Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival

Manchester, United Kingdom, Europe

21 - 28 Mar, 2021

Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival logo
Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival

Manchester, United Kingdom, Europe

Is this your festival?

Is this your festival?

About the festival

Learn more about the Lift-Off Global Network and how we support our filmmakers. Watch coverage from our festivals, see the interviews and engage with our live workshops directly from our YouTube Channel. Simply copy and paste this link into a separate tab: https://www.youtube.com/c/liftoffglobalnetwork

For over ten years Lift-Off has been showcasing some of the most exciting national and international newcomers to indie film from the beating heart of North West England. If you are a filmmaker looking to move forward in your career Lift-Off is exactly where you should start. From one to one marketing consultations, to exposure to sales agents, talent agents and press, we are the launch pad for unsung raw filmmaking talent.

Manchester Lift-Off is not like any other film festival in Manchester or the North of England by any stretch of the imagination. We are a professional showcase, where the priority is our filmmakers making the next step in their careers. From representation at Cannes, EFM in Berlin, The American Film Market and beyond.

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FREE SUBMISSIONS TO ALL LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVALS WITH NETWORK MEMBERSHIP

Lift-Off Global Network invites you to join our Network Members' platform which will provide you with the resources you need to launch your filmmaking career.

Intermediate Membership is an annual subscription of $89, which entitles you to:

- Fee waivers to all Lift-Off Showcases (worth $300)
- Free tickets to Lift-Off Film Festivals and the Lift-Off Season Awards
- Career guidance from the Lift-Off co-founders
- The chance to apply for representation at international film markets including Cannes, EFM, and AFM

Our Professional Membership is an annual subscription of $189, everything Intermediate Membership offers you:

- Fee waivers across our entire festival network (worth $700)
- Access to an international film jobs database
- Access to scripts from our Network
- Upload your own scripts
- Access to a detailed 5-week production accelerator course

For more information please head to our website: https://liftoff.network/membership/

Our prizes and awards stretch from the submission level, all the way through to the Lift-Off Season Awards at the end of each year. We offer as much as possible to all who submit, our officially selected filmmakers, our nominees, and winners.

At the submission level.

Value for your submission fee. Exclusive content emailed to every submitter up-to 24hrs from the time of submission.

High scoring films. If your film scores high but isn't included in our final programme you will be invited to our Lift-Off Online Film Festival initiative, an online competitions which run parallel with the respective live city screenings - where the top two winners get official selections at either of the next two Lift-Off cities.

---

The Lift-Off Season Awards

To celebrate and look back on the Lift-Off Season, Lift-Off host a prestigious awards ceremony called the Lift-Off Season Awards. The black tie event sees filmmakers, press, and industry professionals gather at the world-famous Lift-Off Season Awards for a night of awards, music, and networking.

Visit https://liftoff.network/season-awards/ to find out more.

Nominees are chosen after each Lift-Off Film Festival.
The categories:

Best Feature Live Action Narrative
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Live Action Narrative
Best Short Documentary
Best Director
Best Acting Ensemble
Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Post Production
Best Screenplay
Best Actor
Best First-Time Film

We can’t wait to see which films get nominated this year!

---

Script Selections

The top 5 Screenplays will be showcased across the Community platform, featured in the Lift-Off newsletter which is sent to our 35,000 filmmakers, and shared across social media.

Screenwriters will be invited to include their work in our online Community portal. The portal is a curated database of quality scripts that are looking for production.

Lift-Off Community directors and producers are actively looking for projects to develop. They can use the portal to find their next potential projects, and contact the writers directly to discuss the optioning of scripts, development and rights.
All entries should be completed scripts, short or feature length, and you should be actively looking for collaboration or development.

About

Learn more about the Lift-Off Global Network and how we support our filmmakers. Watch coverage from our festivals, see the interviews and engage with our live workshops directly from our YouTube Channel. Simply copy and paste this link into a separate tab: https://www.youtube.com/c/liftoffglobalnetwork

For over ten years Lift-Off has been showcasing some of the most exciting national and international newcomers to indie film from the beating heart of North West England. If you are a filmmaker looking to move forward in your career Lift-Off is exactly where you should start. From one to one marketing consultations, to exposure to sales agents, talent agents and press, we are the launch pad for unsung raw filmmaking talent.

Manchester Lift-Off is not like any other film festival in Manchester or the North of England by any stretch of the imagination. We are a professional showcase, where the priority is our filmmakers making the next step in their careers. From representation at Cannes, EFM in Berlin, The American Film Market and beyond.

-

FREE SUBMISSIONS TO ALL LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVALS WITH NETWORK MEMBERSHIP

Lift-Off Global Network invites you to join our Network Members' platform which will provide you with the resources you need to launch your filmmaking career.

Intermediate Membership is an annual subscription of $89, which entitles you to:

- Fee waivers to all Lift-Off Showcases (worth $300)
- Free tickets to Lift-Off Film Festivals and the Lift-Off Season Awards
- Career guidance from the Lift-Off co-founders
- The chance to apply for representation at international film markets including Cannes, EFM, and AFM

Our Professional Membership is an annual subscription of $189, everything Intermediate Membership offers you:

- Fee waivers across our entire festival network (worth $700)
- Access to an international film jobs database
- Access to scripts from our Network
- Upload your own scripts
- Access to a detailed 5-week production accelerator course

For more information please head to our website: https://liftoff.network/membership/

Our prizes and awards stretch from the submission level, all the way through to the Lift-Off Season Awards at the end of each year. We offer as much as possible to all who submit, our officially selected filmmakers, our nominees, and winners.

