This year the festival received 548 films from 91 countries — the widest geographical spread in its history, and the hardest selection the programming team has had to make.
Submissions arrived from every continent except Antarctica, with first-time entries from eleven countries. Narrative, documentary, animation and experimental work were represented in almost equal measure, a balance the festival has been working towards since its first edition.
The programming team watched every submission in full. Films were grouped by the five programme directions rather than by format, so a short animation and a feature documentary can sit side by side when they are asking the same question.
The full programme, including screening times and venues, will be published closer to the festival. Accredited press and industry guests will receive the schedule in advance.
