NEW Forward Film & Television Festival!
24 June 2025
Forward Film & Television Festival
Birmingham
17 - 20 July 2025
This summer, the inaugural Forward Film & Television Festival makes its debut, spotlighting bold new voices and positioning Birmingham as a major player in the screen industries. Running 17–20 July 2025, the four-day event will take over key venues including The Mockingbird Cinema, Midlands Arts Centre, The Crossing and Centrala. Major festival highlights include an exclusive Q&A with Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne a behind-the-scenes session with the camera team behind Netflix’s global hit Adolescence and a showcase of short films by Brummie favourite Joe Lycett alongside a discussion with the star himself - three standout events set to draw national attention. With a packed programme of screenings, industry panels, networking mixers, and a red-carpet awards gala, Forward offers a vibrant new platform for filmmakers, TV creators and audiences alike—right in the heart of Digbeth’s creative quarter.
Building on Birmingham’s rich legacy—from the first Odeon Cinema and Sir Michael Balcon to the worldwide success of Peaky Blinders—Forward is backed by key players including The BBC, Digbeth Loc. Studios, Create Central, Royal Television Society Midlands, Creative UK West Midlands, and Steven Knight CBE, the creator of Peaky Blinders and founder of Digbeth Loc. Studios.
“Birmingham has always been a city of creativity and innovation,” says Steven Knight. “Forward Film & Television Festival will continue that legacy by championing the next generation of storytellers—offering a platform where new voices can shine and find their audience.”
“When Steven Knight backs something on screen, you know it’s worth paying attention to,” says Cassie Smyth, festival co-founder. “Forward will not only celebrate Birmingham’s creative past but help shape its future—connecting emerging and established talent with new audiences.”
“‘I’m buzzing to see more love for filmmaking in our beloved Digbeth in the form of Forward Film & Television Festival.” says another Brummie icon and supporter of the event, Joe Lycett.
Designed to be inclusive and accessible, Forward will feature:
Four days of screenings and events across Digbeth
Sixteen award categories celebrating diverse storytelling
Industry panels and networking mixers bridging creators and professionals.
Festival co-founder Matthew Ford adds: “Birmingham’s creative scene is thriving, and Forward will showcase that talent to the world. Through projects like Reel Brum, The Mockingbird Cinema, BYFN, and Viewfinder, we’ve seen the impact storytelling can have. Forward is the next step in taking that impact global.”
Film and TV lovers, industry pros, and emerging talent are all invited to be part of this exciting new chapter in Birmingham’s cultural story.