Past Festivals

SFF 2013

Workshops focused on "Business in Film" and attracted 20 participants. Screenings occurred between the 2nd and 7th of September, with nearly 30 submissions received from countries including India, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ireland.

Looking back through the years of the Slum Film Festival reveals a steady rhythm of editions, each building on the last while keeping the original mission close at hand. The festival began as a pioneering platform for stories emerging from informal settlements, and its annual gatherings have grown into a recognized fixture on the cultural calendar. Returning visitors often speak of the sense of continuity that runs from one edition to the next, as familiar audiences reconnect and new voices join the conversation.

Each past edition is remembered for the conversations it sparked and the perspectives it brought into the open. Filmmakers from different regions have shared their work on shared screens, inviting audiences to consider everyday realities that are too often overlooked. The festival has consistently emphasized authenticity and lived experience, inviting viewers to see the world through the eyes of those who call these communities home. That commitment to genuine storytelling has remained a defining thread across every year.

Workshops, panel discussions, and mentorship sessions have become a hallmark of the festival's programming, extending the experience well beyond the screening room. Participants gather to learn from established practitioners, exchange techniques, and explore the craft of documentary and short filmmaking. These collaborative moments reinforce the idea that cinema can be both a personal voice and a shared language, capable of bridging distances between neighborhoods, cities, and continents.

Curating highlights from earlier festivals offers a chance to appreciate how the conversation has matured over time. Early submissions laid the groundwork for what would become a more confident, diverse body of work, while recent editions showcase a broader range of styles and concerns. Revisiting these moments reminds the community that the festival is not just an event but an ongoing archive of stories, steadily growing with each passing year and welcoming new storytellers into its fold.

SFF 2014

A call for submissions was open during the edition.

SFF 2015

Included a Film Lab, community screenings, and an awards gala.

SFF 2016

Featured jury members, official selections, and visiting filmmakers.

SFF 2017

Featured award winners, a festival program, and a film lab.