Celebrating local and international cinema at Ealing Film Festival
Here in Ealing, we know that Ealing is home to British film history, yet until 2020 the borough didn’t have a film festival of its own. That changed when Ealing Film Festival founders, Annemarie, Alan and the much missed Peter, decided to create one from scratch.
Now in its sixth year, Ealing Film Festival is not only attracting entries from across the world, but also giving local audiences a chance to experience world-class cinema minutes from their homes.
We sat down with co-founders Annemarie and Alan to find out why they started it, what it means for the community and what residents can expect this year.
Why did you start a film festival in Ealing?
Annemarie: “I was getting frustrated at the fact that I lived in Ealing and we didn’t have a film festival. I mean—this is Ealing! With the studios, the history… it felt ridiculous. So we said, why don’t we do one?”
Alan: “The three of us, me, Annemarie and Peter, met at Artisan Coffee during eat out to help out. We were talking about the idea, checked the domain name, and saw EalingFilmFestival.com was still available. It felt like a sign from God! That was the start.”
How has the festival grown?
Annemarie: “We began online in 2020 because of COVID, and that gave us a chance to learn. Since then, it’s grown year on year. This year we had almost 400 entries from around 40 countries and we’ve had almost 2,000 submissions since we started! We’ll be screening around 70 films across Act One Cinema, Ealing Picturehouse and Pitzhanger Manor.”
Alan: “We’re now seen as one of the premier short film festivals in the UK. But what really matters is that it’s accessible – anyone in Ealing can come, see incredible films for the price of a cinema ticket and be part of something bigger happening right here in their community.”
What does the festival offer local residents?
Alan: “It’s about pride in place. Ealing is bursting with creativity, but not everyone realises it. The festival brings that into the spotlight. You can walk down to your local cinema, sit in a room with neighbours and watch films that might go on to win awards internationally.”
Annemarie: “It also means residents don’t have to travel into central London or further afield for this kind of experience. It’s on their doorstep. It’s not just screenings, we’ve got workshops, Q&As and panels where people can ask questions and join the conversation.”
What makes this year’s festival special?
Annemarie: “The opening night is dedicated to Homegrown Films made by people in Ealing. It’s a chance for local audiences to see what’s being created in their own borough and to celebrate it together.”
Alan: “There are also workshops for people who might just be curious, like how to make short films for social media. You don’t need to be a filmmaker to enjoy it, it’s for anyone who wants to learn, be entertained or just feel part of a community event.”
Annemarie: “One of my favourite stories is when a filmmaker came from America and met two brothers at the festival. They started working together and ended up making a TV pilot. That’s the kind of thing this festival sparks.”
Alan: “And audiences aren’t passive. When you come, you’re meeting filmmakers, hearing from them, even shaping their future work through your reactions. It’s a shared experience and that’s powerful.”
Why should we come along?
Alan: “Because it’s fun! You can see two hours of short films – comedies, dramas, animations, documentaries, for a tenner. You’ll laugh, you’ll think, you’ll talk about it afterwards. It’s a social thing as much as a cultural one.”
Annemarie: “Exactly. Even if you’re not a film buff, you’ll come away inspired and you might find yourself supporting someone local who could be the next big name in film.”
What do you want Ealing residents to take away from this?
Annemarie: “That this belongs to them. It’s their festival. We started it because it was missing, and now it’s part of the fabric of Ealing. Everyone should feel welcome to come, whether you’re a filmmaker or just curious.”
Alan: “For me, it’s about showing that Ealing is not just a place with a famous past, but with a vibrant, creative present. This festival is proof of that. And the more residents get involved, the stronger it becomes.
This year EFF had to deal with the very sad, unexpected loss of Founder/Director Peter Gould, but the team continues to grow and develop – his legacy will live on and the overall Festival winner prize will be awarded in his name.
The Ealing Film Festival runs from Thursday 2nd October to Saturday 4th October with screenings at Act One Cinema and Ealing PictureHouse.
