Chester International Film Festival
In partnership between Storyhouse, Chester Film Society, and the University of Chester.
WELCOME TO CIFF!
The Chester International Film Festival (CIFF) is an annual celebration of the very best in contemporary independent cinema.
Founded in 1977 as the Chester Film Festival, the event was originally held in various community venues across the city. Since 2018, Storyhouse has been home to CIFF, and since 2025 the festival has been delivered in partnership with Storyhouse, Chester Film Society and the University of Chester. Together, we bring audiences a hand-picked selection of international film previews, locally curated short film showcases, and talks from expert guest speakers.
Chester Film Society, founded in 1970, is an organisation committed to offering the best of world cinema to the local area of Chester. Open to people of all ages and backgrounds, the society champions global storytelling through films that explore diverse cultures, perspectives, and themes.
Situated in one of the UK’s most welcoming and historic cities, the University of Chester offers the perfect balance of community, culture, and opportunity. Through an experience that blends academic excellence with professional development, students gain the skills, networks, and confidence to shape their futures.
Chester International Film Festival 2027
CIFF returns in 2027 for its 40th edition.
Check back for details.
History
Chester Film Festival began in 1977, seven years after Chester Film Society was founded. It was organised by a group of local film societies as well as Chester Film Society: Cheshire NALGO Film Society, Frodsham Film Society, Ellesmere Port Library Film Society, North East Wales Film Society and Vale Royal Film Society.
Back then, films were played from 35mm projection, and took place in the Chester Arts Centre which was then located on the Market Square.
In 1979, the Festival relocated to the Little Theatre in Newtown, which became a standard location for Chester Film Society for many years. By the mid-1990s, the Film Festival was curated solely by Chester Film Society and was held in the Steam Mill and later, several other venues were used.
In the early 2000’s it was rebranded as the Chester International Film Festival and in 2018 it found a new home in Storyhouse, which had officially opened the previous year.
Audience Award Winners
Chester International Film Festival 2026 | Fri 13 – Sun 22 March 2026.
Audience Award for Best Feature:
• Colours of Time (La Venue de l’avenir) dir. Cédric Klapisch (France, Belgium).
Leaping Boar Award for Best Short Animation: (TIE)
• Cell Buddies by Studio Brute Beesten (Netherlands).
• Small Hours by Oscar Wyndham Lewis (UK).
Chester International Film Festival 2025 | Fri 21 March – Thu 3 April 2025.
Audience Award for Best Feature:
• Four Mothers dir. Darren Thornton (Ireland).
11th Chester Animation Festival Audience Award:
• The Pearl (Let’s Make Peace) by Abdollah Alimorad (Iran).
Chester International Film Festival 2024 | Fri 1 – Fri 8 March 2024.
Audience Award for Best Feature:
• Green Border dir. Agnieszka Holland (Poland).
10th Chester Animation Festival Audience Award:
• The Curse of Dracular by Jack Paterson (UK).
Chester International Film Festival 2023 | Fri 3 – Fri 10 March 2023.
Audience Award for Best Feature:
• Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom dir. Pawo Choyning Dorji (Bhutan).
9th Chester Animation Festival Audience Award:
• The Smile by Erik van Schaaik (Belgium, Netherlands).
Chester International Film Festival 2022 | Fri 4 – Fri 11 March 2022.
Audience Award for Best Feature:
• Compartment No. 6 dir. Juho Kuosmanen (Finland, Russia).
8th Chester Animation Festival Audience Award:
• Black Slide by Uri Lotan (Isreal).
Chester International Film Festival 2020 | Fri 6 – Sun 15 March 2020.
Audience Award for Best Feature:
• And Then We Danced dir. Levan Akin (Sweden, Georgia).
See Chester Film Society Archive pages for more information on past festivals.