British Urban Film Festival

30 Nov, 2022 - 09 Dec, 2022

BAFTA Qualifying

Keywords

short, feature, music videos, urban, sctipt, webepisode

Category

Feature

Genre

Documentary, Animation, Comedy, Romance, Sport, Action, Drama, Adult, Crime, Experimental, Fantasy, Historical/Epic, Horror, Musical/dance, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Western, Live-Action

British Urban Film Festival logo
British Urban Film Festival

Is this your festival?

Is this your festival?

General Information

edition

16th

organizers

Justin Chinyere

Festival director

Clare Anyiam-Osigwe BEM

Lead script judge

Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE

Founder

Contact details

N/A

N/A

info@buffestival.com

+44 8712 885 745

Web & social

About the festival

We are now entering our 17th year and want to give clarity to our reclaiming of the word “urban”. For so long, "urban" has been seen as an extension of “black”, “underground”, “other”, “unworthy”.

We know that in every walk of life urban culture, more than ever, is revered as trend setting, forward-thinking, inclusive and innovative.

This is the reason why BAFTA, BIFA, AMAA and our industry festival partners (including Iris Prize) have officially recognised BUFF - giving our filmmakers direct opportunities to qualify for film awards. BUFF is the longest standing black-owned film festival in the United Kingdom. Founded by Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE, filmmakers that have exhibited at our festival are now household names. Join the legacy and explore new worlds at BUFF.

why I should submit to the best film festival in the U.K for diverse programming:

At the British Urban Film Festival, we have been a pioneering platform for all facets of diversity since our formation in 2005.

Long before diversity quotas and terminology such as BAME and non-binary, we have always welcomed, showcased, given coverage to and awarded films which embrace diverse storytelling, celebrating filmmakers from diverse backgrounds representative of the 9 diversity strands:

age. disability. gender reassignment.
marriage and civil partnership. pregnancy and maternity. race.
religion or belief. sex.

Awards & Prizes

IF YOUR SUBMISSION GETS SELECTED…

Only shortlisted submissions will receive further emails, social media messages or telephone calls/text messages from the BUFF submissions team after the final submission deadline passes. Correspondence will commence from early Autumn 2022 onwards.

All shortlisted films will be eligible to win a British Urban Film Festival short film/feature film award in 2022.

All shortlisted films will be considered for theatrical distribution through our industry partners.

All British short films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival are eligible to be entered into the 2023 BAFTA film awards. BUFF is a Section B qualifying festival, meaning that your film must be selected to screen at another Section B qualifying festival before you can enter your film to BAFTA.

All British films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival are eligible to be entered into the 2022 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).

*Films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for an African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in 2022 (subject to eligibility). BUFF will submit official selections from filmmakers of African origin and non-Africans who have contributed to the African film industry.

*Films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for the Iris Prize LGBT+ film festival and screening opportunities on Film4. BUFF will submit official selections from filmmakers of LGBT origin and films that are LGBT in theme. BAME selections which fit either criteria will be prioritised.

SUCCESSFUL SCRIPTS:

The final shortlist of 3 scripts (in addition to receiving a British Urban Film Festival award) will be considered for development through our industry partners.

About

We are now entering our 17th year and want to give clarity to our reclaiming of the word “urban”. For so long, "urban" has been seen as an extension of “black”, “underground”, “other”, “unworthy”.

We know that in every walk of life urban culture, more than ever, is revered as trend setting, forward-thinking, inclusive and innovative.

This is the reason why BAFTA, BIFA, AMAA and our industry festival partners (including Iris Prize) have officially recognised BUFF - giving our filmmakers direct opportunities to qualify for film awards. BUFF is the longest standing black-owned film festival in the United Kingdom. Founded by Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE, filmmakers that have exhibited at our festival are now household names. Join the legacy and explore new worlds at BUFF.

why I should submit to the best film festival in the U.K for diverse programming:

At the British Urban Film Festival, we have been a pioneering platform for all facets of diversity since our formation in 2005.

Long before diversity quotas and terminology such as BAME and non-binary, we have always welcomed, showcased, given coverage to and awarded films which embrace diverse storytelling, celebrating filmmakers from diverse backgrounds representative of the 9 diversity strands:

age. disability. gender reassignment.
marriage and civil partnership. pregnancy and maternity. race.
religion or belief. sex.

IF YOUR SUBMISSION GETS SELECTED…

Only shortlisted submissions will receive further emails, social media messages or telephone calls/text messages from the BUFF submissions team after the final submission deadline passes. Correspondence will commence from early Autumn 2022 onwards.

All shortlisted films will be eligible to win a British Urban Film Festival short film/feature film award in 2022.

All shortlisted films will be considered for theatrical distribution through our industry partners.

All British short films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival are eligible to be entered into the 2023 BAFTA film awards. BUFF is a Section B qualifying festival, meaning that your film must be selected to screen at another Section B qualifying festival before you can enter your film to BAFTA.

All British films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival are eligible to be entered into the 2022 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).

*Films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for an African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in 2022 (subject to eligibility). BUFF will submit official selections from filmmakers of African origin and non-Africans who have contributed to the African film industry.

