Need to know
Submissions have opened for the autumn festival taking place at venues across the city
UNTHINKABLE’s Sofa Cinema was a highlight at the last festival, at Humber Street Gallery(Image: supplied image)
Hull’s daring celebration of short filmmaking is gearing up for its biggest year yet
- UNTHINKABLE, the city’s homegrown short film festival and registered charity, has officially opened submissions for this year’s festival, taking place from October 6 to 11 at venues across the city. Now entering a new phase of growth, the festival continues to position Hull as a place where film is not only screened, but made, challenged, and reimagined.
- Film-makers from across the UK and beyond are invited to submit work that embraces originality, bold ideas, and creative risk-taking. Keaton BMcD, creative director for the festival, said: “Short film is where everything begins. Every great director you can name – from Martin Scorsese and David Lynch to Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, George Lucas and Paul Thomas Anderson – started by making one really good short.”
- Alongside its six-day programme of screenings, the festival delivers exhibitions, live music, performances, workshops, and interdisciplinary events that reflect the breadth of creative practice influencing contemporary film-making. The 2026 festival will be produced by Andy Pearson, a Hull-based theatre and film practitioner known for his work as a director, producer, and creative collaborator across stage and screen.
- Speaking about his new role, Andy said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be producing UNTHINKABLE this year. I’ve admired the festival from the very beginning – not just for the quality of the films it showcases, but for its values, its purpose, and its belief in what creativity can do for this region. Being part of that mission is something I’m genuinely excited about.”
- UNTHINKABLE operates as a registered charity dedicated to reinvesting in the future of film across Hull and its surrounding regions. All profits generated by the festival support year-round skills development, training, and creative opportunities, particularly for young people aged 16-25.
- Submissions for the 2026 festival are now open via FilmFreeway. Films must be under 25 minutes and may be submitted in any genre, including narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and hybrid forms – full details and entry categories are available at filmfreeway.com/UNTHINKABLEFILMFESTIVAL
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.