Film Festival Category

Animation, Film Festival

10 Short Films that Capture the Spirit of Cardiff Animation Festival 2026

Here are the 10 standout shorts from Cardiff Animation Festival - each one showcasing a distinct and exciting voice in animation.

Read more

Awards, Film Festival

Directors Notes Presents the WeAreDN Awards 2026 & Twenty Years of Supporting Indie Filmmakers

Three years of the WeAreDN Awards. Twenty years of Directors Notes. Presenting our biggest celebration yet!

Read more

Film Festival, Sponsored

10 Audacious, Bold and Unstoppable Short Films Screening at NFFTY 2026

From animated shorts to documentaries, experimental pieces to music videos, NFFTY 2026 arrives with a packed programme of striking range and ambition.

Read more

Film Festival

Poignant, Playful and Powerful: 10 Must-Watch Shorts from BFI Flare 2026

DN returns to BFI Flare, the UK's largest queer film festival, to curate a list of 10 unmissable LGBTQIA+ shorts being celebrated during it's 40th edition.

Read more

Film Festival

SXSW 2026 Guide: 14 Emerging Filmmakers You Need to Know

With the SXSW Film Festival here again Directors Notes took a deep dive into this year's line-up and selected 14-filmmakers with bright futures ahead of them.

Read more

Article, Film Festival

BFI Flare Programmer Diana Cipriano on the Evolution of LGBTQIA+ Cinema and the Festival’s 40th Anniversary

Ahead of the 40th Edition of BFI Flare, programmer Diana Cipriano guides DN through the team's inspiring curation process.

Read more

Film Festival

10 Shorts That Left Their Mark from the 48th Edition of Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival

DN returned to the world's largest short film festival to uncover 10 standout films from Clermont-Ferrand's expertly curated 48th edition programmes.

Read more

Film Festival

13 Standout Short Films from Sundance 2026

From familiar names to emerging voices, we dive into the 2026 Sundance lineup to spotlight thirteen must-watch short films.

Read more

Cartoon Saloon's Eiru is one of the short film highlights at Manchester animation Festival

Animation, Film Festival

Our Top 12 Short Film Picks from Manchester Animation Festival 2025

From bold debuts to innovative festival favourites, MAF’s eclectic short film selection is bursting with creativity — here are 12 unmissable picks.

Read more

Film Festival, Live Action

Maternal Love Persists in Zain Duraie’s Claustrophobic Meditation on Motherhood and Mental Health ‘Sink’

Zain Duraie describes building unbearable tension by stretching a mother's denial to its breaking point in her drama about a son's fractured mental health.

Read more

Film Festival, Live Action

10 Striking Shorts From the 69th Edition of the BFI London Film Festival

This year's most exciting LFF shorts trend is a cohesive push into experiential cinema. These 10 titles transport you to their bizarre & brilliant realities.

Read more

Film Festival

10 Unmissable Shorts Screening at Encounters Film Festival’s Much Anticipated 30th Edition

Marking its triumphant return, Encounters Film Festival is back in full force. Here are 10 hand picked DN faves from the packed programme which stayed with us.

Read more