London Rolling Film Festival: Connecting Filmmakers and Industry Professionals in an Inspiring Setting
The London Rolling Film Festival is back for another exciting year, and this time it promises to deliver even more of what filmmakers and industry professionals have come to love. Set to take place on September 27-28, 2024, at VUE Cinema Piccadilly, this unique festival blends screenings with valuable industry networking, offering an unparalleled platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with industry insiders.
Unlike many festivals, the London Rolling Film Festival places its focus squarely on the filmmakers, ensuring they are at the heart of the event. With an environment designed to foster connection, inspiration, and support, the festival’s mission is clear: to help filmmakers not only get their films seen but also build meaningful relationships that can help propel their careers forward.
This year’s official selection reflects the festival’s growing global presence, with submissions from 28 countries and a remarkable 325% increase from last year. The chosen films represent the best in independent filmmaking, selected for their unique voices, creative visions, and storytelling excellence.
The 2024 festival will open with The Chocolate Club, a feature film directed by Deborah Hadfield. This marks the first time a feature will open the event, setting an inspiring tone for the festival. With its heartwarming story of strangers finding connection through support and chocolate, the film embodies the festival’s core values of community and collaboration.
In addition to its strong feature film offering, the London Rolling Film Festival has once again made a significant impact by highlighting female voices in cinema. This year, an outstanding 11 out of the 15 selected films are directed by women, a testament to the festival’s commitment to gender diversity in the industry. Festival Director Alida Pantone expressed her excitement, saying, “It’s inspiring to see such strong female representation in competition this year. Their unique perspectives and creative visions will undoubtedly resonate with audiences“.
The festival will feature a compelling lineup of short films in competition for a cash prize of £500. The selected films are:
- Echo by Jo Southwell
- Wuss by Nadine Wilson
- Unravel by Maxime Bonett and Yorgo Glynatsis
- Trigger by Renzo Vasquez
- Enamour by Doulla Panaretou
- My Husband Is A Dog by Sara Jordan
- Meeting Mr. Oscar by Toni Short
- Marvin The Vampire by Adrian Ramirez León
- (w)hole by Natasha Redmond
- Good Luck Nelle by Carissa Thorne
- The Sands of Time by James Hughes
- Unique Together by Lena Kadriye Ziyal
- Forbidden by Charlotte Vacková
- Pretty Bonnets by Mick Dow
The festival will feature 13 awards, including the prestigious Kimberley Marren Recognition Award, which honors unsung talent within the industry. Additionally, the Pitch Corner will give filmmakers the opportunity to present their ideas to an audience and a panel of industry professionals. Meanwhile, during the Award Ceremony, the winner of the £1,000 Help to Roll Fund will be announced, providing crucial support for their next project.