The film scene in Wales has come a long way since 1898, when pioneering Welsh filmmaker, Arthur Cheetham, wowed audiences at Rhyl Town Hall with his film of children playing on a beach.
Now, not only is Wales home to a thriving film production industry (as well as being a favourite shooting location for blockbusters and TV series alike!), but the country boasts a calendar chock-full of film festivals, showcasing new works to cinephiles from Wales and beyond.
In fact, Wales now plays host to more than 40 festivals throughout the year, either focused specifically on film or with film screenings as a major component. These cover a wide variety of styles and genres, from the Cardiff Animation Festival in the Welsh capital in May to the Abertoir International Horror Festival of Wales in Aberystwyth in November.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the film-related festivals happening in Wales throughout the year. (Festival dates are subject to change, check the festival website for the latest information.)
January
Cardiff Mini Film Festival, Cardiff
Established in 2012, Cardiff Mini Film Festival is a grassroots short film festival dedicated to helping low budget and early career filmmakers break into the industry. The festival takes over shopfronts and bars across the Welsh capital to screen shortlisted films, as well as special one-off showings of cult classics.
February
Borderlines Film Festival UK, locations around Powys
Borderlines Film Festival is the UK’s largest rural film festival, with close to 300 screenings of the best new international and British cinema. The 16-day festival takes place in venues along the Wales England border, offering a wide range of viewing experiences, from multi-screen arts centres to village halls.
March
Gwyl Y Ferch Gogledd Cymru, Caernarfon
This month-long festival in North Wales celebrates the creative talents of Welsh women. The festival showcases artworks, music, and films created by females, with all proceeds from the festival going to the charity Bangor Women's Aid.
Lez Diff, Cardiff
Born out of frustration at the one-dimensional representation of lesbian women in the mainstream film industry, Lez Diff is a film festival focused on works that accurately represent the lives of lesbian, bisexual and queer women on the big screen. Hosted in Cardiff, the three day event also includes theatre, music and discussions.
Llynfi Valley Film Festival, Maesteg
Hosted in the recently renovated Maesteg Town Hall, this film festival is dedicated to Welsh language films. Along with screenings, with English subtitles, the festival also includes panel discussions with filmmakers and filmmaking workshops.
Oska Bright Film Festival UK, various location
Oska Bright is the world’s leading festival for films made by or featuring people with learning disabilities or autism. The festival takes place in Brighton, England, with tour dates in Welsh venues during March.
Pigeon Talk Comedy, Cardiff
Pigeon Laughs is the first comedy short film festival in Cardiff, celebrating the art of comedy shorts in an accessible format, while connecting and promoting talented comedy directors, actors and producers from all over the world.
April
Wales One World Film Festival (WOW), across Wales
Wales' longest running film festival, WOW is the only UK festival dedicated principally to films from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, showcasing thought-provoking, eye-opening films from places audiences rarely get to see on screen.
Cardiff Animation Festival, Cardiff
Since 2018, Cardiff Animation Festival has been bringing people together around a love of animation, creating a space for people of all ages and backgrounds to meet, learn and share the enjoyment of watching and participating in animation and filmmaking.
May
Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, Llanelli
This festival in the town of Llanelli champions the very best in independent filmmaking and film-makers, both in Wales and from around the world. Recent editions of the festival have seen well over 800 submissions from 74 different countries.
FOCUS Wales Film Festival, Wrexham
FOCUS Wales is the only BAFTA Cymru-Qualifying film festival in North Wales, with an emphasis on supporting new and emerging talent from Wales and around the world. FOCUS Wales presents an international short film competition + curated feature screenings and industry events. The festival takes place alongside the FOCUS Wales music showcase and conference in Wrexham, which welcomes 20,000+ attendees each year.
Gwanwyn Festival, across Wales
Organised by Age Cymru, Gwanwyn is a month-long national festival held across Wales showcasing creativity in older age. The festival offers opportunities for older people to become involved in arts and creative activities, either as practitioners, organisers or audience members.
