LIFF
A full house of festival audience members in the red auditorium of Genesis Cinema

9–18 APR 2027 · Genesis Cinema · London

London
Independent
Film Festival

The home for true indie cinema

Championing first-time filmmakers, low-budget cinema and independent voices in London for more than 20 years.

20+ Years of LIFF1000's of Filmmakers10 DaysGenesis CinemaLondon
“A treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems, one of Europe's top indie film fests.”

— Time Out

About LIFF

A theatrical platform for genuinely independent film

LIFF exists for filmmakers who made their film without a studio behind them. For more than twenty years we have given first- and second-time directors a real cinema screen, a real audience and a real industry room in London.

Every edition brings UK and international independent cinema to Genesis Cinema in East London — features, shorts, documentaries and screenplays — alongside panels, workshops, filmmaker networking and our pitching mini-market.

More about the festival

Spring 2027

9 – 18 April 2027

Genesis Cinema, Mile End, East London

Programme 2027

Past LIFF films

Blockhead — past LIFF official selection posterCharlie Shaw's Revenge — past LIFF official selection posterTerra — past LIFF official selection posterThe Edge of Existence — past LIFF official selection posterThe Distance We Drift — past LIFF official selection posterCafe 404 — past LIFF official selection posterDesi: A Pub Story — past LIFF official selection posterNo Time for Goodbye — past LIFF official selection posterSigns of Life — past LIFF official selection posterExodus — past LIFF official selection poster10 Swords & The Moon — past LIFF official selection posterCookster: The Darkest Days — past LIFF official selection posterFyre Rises — past LIFF official selection posterJust One Last Thing — past LIFF official selection posterSparrow's Call — past LIFF official selection poster

Festival News

Spring 2027 edition announced

LIFF returns to Genesis Cinema for ten days of independent cinema, panels, pitching and parties.

Autumn 2026 winners announced

Finding My Voice, The (First) Last Screenplay, Lost on the Road and Sessions were among the films honoured at the Autumn 2026 awards.

Spring 2027 submissions are open

Features, shorts, documentaries, animation, experimental work, music videos and screenplays — all via FilmFreeway.

For Filmmakers

Your first film deserves a cinema

LIFF is built around first- and second-time filmmakers working at low, micro and no budget. Screen theatrically, meet sales agents and distributors, pitch your next project and leave with collaborators.

Filmmaker Q&A panel on stage in front of the LIFF screen at Genesis CinemaFour filmmakers photographed at the LIFF sponsor backdropFull red auditorium at Genesis Cinema during a LIFF Q&AWinners with the LIFF Best Sci-Fi Film awardBest Debut Feature winners receiving their LIFF certificateBest UK Short winners on stage at the LIFF awardsLIFF host introducing a screening to a packed roomFilmmakers networking at the LIFF festival partyFilmmaker being interviewed at the LIFF press wallBest UK Film winners celebrating with their LIFF awardBest UK Film team celebrating with award and certificate at LIFFFilmmakers on the LIFF red carpet beside a film bannerPitch meeting at the LIFF Mini-MarketFilmmakers in conversation at a LIFF industry tableDelegates talking at a LIFF networking eventLarge group of filmmakers posing on the LIFF red carpetAudience watching a LIFF Q&A in the Genesis Cinema auditoriumSpeaker addressing the audience at a LIFF industry talkFive filmmakers photographed at the LIFF press wallIndustry panel discussion at the London Independent Film FestivalFour cast members on the LIFF red carpetFull cast and crew posing on the LIFF red carpetQ&A panel under the LIFF laurel screen at Genesis CinemaThree filmmakers on the LIFF red carpetTwo filmmakers at the LIFF press wallFilmmaker posing on the LIFF red carpetThree filmmakers at the LIFF backdropTwo filmmakers photographed at LIFFWinner holding a LIFF Best Short Film certificateYoung cast members on the LIFF red carpet