country of origin, theme or budget.
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Our goal is simple - to provide a platform for these films to get out there and to inspire filmmakers of the future to see what can be accomplished. We have been joined by such guests as Bernard Rose (Candyman) and Steve Du Jarnatt (Miracle Mile) as part of screenings of their films.
The event also features several industry-based talks, networking events, Q and As and panel discussions.​
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We have also launched a further strand of the festival - the Emerging Spirit Script to Screen competition, a screenplay competition designed to make a filmmaking team's short film idea, a reality.
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Our 2022 winner 'Dead Skin' and our 2024 winner 'Black Dog' have had fantaastic success on the festival circuit playing at such prestigious festivals as Aesthetica, Frightfest and Leeds International Film Festival. Our 2024 winner will, 'Lone', by Emma Jane-Heaton will have it's world premiere at our 2025 event.
​The Spirit of Independence Film Festival is a BIFA and IMDb qualifying festival and is a member of the BFI Film Audience Network.
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The festival is also a founding member of the Association of Independent Film Festivals (AIFF), a network of like-minded festivals that look to provide an open and transparent process for filmmakers and a welcoming experience for our audiences.​
