Our Story

It was 2018. Thurrock’s previous international film festival had closed a few years earlier. There was a gap crying out to be filled. We took the plunge! We established TIC Film Festival in 2018-2019. Then we crashed into COVID. Not to be daunted, we resurfaced with an outdoor cinema in 2021 in Grays Town Park alongside an online festival. In 2022 we forged on in earnest, still keeping with open-sir screenings in Grays Town Park. We became Film Thurrock, to embrace our widening our activities each year. in 2025, the identity of the festival became separate and clear. It became Thurrock International Film Festival!

Formerly the Thurrock Screen Culture Festival (2018–2024), the Thurrock International Film Festival is a bold celebration of cinema on the edge of the Thames. Rooted in Essex and open to the world, TIFF champions fearless storytelling, independent voices, and films that defy expectation—from local talent to international visionaries.

What We Look For

We welcome work by and for underrepresented communities—especially those facing barriers due to race, class, disability, gender, sexuality, or geography. TIFF seeks stories that reflect the complexity of the world, challenge assumptions, and offer new perspectives. Whether you're emerging or established, if your work speaks with vision, we want to see it.

Awards

TIFF concludes with an awards ceremony celebrating excellence across 20+ categories, including:
– Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay
– Best UK & International Short, Student Short
– Best Documentary, Animation, Experimental
– Acting, Cinematography, Sound, Score, and more

Categories & Guidelines

– Short Films: 3–30 min
– Features: 60–240 min
– Experimental/Doc/Animation: 40–180 min
– Screenplays: Feature (<130 pages), Short (<40 pages)
– Films must be completed within the last 2 years
– Non-English films must include English subtitles
– Submission fees are non-refundable
– Online screeners must be valid through Oct 19, 2025

Press & Publicity

By submitting, you grant TIFF permission to use excerpts and images for festival promotion. Selected filmmakers may be asked for additional press materials.