Who are we?
City Lights Film Festival is not your typical film festival — and it never has been.
Our story began in 2010 with a simple but powerful idea: create a welcoming, meaningful space where filmmakers and actors could genuinely connect. That idea became a monthly networking event that eventually grew into a BIFA qualifying film festival in the heart of north London.
More than a decade later, that same ethos drives everything we do.
Today, City Lights Film Festival and our City Nights networking events exist for one core purpose: to spotlight, support, and champion emerging filmmakers — before, during, and long after their time at the festival. We don’t just screen films; we help filmmakers build relationships, develop their craft, and take tangible steps forward in their careers.
A Festival Built on Community, Not Competition
Our networking nights remain a cornerstone of our identity, continuing to engage thousands of creatives through live events and workshops since 2010. Our film festival arm (formerly TweetFest Film Festival) has been welcoming live audiences in London since 2015, beginning at the iconic Hackney Picturehouse and expanding to some of the city’s most respected independent venues.
City Lights is proudly female-led, diverse, and passionately dedicated to discovering and nurturing new voices in film. We actively support filmmakers well beyond the festival circuit, creating opportunities for long-term growth rather than one-off exposure.
Industry Voices That Matter
Each year, our films are judged by an ever-evolving VIP jury made up of respected industry professionals. Past panellists and judges have included casting directors Gemma Sykes and Shakyra Dowling; award-winning directors Laura Smith, Jesse Quinones, Simon Blake (Still), and the Blaine Brothers (Nina Forever); BAFTA-nominated producer Alex Moody; Hat Trick Productions’ development team; casting director Manuel Puro (Moon, The Machine); producer Jessie Mangum (Goalpost); Emilie Wren (London Film Festival); and Alberto Lopez, International Director at Variety, among many others.
Our gala screenings and events have taken place at outstanding venues such as Finsbury Park Picturehouse, Hackney Picturehouse, the ArtHouse Cinema, Screen on the Green, and the Hen and Chickens Theatre — providing filmmakers with a truly professional platform to showcase their work.
A female-led film festival passionately championing emerging and undiscovered talent from the UK, City Lights actively helps filmmakers to grow in their careers long after they’ve left the festival. We champion excellence at every level.
More Than Screenings
Alongside our main programme, City Lights has hosted MiniFest, F-Rated Shorts screenings, filmmaker panels, industry panels, workshops, Q&As, and networking events designed to give filmmakers real access to decision-makers — not just a seat in the audience.
Our Alumni
Our alumni include Molly Manning Walker (won Un Certain Regard Award in Cannes 2023), Maxine Peake, Ruth Pickett (BAFTA winner 2024), Nash Edgerton, Karen Bryson, Georgina Haig, Tessa Hoffe, Zach Woods, Missy Malek, Toto Bruin, Stephen Gallacher, Salvatore Scarpa and Max Burgoyne-Moore, and Stef O’Driscoll amongst many other brilliant directors, and talent on screen has included the likes of Tamsin Greig, Tom Holland, Micheal Ward, Rose Byrne, Gemma Whelan, Will Ferrell, and Jonny Flynn. But to us, every actor in our films is our star!
