Crystal Palace International Film Festival is back with 18 nights of screenings

The Crystal Palace International Film Festival (CPIFF) is set to host 18 nights of international films which are battling it out to win the approval of a panel of celebrity judges and film icons.

Ranked in the top five of 14,000 film festivals worldwide on Film Freeway, the CPIFF is an annual event showcasing a diverse portfolio of independent films from across the globe.

For the past year, organisers have whittled down more than 1,000 submissions to curate the 2025 programme of 150 films.

The festival runs from March 6 to 29, with screenings at the Everyman Cinema in Crystal Palace, the PictureHouse in West Norwood and the listed Stanley Arts near Norwood Junction.

Each of the 18 nights will have a theme, with everything from Animation, Horror/Sci-fi, Documentaries, Features to Short Film.

The programme will culminate with the CPIFF Awards and Comedy Night on March 29 at Stanley Arts, presented by top UK comedian Kerry Godliman, star of Ricky Gervais’ After Life.

Founded in 2009, the CPIFF promises “another line-up of extraordinary films from international filmmakers ”.

CPIFF also extends support to young filmmakers by providing them with a platform to exhibit their work and organising paid work experience leading to full-time employment.

Most nights sell out, so book early on the website here: https://cpiff.co.uk/schedule2025/

Pictured top: From the left, Founder Neill Roy, comedians Seann Walsh, Shappi Khorsandi and Mark Steel at CPIFF 2024 (Picture: CPIFF)