A platform for contemporary cinema and engagement with the social, cultural, and formal possibilities of film; a mirror for international voices
Festival Name: Thurrock International Film Festival
Organizer: AAAHA – Anglo Asiatic Arts and Heritage Alliance, in partnership with Film Thurrock, Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre, and Thames Freeport
Location: Essex, United Kingdom
Festival Dates: October 16-17, 2027
Edition: 8th Edition
About the Festival: This festival is an IMDb-qualifying event focused on contemporary cinema. Cinema at Thurrock is approached as a space for exchange- a programme that brings together emerging filmmakers and established voices to allow diverse perspectives to intersect.
Awards:
- Main Categories: Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Animated Film, Best Experimental Film, Best British Short Film, Best International Short Film, Best Student Film, and Best Non-Commissioned Screenplay (Feature/Short).
- Additional Categories: Best Director, Best Screenplay, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Original Score.
Accepted Genres: Experimental films, narrative features, documentaries, animations, and screenplays.
Running Time: Short film: 5-30 minutes / Feature film: 60-240 minutes / Documentary: 5-240 minutes / Animation: 5-180 minutes / Experimental film: 10-180 minutes / Student film: 5-180 minutes / Feature-length screenplay: Under 130 pages / Short screenplay: Under 40 pages.
Year of Production: 2025-2026
Language & Subtitles: All non-English language films must feature English subtitles.
Submission Deadline: May 30, 2027
Additional Notes: Providing a secure online screener accessible until the conclusion of the festival is mandatory / Online screenings are optional and subject to filmmaker consent / This festival is an IMDb-qualifying event.
