Sunrise Film Festival is delighted to announce that we have been ranked among FilmFreeway’s Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals.
According to reviews from real FilmFreeway users, Sunrise now sits in the top 1% of more than 14,000 film festivals and creative contests worldwide. This recognition is a testament to the countless hours of hard work, care, and passion that our team and volunteers have devoted to building a festival that champions independent film, diverse storytelling, and underrepresented filmmakers.
Since our founding in 2021, Sunrise has grown into the UK’s biggest celebration of Diverse Stories and Underrepresented Filmmakers. Based in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and run entirely voluntarily by passionate independent film enthusiasts and filmmakers, we exist to provide an accessible platform for filmmakers every August, especially those whose work may not yet have been discovered by the wider festival circuit.
Our 6th edition of the BIFA and Grierson qualifying Sunrise Film Festival will take place from 19 to 22 August 2027 at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Submissions for our 2027 edition are now open and will close on 29 November 2026.
A Festival Built for Filmmakers
Sunrise Film Festival was created to make film more accessible, to celebrate independent cinema, and to showcase powerful stories to new audiences across overlooked communities.
We are especially proud to support filmmakers year after year who are emerging, first-time, female, non-binary, neurodiverse, LGBTQIA+, and those telling stories rooted in lived experience or social and environmental issues.
Since 2021, we have screened just over 1,100 independent films as part of our official selection to live audiences and have presented over 125 awards at our festival award ceremonies.
We are also proud to be recognised as:
- A BFI Film Audience Network-backed film festival
- A BIFA qualifying festival for British Short Films (Section B*)
- A Grierson qualifying festival for documentaries
What Our Filmmakers Say
“A wonderful festival experience from start to finish. The team go above and beyond to create fantastic experience for filmmakers and the care that went into the festival was evident throughout. We were thrilled to receive a Community Award nomination. Thank you to the whole Sunrise team for championing independent filmmakers and creating a space where diverse stories can truly be seen and celebrated. Highly recommend!”
— Cat White
“Sunrise film festival truly is one of the best. Having screened with them two years running, they’ve helped me as an emerging filmmaker secure my place in the industry. Not only do they showcase a wonderful mix of films, they’ve helped also create a sense of community that extends outside of their screenings. The communication from their team is quick, consistent and always kind. Definitely a stand out festival for many reasons!”
— Charly Faye
Why Sunrise?
As Suffolk’s largest film festival, we’re passionate about creating an inclusive platform for filmmakers in East Anglia and beyond. We are proud to be a bright, colourful, grassroots festival with real impact, showcasing independent film in one of the most deprived communities in England, and helping meaningful stories reach the audiences they deserve.
This recognition from FilmFreeway is a wonderful milestone for our festival, and we’re grateful to every filmmaker, volunteer, audience member, and supporter who has helped make Sunrise what it is today.
If you’d like help entering your short film into Sunrise Film Festival via FilmFreeway, have questions about submitting, or need support with a waiver code (subject to eligibility), please email hello@sunrisefilmfestival.co.uk or DM us on Instagram @sunrisefilmfest.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Sunrise 2027.