At the submission level.

Value for your submission fee. Exclusive content emailed to every submitter up-to 24hrs from the time of submission.

High scoring films. If your film scores high but isn't included in our final programme you will be invited to our Lift-Off Online Film Festival initiative, an online competitions which run parallel with the respective live city screenings - where the top two winners get official selections at either of the next two Lift-Off cities.

---

The Lift-Off Season Awards

To celebrate and look back on the Lift-Off Season, Lift-Off host a prestigious awards ceremony called the Lift-Off Season Awards. The black tie event sees filmmakers, press, and industry professionals gather at the world-famous Lift-Off Season Awards for a night of awards, music, and networking.

Visit https://liftoff.network/season-awards/ to find out more.

Nominees are chosen after each Lift-Off Film Festival.
The categories:

Best Feature Live Action Narrative
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Live Action Narrative
Best Short Documentary
Best Director
Best Acting Ensemble
Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Post Production
Best Screenplay
Best Actor
Best First-Time Film

We can’t wait to see which films get nominated this year!

---

Script Selections

The top 5 Screenplays will be showcased across the Community platform, featured in the Lift-Off newsletter which is sent to our 35,000 filmmakers, and shared across social media.

Screenwriters will be invited to include their work in our online Community portal. The portal is a curated database of quality scripts that are looking for production.

Lift-Off Community directors and producers are actively looking for projects to develop. They can use the portal to find their next potential projects, and contact the writers directly to discuss the optioning of scripts, development and rights.
All entries should be completed scripts, short or feature length, and you should be actively looking for collaboration or development.

Awards & Winners

There are no winners yet for this festival

Terms and rules

We accept all films and scripts in any length or genre.
Digital online submission screeners only.
Feedback is sent shortly after the commencement of the festival.

Proudly, we have no other restrictions for your work. This includes your work's premiere status, its age and/or whether your work has been made available online.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

Film Extended Feedback - Includes Submission
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $100
Regular (6th January, 2021) $100
Late (12th August, 2020) $100

(Paid submissions only) - Submit via this option and get exclusive feedback on your work directly from the Lift-Off International Film Festival Co-Founders James Bradley and Ben Pohlman. They will share with you their thoughts on your work, along with any recommended suggestions for instant improvement, and grades that cover Originality / Creativity, Direction, Writing, Cinematography, Performances, Production Value, Pacing, Structure, Sound and Music. They will also offer suggestions on where to submit to in future, and a clear indication on where to improve and how to get there. This is a great option for those willing to tackle some hard truths in their work, but also to gain any vital knowledge and confidence in pursing a long and strong career in film. Feedback is exclusive to those who pay for it, and fee waivers are not applicable. This includes fee waivers exclusive to Community Gold members; you must pay for feedback in order to recieve it.

Script Extended Feedback - Includes Submission
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $120
Regular (6th January, 2021) $120
Late (12th August, 2020) $120

You'll receive an in-depth script analysis covering elements such as character development, structure, and dialogue, by our qualified in-house judging team. These script coverages are an industry-standard procedure by production companies to acquire scripts, thus it will give you an excellent opportunity to get an insight into how professionals perceive your script, and how to develop your work for future drafts and agents and production houses. Including the submission, you will also receive an exclusive eBook which details the criteria for getting selected into a film festival. Feedback is exclusive to those who pay for it, and fee waivers are not applicable. This includes fee waivers exclusive to Community Gold members; you must pay for feedback in order to receive it.

Feature Length Live Action Narratives
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $18
Regular (6th January, 2021) $25
Late (12th August, 2020) $23

Feature length (40mins and above) live-action narrative films. Any premier/screening status - no restrictions.

Feature Documentaries
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $18
Regular (6th January, 2021) $29
Late (12th August, 2020) $23

Feature length (40mins and above) documentary films. Any premier/screening status - no restrictions.

Feature Animations
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $18
Regular (6th January, 2021) $20
Late (12th August, 2020) $20

Feature length (40mins and above) animations. Any premier/screening status - no restrictions.

Web Series
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $18
Regular (6th January, 2021) $33
Late (12th August, 2020) $23

We are happy to accept web series from pilot to fully released online. Any premier/screening status - no restrictions.

Short Live Action Narratives
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $15
Regular (6th January, 2021) $29
Late (12th August, 2020) $20

Short live action narrative based films of any genre, 40 minutes in length and below. Any premier/screening status - no restrictions.

Short Documentaries
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $15
Regular (6th January, 2021) $29
Late (12th August, 2020) $20

Short documentary films of any genre, 40 minutes in length and below. Any premiere/screening status - no restrictions.

Short Animations
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $15
Regular (6th January, 2021) $29
Late (12th August, 2020) $20

Short animated films of any genre and style - 40 minutes in length and below. Any premiere/screening status - no restrictions.

Music Videos
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $10
Regular (6th January, 2021) $10
Late (12th August, 2020) $10

Music Videos of any genre, 10 minutes in length and below. Any premier/screening status - no restrictions.

Scripts & Screenplays
Early Bird (11th June, 2020) $6
Regular (6th January, 2021) $10
Late (12th August, 2020) $8

Scripts can include any narrative based piece. This includes TV Shows, Films, Web Series. Any length and any genre.

Matchmaking

What is the title of your film?

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How long is your film?

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min.

What type of category does your film fall into?

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What is the genre of your film?

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What should be the main focus of your festival strategy?

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Monetary award

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How much money would you spend on festival submissions?

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EUR

Start date of submission

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