Glasgow’s annual independent film event, currently in its 12th edition, set for November 12 – 16 2025.

In 2025, the 12th edition of IFFG opens a new page in our festival history, advancing into our second decade of discovering new talent and bringing audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals together, creating an education platform for independent cinema, and providing a stage to new and underrepresented voices to showcase their work. The 12th edition in 2025 celebrates our ongoing development; our continuous work toward providing an open and inclusive environment for our community to engage with independent cinema from all around the world; and our accessibility commitment, enabling all audiences to learn about independent film and discover new talent. IFFG is under the umbrella of World of Film, a non-profit organisation bringing audiences a step closer to international independent cinema and giving voice to young artists.

Join us at the 12th edition of IFFG this November, where audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals come together, and share a platform to exchange ideas, showcase their work and most importantly talk about independent film and new trends in the industry.

Our focus remains on independent cinema from all over the world, by showcasing the work of first feature filmmakers, women directors and eastern European cinema in our three main sections, First Features, The Female Perspectives & Focus on Balkan Cinema, respectively. We also continue supporting the world of animation, with our 8th Animation Day in Glasgow, in collaboration with Animaze, Glasgow Life, The Grosvenor Picture Theatre and partners. Our expanded education platform includes screenings and workshops for youth and under 16s, masterclasses / talks / panels and open discussions with acclaimed visiting industry professionals, curated programmes for children and students, networking opportunities, Q&As and more.

The festival has seven categories in competition:

• First Feature Film Competition
• Best Short Film Competition
• Feature in the Female Perspectives Competition
• Best Short Film in Female Perspectives Competition
• Best Feature Film: Focus on Balkan Cinema
• Best Short Film: Focus on Balkan Cinema
• Best Animation

In more detail, the IFFG 2025 programme will include the following sections (please check regularly the website for news and updates):

• First Feature Competition: Successful submissions from first feature film directors.
• The Female Perspectives: Films with powerful female representation, from women creators, to 50%+ female crews, empowering on-screen representation by women actors.
• Focus on Balkan Cinema: A selection of short and feature films from Eastern European countries, with communities and current topics from those regions in the spotlight.
• Special Screenings (Out of Competition): A selection of films from the festival circuit.
• Animation programme as part of the 8th Animation Day in Glasgow, with animation for adult audiences, as well as under 16s and school education screenings & workshops.
• Reel Tasty: Our food and film experiences, where audiences can enjoy gastronomic creations matched with short and feature films and embark on a unique, interactive journey of senses.
• Youth programming: Film programmes and specially curated workshops for youth, stimulating engagement with younger audiences (under 16 years of age).

Our special programmes include workshops, masterclasses, family events & live performances.

The above will be surrounded by Q&As, panel discussions & networking events with attending cast / crew members and film industry professionals.