Festival of Fantastic Films Manchester

05/02/2026

It’s that time of the year again. Yes, entries are being accepted for the the Delta and Norman J. Warren awards 2026!

The Deltas have been a key feature of Manchester's Festival of Fantastic Films ever since the fest began in 1990, and currently attract entries from all over the world.

The Deltas celebrate the best in new short SF, Fantasy, and Horror filmmaking.

We invite entries running for twenty minutes or less, in the three categories stated above. We select the four best films in each category, showcasing these before our festival crowd and a panel of judges at our event in late October. The trio of winners will each receive our prestigious Delta Award. The entry judged as the overall 'best of the best' will also be presented with the Norman J. Warren Award, named in tribute to our great and much-missed friend Norman, the king of low budget/high concept British film production.

Our FilmFreeway page is now open (link in comments). There you'll find our full competition rules, guidelines, and details of entry fees.

We cannot wait to see your films, and offer a discount rate for 'early bird’ submissions, so get your movies to us as soon as you can.

Also tell your filmmaking friends.

Good luck!

02/02/2026

The wait is over! The box office is now open for The Festival of Fantastic Films 2026. Book now for earlybird rates. We can't wait to welcome you in October. Link in comments.

20/12/2025

Anyone who saw James Swanton's performance of The Signal-Man at this year's festival will want to check out this production of A Christmas Carol currently being streamed on You Tube. It's perfect Christmas entertainment.

This weekend we are offering the opportunity to watch a rendition of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” performed by James Swanton. This is the version that we streamed last year, and you will be able to view it as a short film on our YouTube channel at any time from 6pm on Friday 19th December until 11pm GMT on Boxing Day . The performance was pre-recorded in The Guild Room at St Saviourgate last December and lasts approximately 1hr 20 mins.
Christmas Carol was written in 1843 at a time when there was a strong tradition of ghost story readings at Christmas; this will be the fifth Christmas that Mr Swanton has performed it with us, it has become part of our own traditions.
 Tickets now on sale from the SHOP on our website only using an honesty box donation system. We kindly ask that anyone who watches donates in advance or immediately following the event. The ticket donation price is £2.50 with £1 from every ticket sold being donated to St Leonard’s Hospice; an independent charity providing specialist palliative care and support for local people with life limiting illnesses. The remainder after VAT will go to Mr Swanton himself.
In his previous performances of “A Christmas Carol” critic Charles Hutchinson wrote: “Dropping into character should really read dropping in and out of myriad characters, as the storytelling Swanton plays narrator and every role from Dickens’s story: men, women, children...ghosts et al. His face is as elastic as his voice in this tour-de-force solo show, where physicality, keen intelligence in editing, dark humour and chameleon acting skills all come into play.”  If you still haven’t seen him perform it before then we recommend that you find the time, fill your glasses with good cheer and prepare to be entertained in the old-fashioned way.

06/11/2025

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The 36th Festival of Fantastic Films dates are now confirmed as being the 23rd to 25th October 2026.

The venue will be the Pendulum Hotel once again.

Further updates on ticket prices and accommodation costs will be given once these have been finalised.

Let joy be unconfined!

30/10/2025

Our Sunday afternoon Hammer panel, Toby Hadoke on The Quatermass Experiment and Ramsey Campbell as our auctioneer. Photos by Elmar Podlasly.

30/10/2025

Hugh Futcher, who didn’t want, or need, a microphone. Photos by Elmar Podlasly.

30/10/2025

The always stylish Virginia Wetherell. Photos by Elmar Podlasly.

30/10/2025

Joanne Mitchell and Dominic Brunt were our Saturday evening guests. He's from Emmerdale, you know. Photos by Elmar Podlasly.

30/10/2025

James Swanton was so interesting to interview. His performance of the Signal-man on Saturday night was mesmerising.

30/10/2025

Graham Humphreys was the star of our opening night. Photos by Elmar Podlasly.

30/10/2025

The first of many photo dumps, as I believe the young people call them. What a weekend, full of joy, scares, recalcitrant laptops, laughter, Hammer and friendship. All photos by the great Elmer Podlasly. Captions greatly encouraged…

27/10/2025

DELTA AWARDS RESULTS 2025

WINNER IN THE FANTASY CATEGORY AND WINNER OF THE NORMAN J. WARREN AWARD

The Shadow of Dawn (Olga Stalev, Estonia)

WINNER IN THE HORROR CATEGORY

Hunch (Marisa Crespo, Moisés Romera, Spain)

WINNER IN THE SCIENCE-FICTION CATEGORY

Exit (Jean-François Celli, France)

AUDIENCE AWARD

Amira (Javier Yañez Sanz, Spain)

Congratulations all!