Norwich Film Festival 2026

Norwich Film Festival returns to Cinema City from 6 to 15 November, ten days of short films that run from the first Friday through to the following Sunday. It's a BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festival, so the shorts screened here can go on to be considered for those awards. This year's programme brings together 136 shortlisted films across 21 themed screenings, alongside feature films, 35mm cinema, live music and Q&As with the filmmakers.

There are two new strands to look out for: the East Anglian Student Showcase on 8 November at 15:00, and 'Right Here, Right Now' on 13 November at 19:00. The Short Film Award Nominees compete across seven categories: British, International, Animation, Documentary, Student, East Anglian and the new East Anglian Student Award. The winners are announced at the ceremony on Saturday 14 November, followed by an Award Winners Showcase on Sunday 15 November.

It's a registered charity that's been running since 2009, and has screened more than 1,400 shorts in that time. It's also ranked in the top 100 on FilmFreeway. Some of the films it's launched have gone on to win BAFTAs and Oscars, as well as awards at Sundance, Tribeca and South by Southwest. Festival director Rachel Prendergast describes the ten days in November as a time when filmmakers from Kazakhstan to King's Lynn share a screen at Cinema City. Patron Stephen Fry advises emerging filmmakers to tell only the stories only they can tell, and points to Norwich's creative spirit. Alongside the screenings, the Creative Futures programme at Norwich University of the Arts brings students and emerging filmmakers together to explore routes into film, television and the wider screen industries.

Tickets are £8 or £6, with some family-friendly sessions at £5. If you're planning to see more than one, there are short film screening passes: a 3-screening pass for £15 and a 5-screening pass for £25.