London · Independent Film Festival · Est. for the people

Contemporary LONDON Cinema Awards

Independent cinema is contemporary cinema. A festival made for the people who make it.

01 Manifesto

We appreciate every passionate and daring filmmaker who refuses to let a story go unseen.

Our festival is made for those who want to express their feelings in their own way through cinema. Every work made with emotion and originality deserves to be seen.

Filmmaking is an art open to many now. It is not so inaccessible or expensive anymore, and that is exactly why independent cinema is contemporary cinema. This festival is made for people.

Do you want to show yourself to the world? Do it here.

02 The Awards

Twenty-two ways to win

Every category is a different door into contemporary cinema. Open the one that fits your film.

The most outstanding full-length film.

The most powerful and memorable short film.

The most compelling and impactful documentary.

The most creative and impressive animated film.

The boldest and most unconventional cinematic work.

The most distinctive and confident directorial vision.

The most striking and expressive visual work.

The most creative and effective editing.

The strongest and most compelling feature screenplay.

The most compelling and effective short screenplay.

The most immersive and creative use of sound.

The most outstanding male performance.

The most outstanding female performance.

The film that breaks conventions in the most compelling way.

The film with the most captivating and distinctive atmosphere.

The most memorable and effective original music.

The most striking and innovative AI-generated imagery.

The most compelling use of AI in narrative filmmaking.

The boldest and most unconventional use of AI in cinema.

A celebration of resourcefulness. The strongest film made on a budget under $1000, proving that powerful storytelling depends on imagination and heart, not on the size of the funds.

The frontier category. The best film created with the most modern technology in filmmaking, AI, where artists use new tools to expand what cinema can look like and feel like.

The crown of the festival. Our most prestigious honour, awarded to the single finest work of the contest: the film that best embodies the spirit of contemporary, independent, fearless filmmaking.

03 What awaits the winners

Winning is more than a line
in your filmography

We bring your work to a real audience, in a real room, full of fellow filmmakers. Here is what the night gives you.

i

Official screening

Selected winning films are shown at our live event at 17 Approach Road, London, in front of a live audience of film lovers, creators and special guests.

ii

Award on stage

Trophy, personal certificate, and festival laurels to promote your film everywhere.

iii

Live Q&A

Take the stage after the screening and talk to the audience about your story and process.

iv

Networking

Meet filmmakers, actors and writers. Build the connections that move careers forward.

v

Spotlight

Featured across our festival platforms and channels, far beyond the night itself.

04 The Live Night

Mora Meza 17 Approach Road, London SW20 8BA

London: city of art, history, music and filmmaking. Our live night welcomes you to enjoy the best works of the festival on the big screen, the way cinema is meant to be felt.

The Contemporary London Cinema Awards title on screen before the program
Guests seated for the screening
A selected film screening for the audience
A documentary screening at the live night
Guests talking during the evening
Guests mingling after the screening

05 Season Results

The winners and finalists

Six categories, one season. Here are the films that took the stage at Mora Meza, and the finalists standing right behind them.

Award Winners

Winner
The First Feminist poster

The First Feminist

Best Film
Winner
Holyhead Santa: A True Story poster

Holyhead Santa: A True Story

Best Low Budget Work
Winner
The Battle of Wandiwash poster

The Battle of Wandiwash

Best AI Work
Winner
Snatch'd poster

Snatch'd

Best Screenplay
Grand Winner
KIN poster

KIN

Grand "Contemporary Film" Award

Finalists

Finalist
Samaritans poster

Samaritans

Finalist
The Londoner poster

The Londoner

Finalist
The Second Diary of Paulina P. poster

The Second Diary of Paulina P.

Looking forward to receiving your submission.

We are glad to receive any work, to hear your artistic voice and feel your creative view.