Leeds Film Night returns for second year

Following the success of last year’s sold-out event, Leeds Film Night returns for its 2nd edition on 27th of March 2025 at Hyde Park Picture House, bringing together independent filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts for a night celebrating indie cinema spotlighting South Asian stories and work from the Leeds City Region.

This year’s edition is supported by the BFI, offering an even greater platform for indie filmmakers and audiences. 

The event will showcase a powerful line up of locally produced short films, guest speakers on filmmaking, networking opportunities, and a special screening of Footprints on Water, directed by Nathalia Syam featuring Adil Hussain (Life of Pi), Nimisha Sajayan (The Great Indian Kitchen), and Antonio Aakeel (Eternals)

Nathalia said: Growing up, I often felt that my identity as a South Asian was excluded from the mainstream narrative, and stories from my community remained largely invisible or inauthentic. 

This sense of exclusion fuelled my passion to create films that delve into themes of identity and culture, offering nuanced portrayals to inspire empathy and understanding.

However, I soon realised how few opportunities exist to bring these stories to life in front of the audiences they are meant to resonate with. This is why Leeds Film Night was created, to fill the absence of festivals and platforms dedicated to showcasing indie and culturally specific films, helping to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse UK film industry.”

Attendees can expect the following:

• Exclusive Short Film Screenings made by Local Filmmakers / Filmmakers of South Asian Backgrounds
• Guest Speakers – Insights into film funding and industry opportunities
• Networking – Connect with fellow creatives, funders, and commissioners
• Feature Film Screening & Filmmaker Q&A – Footprints on Water, a moving story of an undocumented immigrants struggle in the UK