Celebrating 'True-Indie' Filmmaking & Connecting Global Talent
The Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival draws a younger crowd: students, recent graduates, and first-time directors finding their feet. The city’s film schools and its MediaCity base give it a strong educational backbone, and the festival is a natural first step for filmmakers making the jump from coursework to a real audience.
It’s built for people near the start of the journey, shorts and low-budget features especially. If Manchester is where you’re learning your craft, this is where you put it in front of people.
Selected films screen online to a global audience, with networking events in person and online, so you meet the people you’ll keep making work with. The strongest Manchester films are shortlisted for the Lift-Off Season Awards, judged at year end across all 12 city festivals.
Manchester Lift-Off Season #17 screened in March 2026. Submissions are now open on FilmFreeway for Season #18. Selected films get an online screening to a global audience, and entry to the festival’s networking events. Standout films get a place in the Manchester Network Round, and winners are shortlisted for the 17th Lift-Off Season Awards.
Recent Winners
Festival Events
Each festival hosts a series of online and in-person events, connecting filmmaking talent across the globe
Focus Group Feedback
Meet fellow filmmakers, exchange feedback and discuss your projects. Focus Group participants attend an online meeting to pitch their work before participating in the Feedback Session.
In-Person Networking Speeddate
Join us in the city for a showcase & networking event held in conjunction with the festival’s online screenings. Attendees chat to everyone in the room in a 'speed-date' style networking session.
Online Networking SpeedDate
Pitch your future projects or share previous work. Attendees can screen a trailer or pitch deck before meeting with everyone in a 'speed-date' style network session.
Questions?
Once a year, as part of the Lift-Off season. Screenings & events run in February.
Emerging independent filmmakers, especially first and second-time directors working in shorts and low-budget features.
Films screen online to a global audience, with in-person networking in Manchester alongside the festival.
Through FilmFreeway: Click here.Â
Winning films are shortlisted for the Lift-Off Season Awards, judged at the end of the season across all 12 city festivals.