(L-R): Geoff Thompson, BIFFL festival organiser; Theo Fedorov, winner of the YFC 2025-26;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Tuesday 23 September 2026, the British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg launched the 4th edition of the Young Filmmakers Competition 2026-27 during the Shorts Evening at the Cinémathèque @ Cercle Cité (in the 142-seat Cité Auditorium above the city library).
Festival Organiser Geoff Thompson confirmed that that they again received support from the Œuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte to be able to hold this competition, which he explained aims to encourage the next generation of filmmakers.
The winner of the inaugural competition was from the EIDE in Differdange, with the 2nd and 3rd edition winners both from the Lenster Lycée in Junglinster.
Submissions for the 4th edition open on 1 December 2026 and close on 31 January 2027.
Duration: 2-5 minutes long.
Categories:
Schools, Under 15s (at 31 January 2027)
Schools, Over 15s (at 31 January 2027)
University
Topics:
Health
Friendship
Genres:
Drama
Documentary
Animation
Judging criteria:
Storytelling
Artistic (in front of the camera)
Technical (behind the camera)
AI: AI-assisted submissions are allowed; however, it must be made clear how AI was used (script writing, visuals, audio, etc.).
Also, submissions do not need to have a British or Irish connection; they need to be in English or have English subtitles (unless there is no dialogue).
He also confirmed that they have prepared a two-page document on Technical Recommendations and a 3-page document on Teachers' Guidelines, as well as a 12-minute video to screen in schools, which covers the rules, etc., as well as the three winning submissions to date.
Key dates:
November - December: In-school presentations
Tuesday 1 December 2026: Submissions Open (to geoff@festivalevents.lu)
Sunday 31 January 2027: Submission Deadline
February 2027: Jury Deliberation
Thursday 18 March 2026: Young Filmmakers Competition 2026-27 Awards (hopefully with Loic Tanson, director, and Bernard Michaux, producer, to address the event to share their experiences)
19-24 March 2027: British & Irish Film Festival 2027 Spring Edition
For details, see https://festivalevents.lu/filmfestival/news
