The origins of 225 Film Club Festival

225 Film Club was founded to lead a new conversation about cinema

225 Film Club was founded to lead a new conversation about cinema, one that recognises women and non binary directors as some of the most innovative and influential voices shaping the future of film.

At our inception, only five women directors had ever been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. The bold 5 in the 225 logo is a lasting reminder of that stark imbalance and of the progress still to be made in achieving gender equity behind the camera.

In 2018 we launched the festival with screenings sponsored by Molinare and hosted in the celebrated Jack Cardiff Theatre, creating a platform for women and non binary directors to showcase their work and build industry connections.

Committed to supporting a more inclusive screen industry, we donated the box office proceeds from our first festivals to Raising Films recognising the challenges faced by parents and carers working in film.

As our screenings quickly became oversubscribed, we expanded to The Wing, introducing curated one-to-one meetings between directors and producers.

These connections have led to lasting creative collaborations, friendships and new career opportunities, including a feature film now in development with the BFI Filmmaking Fund.

​Since 2022, our festival has been hosted at The National Film Theatre, BFI Southbank, reflecting the standard of our programme and its place within the UK’s film festival landscape.

We champion exceptional filmmaking, have set a new standard for how short form cinema is celebrated, and are redefining what audiences expect from short film festival screenings.

​Join us in December, all genders welcome!

Rita Osei, Founder 225 Film Club.

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