About us
Bradford International Film Festival (BRADIFF) returns in October 2026.
Based in the UK’s first UNESCO City of Film, BRADIFF showcases short films from Bradford-based, UK, and international filmmakers, celebrating bold storytelling and distinctive creative voices. We have recently joined the AIFF and follow their charter including transparent selection procedures and low submission fees.
BRADIFF is open to all filmmakers and all genres, with eligible films under 15 minutes in length. While the festival welcomes submissions from everyone, our dedicated strand for 2026 highlights films by female and non-binary filmmakers, inclusive of trans women. Films by filmmakers of all genders will continue to be considered across the full programme and awards.
Submission entry is free for Bradford-based filmmakers. Although there is no separate local category this year, Bradford filmmakers are strongly encouraged to submit and will be considered alongside all other entries.
In addition to screenings, BRADIFF will host a programme of industry talks, events, and practical workshops throughout the festival, culminating in the BRADIFF Awards Ceremony celebrating outstanding short filmmaking.
Co-Director -
Jan Ruppe
Jan Ruppe is a writer, producer and teacher living and working in Bradford. Jan trained as an actor at LAMDA and performed on stage and screen for many years . A published playwright (Cut It Out, Aurora Metro), Jan is currently developing a full-length stage play with Paines Plough.
Since 2021 Jan has written and produced three short films with her company EmJayArts winning several screenplay awards for her first short film 'Trees'. Her most recent short film script. 'Only Words' won Best Short Screenplay at LeedsFlix 2025.
Jan was an inaugural member of The Mayor's Script Diversity Programme run by Screen Yorkshire and is a member of New Writing North's Bradford Script Lab funded by Channel 4.
With a Master's degree in Inclusive Practice, Jan is passionate about giving opportunities to under-represented voices.
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Co-Director -
louisa rose
mackleston
Louisa is a writer, director, producer and founder of Northern Fortress Films. She also works as a documentary producer at Tell Studio.
She has produced and directed over 16 films across the UK, Italy, and Japan, spanning narrative, documentary, and commercial formats. Her first film, Ruth & Safiya, won Best Short at Cardiff International Film Festival and was selected for the BAFTA-qualifying Leeds International Film Festival. She has worked with Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy and trained with John Landis at the International Filmmaking Academy in Bologna.
Louisa is a TEDx speaker and passionate advocate for accessible filmmaking. She is part of the Queer and Disabled community and runs inclusive sets with diversity at their core.
She has taken part in Screen Yorkshire’s FLEX Director scheme, the Bradford 2025 x Screen Yorkshire Forge Script Lab, and is currently on the Bradford 2025 Producer Exchange. Recent projects include directing the BFI short Habituation and producing Surprise, Baby! (2024) with Rope Ladder Fiction (Waterloo Road).
FESTIVAL
COORDINATOR -
LAURA ATKINSON
Laura Atkinson is an MA Film Studies graduate, with a passion for events and film programming. Whilst at University, she undertook an internship with Ann Arbor Film Festival (Michigan, US) as Press and Public Relations assistant, and has continued to work in the film festival world since.
Laura has worked across several of the UK's biggest film festivals, including Manchester Animation Festival and Sheffield Doc Fest in operational roles. As well as, working for various literary festivals as artist liaison, including Bradford Literature Festival and the Hay-on-Wye Festival. She works year round alongside Louisa and Jan to bring Bradford International Film Festival to life each October!
As of 2025 Laura is one of Film Hub North's Young Programmers, where she shortlists and selects films to play at the Film Hub North: Northern Exposure screening nights. These nights help spotlight talented local filmmakers, through a series of screenings and Q&As at various independent cinemas across the UK.
