Cambridge Film Festival

Cambridge Film Festival

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Cambridge Film Festival presents independent and international features, documentaries and short films alongside archive cinema and restored classics. Founded in 1977, it is run by the Cambridge Film Trust, a registered charity. Its programme includes artist cinema, filmmaker Q&As and Cambridge Connections, a strand devoted to short films from Cambridgeshire. Industry Day offers talks and workshops, while the Youth Lab involves young people in film programming and a jury award.

The 45th edition runs from 22 October to 1 November 2026 at the Arts Picturehouse and partner venues across Cambridge, United Kingdom. The programme combines international discoveries with local filmmaking, family screenings and special events.

Country

United Kingdom (UK)

Dates

22 October 2026 — 1 November 2026

Awards and prizes

The 2026 awards comprise the Golden Punt Jury Award for Best Discovery Feature Film; audience awards for Best Fiction Feature, Best Documentary Feature and Best Short Film; the Youth Lab Jury Award; and the Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award.

Festival rules

For 2026, features of at least 60 minutes normally require a UK premiere. Shorts must run under 30 minutes and must not be publicly available online in the UK. Films must be completed within 18 months of the festival start date. Non-English-language films require embedded English subtitles. Previously submitted films are considered only if substantially reworked. Submitters must hold the necessary rights and disclose significant use of AI. Submissions are made through FilmFreeway using a secure online screener. Selected films require a DCP, delivered at least one month before the festival; withdrawal after confirmation requires prior agreement. Full eligibility conditions and exceptions appear on the official submissions page.

Contacts

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