Ealing Film Festival returns this month with all the glamour and glitz of a big-screen, red-carpet event.

The festival is now in its third year and the 2022 competition has attracted more than three hundred entries from filmmakers in forty countries around the world.

For the first time, the event is taking place at Ealing Project, the town's brand-new cinema complex in the Ealing Broadway shopping centre.

The festival has grown rapidly since it was launched in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, when lockdown restrictions meant films had to be screened online.

One of the festival's directors, Annemarie Flanagan, says going ahead with the event at such a difficult time was a gamble, but it has paid off.

"We felt that creative people needed some encouragement after being confined to their homes, and they responded to the opportunity," she says.

"That first festival may have been online, but filmmakers loved the idea of having a new platform for their work. Last year, as restrictions eased, we were able to put up a screen in a church hall. Now, with a brand-new cinema in Ealing, we can finally give people the full festival experience."

Fellow festival director Peter Gould says that new filmmakers love the experience of seeing their work on a big screen.

"It is a huge thrill for anyone trying to make their mark in the film industry. We are all aware of the major role Ealing has played in the development of British cinema and television. Now we are shining a spotlight on a new generation."

Films submitted to the festival cover a variety of genres, including drama and comedy, animation and music videos, horror and suspense, sci-fi and fantasy.

Concerns about the state of our world in 2022 have been highlighted by documentary filmmakers. They have focused on mental health issues, threats to the environment, and the conflict in Ukraine.

On the last night of the festival the awards will announced, and the trophies will be handed out. The top award goes to the film judged to be the best of the festival. Films are also being screened online, with voting to determine the People's Choice.

After a challenging couple of years because of the pandemic, the festival directors are enjoying the return of cinema to Ealing.

"It is wonderful that we can once again see films here, without having to travel to other parts of London," says Alan Granley.

"Ealing should be proud of its place in the history of British cinema."

2022 FESTIVAL EVENTS

WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER - THE MOON & MAYBE

7-10pm

Student Night

An evening devoted to films made by talented young filmmakers. Includes a Q&A with former Ealing student and Oscar-winning producer Rebecca Harris, and a screening of her film The Silent Child.

THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER - EALING PROJECT

7-10pm

The Changing Face of Horror

It's Fright Night! We are looking at how this popular film genre has changed over the years. It's an opportunity to meet Madeline Smith, a star of the Hammer Horror films of the 1970s, and Mark Kenna and David Creed from Bad Blood Films, a new British film company specialising in horror. We will also be showing some of the films entered for this year's festival. 

FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER - PITZHANGER MANOR & GALLERY

10am-5pm

Animation & Experimental

A selection of films displaying the artistry of filmmakers working in these two genres. Running through the day.

SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER - EALING PROJECT

1-4pm

Different Worlds

To boldly go! The imagination of filmmakers knows no limits. Science fiction and fantasy movies take us out of our everyday lives. To different times, different places…different planets. Join us on an amazing journey to new worlds. Featuring a live interview with writer and producer Ron Fogelman.

7-10pm

Real Lives

Documentaries record the experiences of ordinary people with extraordinary stories. These films explore our society, warts and all. They inform us, they disturb us, and they inspire us. This screening includes environmental and smartphone films.

SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER - EALING PROJECT

Laughter and Tears

1-4pm

You can't have a film festival in Ealing without plenty of laughs. We hope our comedy and drama selections will continue the proud tradition begun by the famous film studios that bear the name of our town.

7-10pm

More drama!

Our films explore the rich tapestry of the human existence. At the heart of each one is a personal story that pulls at the emotions. And finally, there may be more tears as we announce the 2022 award winners!