Thursday, November 27th, 2025
Norwich Film Festival has officially wrapped for 2025 and what an extraordinary festival it has been. Across two packed weeks from 3–16 November, audiences, filmmakers, students, and film lovers from around the world came together to celebrate powerful storytelling, heartfelt creativity, and the vibrant spirit of Norwich’s film community.
From 1,375 submissions and 134 official selections to a full slate of feature screenings, filmmaker events, and our most ambitious student Industry Day yet, this year truly marked the most successful edition in NFF’s history.
The festival’s beating heart remains its warm, welcoming community. As host Ali Plumb, movie critic and broadcaster, beautifully put it:
“Norwich is full of great people. It attracts incredibly creative, funny, interesting talent. The camaraderie here is unlike anything else.”
That spirit was felt in every screening, Q&A, networking event, and awards moment.
A Festival Powered by Community & Creativity
Cinema City – described by attendees as “one of the most gorgeous old cinemas in the world”- provided the perfect backdrop as filmmakers and audiences gathered together to celebrate groundbreaking short films from across the globe.
Filmmakers repeatedly highlighted NFF’s sense of belonging, the platform it provides for regional voices, and its dedication to championing independent film.
As one filmmaker shared:
“This festival really supports filmmakers and the art of storytelling. It’s an amazing showcase of talent.”
For others, the awards night brought emotional full-circle moments. Hannah Palumbo – Co Director of A Bear Remembers and Winner of Best British Short Film shared
“Winning this award at Norwich was really really special because we’ve been all over the world with our film and it’s been a long journey to lots of different places that we never thought we’d go but coming back and finishing our run in Norwich in the UK just feels like everything’s come full circle in a really nice way. We actually wrote the very first draft of the film in Norfolk so it’s extra special for that reason.”
Winner of the East Anglian Award, Ben S Hyland, described hearing Stephen Fry call their name as “ecstatic” and said “it will make my 10 year old sons whole year!”
Announcing the 2025 Norwich Film Festival Award Winners
Best East Anglian Film: The Man That I Wave At
Director: Ben S. Hyland
Producers: Guy Lindley, Jade Nicole Way, Lydia Kay
A witty, touching exploration of identity and recognition.
Ben S. Hyland, a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning filmmaker known for The Snip, Talk Radio and Quiet Carriage, continues to grow a distinctive comedic voice.
Producer Guy Lindley – a Suffolk-born, BIFA-nominated filmmaker was also recognised for his contribution to the project. His films have screened at BFI London Film Festival, Raindance, SXSW and beyond, and he became one of BAFTA’s youngest film members in 2022.
Best Short Film: A Bear Remembers
Directors: Zhang + Knight
A haunting and nostalgic story exploring memory, folklore, and childhood.
Zhang + Knight are a celebrated LGBTQ+ directing duo whose work spans music videos, narrative films, and award-winning branded work. Their films have been honoured at D&AD, Creative Circle, Kinsale and the UKMVAs.
Best International Film: 1:10
Director: Sinan Taner
A razor-sharp, controlled look at the chaos latent within everyday social structures.
Taner’s graduation film has screened globally, including Clermont-Ferrand and Palm Springs ShortFest, and he was selected for the prestigious FUTURE FRAMES programme at Karlovy Vary.
Best Animated Film: Two Black Boys in Paradise
Director: Baz Sells
A visually striking stop-motion film exploring love, identity, and self-acceptance.
Baz, a British working-class filmmaker and co-founder of One6th animation studio, creates thought-provoking work supported by the BFI and celebrated at festivals and awards worldwide.
2026 BAFTA Winner – Best British Short Animation Film
Best Student Film: Walud
Directors: Daood Alabdulaa & Louise Zenker
A harrowing and deeply human story set in rural Syria.
Alabdulaa and Zenker, both based in Munich, explore political and social themes through character-driven storytelling. Their collaborative work continues to gain traction at international festivals.
Best Documentary: Beyond The Rush
Director: NIYADRE
A rich, poetic examination of Luton’s Caribbean heritage – its origins, evolution, and gradual loss.
Niyadre, a Luton-born filmmaker known for his striking 16mm aesthetic, has created acclaimed work for artists including Myles Smith and Rudimental. Beyond the Rush marks his first BFI-commissioned short film.
2025 in Numbers
- 1,375 films submitted
- 134 short films selected
- Representing 19 countries
- 40% of selected films directed by women
- 31 first-time filmmakers
- 27 student films
- 37 films in languages other than English
- 116 filmmakers new to NFF
- x4 Shortlisted Films BAFTA Nominated – Two Black Boys in Paradise, MAGID / ZAFIR, Solstice and Cardboard.
- X1 Shortlisted Film – BAFTA Winner – Two Black Boys in Paradise, Director Baz Sells and Producer Ben Jackson.
- X2 Shortlisted Films – Oscar Nominees – A Friend of Dorothy and Retirement Plan.
This year’s festival also featured recognisable on-screen talent including Kate Bush, Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Domhnall Gleeson, Jordan Stephens, David Jonsson, Susan Wokoma and more.
Special Events
This year saw an expanded events line-up including:
- Phantom of the Opera – 100th Anniversary with live score by Minima
- Kinky Boots – 20th Anniversary screening + Drag-hosted Q&A with Producer Nick Barton
- Thelma & Louise – 35mm screening
- High Wire and Alpha – fresh from BFI London Film Festival
- Industry masterclasses in screenwriting, stunts, prosthetics, and pathways into film
Our Industry Day welcomed students from across Norfolk, providing hands-on learning and inspiring insight from working professionals.
A Festival Built by Community
NFF is proud to remain a volunteer-led organisation. This year’s festival was made possible thanks to countless hours of dedication from our team, the passion of our filmmakers, and the enthusiasm of our audiences.
We also extend sincere thanks to our 2025 sponsors:
Porsche Norwich, Epic Studios, BFI Film Audience Network, Artlist, Norfolk Cottages, HolidayCottages.co.uk, Skyline IFE, and the Sir John Hurt Film Trust.
As one filmmaker said:
“Norwich Film Festival is always on our submission list. It’s such a big and important event for us as filmmakers.”
We couldn’t agree more!
Posted in: Blog
