Ealing Film Festival Goes Live for 2021

The first in-person event will take place in the town centre in December


Ealing Green Church where Ealing Film Festival will be held

A film festival created in Ealing during the lockdown last year and initially launched online will be taking place in real life next month.

Ealing has been without a cinema since 2008 but this hasn't deterred a group of film loving residents whose aim to provide an outlet for new and up-and-coming filmmakers has seen hundreds of entries from 35 countries, from Iceland to Peru, Iraq to Trinidad.

Co-founder Peter Gould says,"We had some great entries in our first year, and although it had to be conducted online it still attracted a lot of interest. This year we had twice as many entries and are being contacted daily by filmmakers to find out how they can take part. It has underlined how much film people need to meet one another and be part of a creative community - we are just delighted to be able to welcome them to Ealing show films and host a real event.''

The Festival will be happening Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 of December at Ealing Green Church and Filmmakers from as far away as the USA have told organisers that they are planning to attend.

Co-Founder, Alan Granley says, '' We're over the moon - such an amazing response, and want to thank everyone for supporting - we can't wait to welcome all the filmmakers to Ealing... it's the home of film after all."

Veteran Parliamentarian, the MP for Ealing North for 22 years Steve Pound, has supported the Festival from the start and plans to open this year's event in his own inimitable style on the Saturday afternoon.

The weekend will feature screenings of short films, including some of the winners from 2020-  as well as a number of panels with industry experts, chats with filmmakers all leading up to the awards ceremony when the 2021 winners will be revealed.


Screenwriter, Chris Lang

A special guest for Sunday 5 December is Chris Lang, scriptwriter of many TV dramas including the award winning series starring Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar, ''Unforgotten''. He will take questions from the floor about the art and craft of writing.

Tickets are on sale now however  organisers say there are limited numbers due to the hall capacity, but they intend to put more screenings on throughout the borough early next year to ''shine the spotlight on talent from home and abroad.''

Following the successful opening of the Act One Cinema in Acton, next year should see not just one but two sets of cinemas opening in Ealing Town Centre.

Eight screens are planned at the Filmworks development which is currently being prepared for the fitting stage. This long awaited opening by Picturehouse is estimated to be in late spring or early summer, 2022

Meanwhile, The Really Local Group with plans for a smaller three screen community venue at the site of the former Karma Club may possibly open sooner.

Sponsors are sought for the Ealing Film Festival 2022 which organisers say will be even more ambitious and any businesses that can help are being urged to contact info@ealingfilmfestival.com

Annemarie Flanagan

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November 18, 2021