Watch Africa Film Festival, Cardiff
The Watch Africa Film Festival celebrates outstanding achievements in African cinema, spotlighting the vibrant storytelling, creativity, and diverse voices that define the continent’s film industry. Each year, the festival honours exceptional filmmakers, whose works challenge perspectives, ignite conversations, and inspire audiences across Wales and beyond.
Gŵyl Wal Goch, Wrexham
Gŵyl Wal Goch is the leading festival of football culture, based in Wrexham, the spiritual home of Welsh football. The festival comprises films, performances, talks and workshops celebrating the beautiful game.
June
Celtic Media Festival, various locations
Moving between Wales and other Celtic nations and regions (such as Northern Ireland, Cornwall, in England, and Brittany, in France), the three-day Celtic Media Festival shines a spotlight on Celtic culture, hosting discussions, lectures and networking events with the ambition of promoting the languages, history and talent of those nations and regions.
July
Ruthin International Arts Festival, Ruthin
As part of its wider programme, the Ruthin International Arts Festival curates a seven-day series of film screenings delving into a distinct theme, drawing on an array of global perspectives and cultural narratives.
August
Green Man Festival, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
One of Wales’ most prominent festivals, The Green Man Festival puts together an eclectic showing of music, comedy, theatre and film screenings. The festival takes its name from the mythical figure of the Green Man, a symbol of rebirth and growth.
The National Eisteddfod, across Wales
The National Eisteddfod is a week-long, moveable feast of Welsh culture that travels the mountains and valleys of Wales, bringing with it a celebration of all things Cymraeg. The festivities include performances by poets, musicians and dancers, as well as a dedicated film schedule (known as the “Sinemaes programme”).
Rhyller Thriller, Rhyl
Once described as the ungodly love child of a film festival and a horror convention, the Rhyller Thriller is a two-day horror symposium built up of classics, cult films and independent masterpieces certain to terrify and entertain.
October
Attic Theatre International Film Festival, Newcastle Emlyn
Attic Theatre International Film Festival is a festival of short films from 2 to 20 minutes in length, taking place in a historic theatre in the centre of the town of Newcastle Emlyn in Carmarthenshire.
Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Cardiff
This renowned film festival serves as a global celebration of LGBTQ+ stories that brings filmmakers from around the world to the Welsh capital. The festival also gives out the biggest short film prize in the world – the coveted £40,000 Iris Prize.
Phantasmagoria Horror Film Festival, Wrexham
Building up the excitement for Halloween, this festival, which keeps a sense of community spirit at its heart, screens a mix of classic horror flicks and new and independent spooky films, with Q&A sessions and fun activities such as pub quizzes thrown in for attendees.
Kotatsu Animation Festival, Cardiff
Launched in November 2010, Kotatsu Animation Festival brings the best in Japanese animation to Wales. Along with a diverse selection of film screenings, the festival includes stalls and activities that highlight wider Japanese culture, creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere for visitors of all ages.
The Children’s International Film Festival of Wales, Tredegar
Held in venues across the town of Tredegar, this festival celebrates the best and brightest films created for children, both from seasoned professional filmmakers and young persons starting their journeys in cinematography.
November
The Banff Mountain Film Festival, across Wales
The Banff Mountain Film Festival brings to life the spirit of extreme adventure and the world’s great wild places through the big screen. The festival, which focuses on short films, tours the UK and Ireland, with multiple stops around Wales.
Into Film Festival, across Wales
The Into Film Festival is the largest free, annual, UK-wide celebration of film, providing memorable cinema experiences for children and young people aged 5-19, from screenings and Q&As with filmmakers to inspiring career workshops.
Abertoir International Horror Festival of Wales, Aberystwyth
Abertoir is an annual horror-themed film festival held in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. The festival has grown into a six-day schedule that features screenings of big-budget, cult and independent horror films, as well as a short film competition, which showcases horror and fantasy short films from around the globe.
Discover more about Wales’ film industry, including more festivals happening throughout the country, on the Film Hub Wales website.