Featured as a Trending festival on FilmFreeway (Sept/Oct '23), The Lytham International Film Festival is a yearly, live competition, screening the best rising, creative, talent from around the world.
Filmmaker Events, Award Ceremonies, Q&As and Entertainment.
Official selections screen in cinema, with select entries screening at our exclusive Outdoor Cinema evenings.
Situated in the historic and picturesque U.K. seaside town of Lytham, Lancashire, the film festival runs subsequent to the Lytham Music Festival, which sees around 20,000 visitors in attendance and alongside the Lytham Hall Music Festival and Lowther Food and Drink Festival which attracts an additional 10,000 visitors.
The festival accepts both Short and Feature Film entries.
Awards are granted in both categories.
Filmmakers need only enter a project once to be eligible for all of the current year's awards.
We accept films of all genres. Within that, we look for films with a unique voice.
Film is diverse and we strive to curate a programme which celebrates this.
Creativity and Imagination is at the heart of what we look for and celebrate.
Challenge us. Surprise us. Shock us. Make us laugh. Make us cry.
Whatever your story, tell it with originality and passion.
Above all, be bold and be compelling.
Alongside our main event, the festival is also proud to host two special categories:
-The John Parr award for Best Music Video.
A special selection specifically for music videos, judged and awarded by music industry veteran John Parr (St. Elmo's Fire, Man in Motion).
-The LYIFF After Dark award for Best Horror/Thriller.
A special selection of darker films screened in our outdoor venue, after dark, for added chills and generally not for the feint of heart (please see the rules and terms below for unacceptable content).
John Parr is also the deciding judge for the Best Original Score award.
Opportunities for Networking and Promotion are provided at the event and include:
Filmmakers Welcome event, drinks and social.
Live Q&A sessions for attending filmmakers (filmed and made available for the filmmaker to use for personal promotion).
Awards Ceremony (filmed and made available for the filmmaker to use for personal promotion).
All films should be produced to a high standard.
Fiction, Non-Fiction and Experimental/Artists Films accepted.
We don't accept works in progress.
The Festival has two main submission categories:
Short Film (up to 30mins)
Feature Film (60 to 120mins)
Awards each year may include (but are not limited to)
Best DRAMA
Best COMEDY
Best HORROR
Best THRILLER
Best FACTUAL
Best FAMILY FILM
Best ANIMATION
Best EXPERIMENTAL
Best MUSIC VIDEO
Best DIRECTOR
Best ACTOR
Best ACTRESS
Best SHORT
Best FEATURE
Best REGIONAL FILM
Best OF FEST
Best CINEMATOGRAPHY
Best EDITING
Best SCREENPLAY
Best ORIGINAL SCORE
A list of the previous year's winners and awards can be found on the festival website.
When submitting your film to the festival you will be able to indicate which Performer categories you wish to be considered for.
The jury will allocate your film to the relevant genre/s.
The festival organisers and judges reserve the right to select additional categories for your film or to change the selected categories for your film and/or the festival without charge or notice.
Physical awards are presented to the relevant attending filmmakers.
All award winning films receive an official certificate along with presentation folder, a digital certificate and a winners laurel.