Cinephiles and emerging artists rejoice. Tickets are now on sale for Watersprite Film Festival 2025.
What is Watersprite Film Festival?
I’m so glad you asked. Watersprite Film Festival is the world’s largest student film festival, and it has been running for sixteen consecutive years.
When is Watersprite Film Festival 2025?
Another phenomenal question. Watersprite Film Festival 2025 will run from Friday 7th March to Sunday 9th March 2025.
Where will the festival be?
Back at it again with the spectacular questions? You’re 3 for 3. The festival will be held in Cambridge. It will host thousands of young creatives and film enthusiasts for a weekend of free events, screenings and networking opportunities amongst the film community in Cambridge this year. This year’s festival received over 2,000 submissions from 100+ countries, and juries have selected 40 nominees across fourteen categories.
What will the festival include?
Alright, now you’re just showing off. I will answer your question though. The festival will include amazing events such as screenings of 29 films by talented young filmmakers from across the globe, 13 events, including panel discussions, interviews and masterclasses featuring industry professionals. It will be In-person in Cambridge as well as be accessible via their online platform.
Additionally, the Watersprite Film Festival is the only student film festival in the world to offer travel and accommodation support to all nominated filmmakers.
How much does the weekend cost?
The entire weekend is completely free, improving industry access for all. In an increasingly divisive time when companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, Disney and sadly many more are rolling back their diversity initiatives, events like these are so important. 2024 research from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre showed that in film, television, and radio, just over 8% of creatives are from working-class backgrounds- the lowest in a decade- while over 60% working in the same industry are from the middle or upper class- the highest in a decade. The Watersprite Film Festival seeks to tear down that velvet rope success.
Key events of the weekend will include:
Making Your First Feature (with LucidLink) with Producer of Hoard Helen Simmons.
Setting the Scene with Production Designer of Trainspotting and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Kave Quinn.
Inside the Audition Room with Casting Director Shaheen Baig (Lady Macbeth, Layla, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie).
The Art of Intimacy with Intimacy Coordinators of Queen Charlotte and 28 Years Later Lucy Fennel and Robbie Taylor Hunt.
Do Not Try This At Home with Stunt Performer of Homeland and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Laura Vörtler.
There will also be a full programme of screenings throughout the weekend including the highly anticipated Winning Film Screening taking place on Sunday 9th March with the winning films revealed at the Watersprite Awards Ceremony with Amazon MGM Studios. These will showcase the very best of student filmmaking from across all genres, and representing countries from Costa Rica, to Singapore, to Syria.
For more information, take a look at the festival programme on the Watersprite website.
The History of the Watersprite Film Festival
The Watersprite Film Festival is a charity that was founded in 2009 by several students, including now Head of Creative at Film4, Farhana Bhula. Chaired by the first female chair of BAFTA, Hilary Bevan Jones, Watersprite has since grown into a irreplaceable celebration of student talent from all over the world. The film festival continues to forge a bridge between emerging filmmakers and industry professionals, creating a community that embraces talent and innovation from any and all backgrounds.
Taking place in Cambridge every March, the festival is primarily run by a team of 70 students from Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge – and is the only organisation to bring the two universities together in the region. As of 2024 the Watersprite team has expanded to include representatives from Bristol, Edinburgh, UCL and Aberystwyth. The students are guided by a Board of Trustees including the aforementioned Hilary Bevan Jones and Farhana Bhula as well as Femi Ladeinde (Director of Finance and Operations at Red Arrow Studios), Brian Woods (multi-BAFTA winning Documentary maker), Dorothy Byrne (previous Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4, current president of Murray Edwards College Cambridge) and Bernadette Schramm (Founding and Managing Partner of Malao).
How can I get tickets?
Easy. Tickets are available here.
How can I keep up with the Watersprite Film Festival?
Okay, enthusiasm. I see you.
Twitter/X: @WaterspriteFilm
Instagram: @waterspritefilm
LinkedIn: @waterspritefilm
