Alumnus launches inaugural film festival

Founded by alumnus Marc Cameron, The Little Venice Film Festival (LVFF) aims to make cinema more inclusive through supporting female, LGBTQ+ and Global Majority directors, while enhancing accessibility to cinema for disabled people.

The first Little Venice Film Festival is taking place between October 22 and 28, with highlights including an evening of screenings for deaf and blind people at the Electric Cinema, Portobello, and its awards night at the Curzon Mayfair – in support of the Save Curzon Mayfair campaign.

Oscar winner Troy Kotsur will be opening the festival on October 22, and supporting the deaf and blind screenings with the UK debut of his documentary To My Father.

The festival is backed by Westminster Council and the Little Venice, Hyde Park and Westbourne wards, Zopa Bank will be the headline sponsor for this year’s inaugural festival.

Submission categories for the inaugural Little Venice Film Festival include Narrative Features and shorts, Documentary features and shorts, Female Perspective, LGBTQ+ Experience, Mental Health Experience, Disability Experience, and National Youth Showcase.

Award categories include Best Feature, Best Short, Best LGBTQ+ Experience Film, Best Female Experience Film, Best Director, Best Film by a Female Director, Best First Time Filmmaker, Best National Student Showcase Film, and Best National Youth Showcase Film.

Marc, who graduated from the University of Gloucestershire in Media Communications and Film with Photography in 2003, said: “We hope through the inclusivity of our submission categories and awards – and the presence of subtitles/captions at all screenings, along with the presence of Audio Description and specialised screenings for disabled and deaf audiences – that this a festival that will be inclusive to everyone.”