A FILM FESTIVAL IN STAFFORDSHIRE WITH THE WORLD ON ITS SCREEN
The Stafford Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing diverse stories from around the world, offering audiences the opportunity to experience films they might not otherwise encounter. The festival's mission is to foster cultural understanding and appreciation by presenting films from various countries and backgrounds, including local stories, in a way that promotes diversity, acceptance and engagement.
Alongside its global focus, the festival exists to grow film culture in Stafford and Staffordshire by building connections between the public, filmmakers and creatives.
The filmmaker relationship is what sets the festival apart. Filmmakers are actively encouraged to attend, to take part in Q&A sessions, and to network informally with the audience and with each other. "We Love What You Do" is not decoration; it is how the festival operates.
THE STORY SO FAR
The festival begins as an awards edition, judging submissions from around the world and publishing its first winner list. See the 2021 winners.
A second awards edition, with winners across film, documentary, animation, script and song. See the 2022 winners.
The third awards edition and the largest winner list to date. See the 2023 winners.
The first in person edition. On Friday 31 January 2025 the festival screened at the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, with an audience, filmmaker Q&As and a live awards ceremony.
The festival broadens: a private industry screening in Stockholm in August, and a provisional public screening at the Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent in September. The 2026 festival.
THE JURY
Submissions are judged by an international panel of industry professionals, several of whom have worked on feature films and series that received Oscar, BAFTA and Emmy nominations. The panel includes BBC experts. Every film is evaluated with a point based scoring system, so selection and awards rest on the work itself.