*Films accepted into the 2022 British Urban Film Festival will be in contention for the Iris Prize LGBT+ film festival and screening opportunities on Film4. BUFF will submit official selections from filmmakers of LGBT origin and films that are LGBT in theme. BAME selections which fit either criteria will be prioritised.

SUCCESSFUL SCRIPTS:

The final shortlist of 3 scripts (in addition to receiving a British Urban Film Festival award) will be considered for development through our industry partners.

Gallery

Awards & Winners

There are no winners yet for this festival

Terms and rules

Scripts: must be no less than 20 pages and no more than 120.

Feature length films: must be no less than 44 minutes and no more than 120.

Short films must be no less than 3 minutes and no more than 44.

All Music, Spoken Word, Dance & Moving Image videos must be no less than 3 minutes.

The festival operates a no waiver policy.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

Feature films
Early Bird (31st December, 2021) $69
Regular (29th March, 2022) $99
Late (28th June, 2022) $109
Runtime 44 - 120 minutes
Age restriction No age restriction
Country Any country
Director's age No restriction
Director's gender Any gender
Student films No
First films No

Students who submit via Film Freeway MUST provide a reference/cover letter supporting their entry. This letter must come via email (to justin@buffestival.com) from the student's course tutor who must be currently employed by the educational institution) as proof of the student's eligibility.

Short films
Early Bird (15th September, 2019) $3,495
Regular (29th June, 2020) $4,495
Late (7th September, 2020) $3,495

Please submit your films, music video, adverts and scripts that explore: Cities and towns that are generally overpopulated Urban street wear and fashion Urban street food and/ or homegrown agriculture Urban legends – local heroes and heroines Environmentalists and urbanites – climate change, plastic landfill in oceans etc Urban music videos with cinematic storytelling / narrative Advertorial campaigns combining onscreen and offscreen diversity Romantic dramas that take place in inner cities and towns Comedies that expose the flaws in our hierarchal structures – satire, politics, bourgeois, banking Science fiction that gives hope/ tools/ insight to the next generation – can include cosmic stories (astrology, numerology, crystal healing, spirit animals, supernatural) Sports – open to all genre but particularly interested in unique sports such as capoeira, free walling, mma, youth boxing We accept docs/drama series and pilots that are no longer than 60 minutes.

Music Videos
Early Bird (15th September, 2019) $3,495
Regular (29th June, 2020) $4,495
Late (7th September, 2020) $3,495

Please submit your films, music video, adverts and scripts that explore: Cities and towns that are generally overpopulated Urban street wear and fashion Urban street food and/ or homegrown agriculture Urban legends – local heroes and heroines Environmentalists and urbanites – climate change, plastic landfill in oceans etc Urban music videos with cinematic storytelling / narrative Advertorial campaigns combining onscreen and offscreen diversity Romantic dramas that take place in inner cities and towns Comedies that expose the flaws in our hierarchal structures – satire, politics, bourgeois, banking Science fiction that gives hope/ tools/ insight to the next generation – can include cosmic stories (astrology, numerology, crystal healing, spirit animals, supernatural) Sports – open to all genre but particularly interested in unique sports such as capoeira, free walling, mma, youth boxing We accept docs/drama series and pilots that are no longer than 60 minutes.

Scripts
Early Bird (15th September, 2019) $3,495
Regular (29th June, 2020) $4,495
Late (7th September, 2020) $3,495

Please submit your films, music video, adverts and scripts that explore: Cities and towns that are generally overpopulated Urban street wear and fashion Urban street food and/ or homegrown agriculture Urban legends – local heroes and heroines Environmentalists and urbanites – climate change, plastic landfill in oceans etc Urban music videos with cinematic storytelling / narrative Advertorial campaigns combining onscreen and offscreen diversity Romantic dramas that take place in inner cities and towns Comedies that expose the flaws in our hierarchal structures – satire, politics, bourgeois, banking Science fiction that gives hope/ tools/ insight to the next generation – can include cosmic stories (astrology, numerology, crystal healing, spirit animals, supernatural) Sports – open to all genre but particularly interested in unique sports such as capoeira, free walling, mma, youth boxing We accept docs/drama series and pilots that are no longer than 60 minutes.

Web episode
Early Bird (15th September, 2019) $3,495
Regular (29th June, 2020) $4,495
Late (7th September, 2020) $3,495

Please submit your films, music video, adverts and scripts that explore: Cities and towns that are generally overpopulated Urban street wear and fashion Urban street food and/ or homegrown agriculture Urban legends – local heroes and heroines Environmentalists and urbanites – climate change, plastic landfill in oceans etc Urban music videos with cinematic storytelling / narrative Advertorial campaigns combining onscreen and offscreen diversity Romantic dramas that take place in inner cities and towns Comedies that expose the flaws in our hierarchal structures – satire, politics, bourgeois, banking Science fiction that gives hope/ tools/ insight to the next generation – can include cosmic stories (astrology, numerology, crystal healing, spirit animals, supernatural) Sports – open to all genre but particularly interested in unique sports such as capoeira, free walling, mma, youth boxing We accept docs/drama series and pilots that are no longer than 60 minutes.

Matchmaking

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