Building community through film

Funding from the Deptford Challenge Trust helped volunteers to stage the much-loved free film festival that takes place every year in venues around New Cross and Deptford.

...more than a film festival, it’s an opportunity for the community to come together....
Immie, Festival volunteer

More than 900 people attended the 2025 New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival (NXDFF) during the nine-day programme at the end of April. It featured 18 events, from short film screenings, to Q&As with actors and directors and a drag karaoke disco after the launch film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

The festival has been running for more than a decade and is one of a number of free film festivals in South London. Every year it brings people together to watch movies in a whole range of venues across the local area - not just libraries and bars, but churches, art galleries, environmental centres and parks.

The whole event is organised by local volunteers who are passionate about making cinema accessible to everyone, helping people rediscover the joy of communal viewing, and bringing the community together in local, independent and sometimes unconventional venues.

NXDFFF has a deliberate policy of not curating its programme; the festival’s goal is to make it possible for anyone in SE8 or SE14 to share a film they love, or one they’ve always wanted to see, or one they’ve made, with their friends and neighbours. The Free Festival Family – an umbrella organisation that is also run by volunteers – provides the equipment, technical knowledge and insurance necessary to put on the event, while local venues provide space free of charge.

Deptford Challenge Trust funding (managed by The London Community Foundation) was used to cover the cost of the licences that are necessary for every public film screening. These start at about £100 per film and can be as much as £300, so over a nine-day festival they represent a significant outlay. Funds are also needed to pay for the design and printing of the festival programme, which is distributed to venues and cafes around the area and handed out in Deptford on market days.

Tessa, who is one of the team of volunteers who organises the festival, said: “What a brilliant opening night at Deptford Lounge. Thanks to the team who worked so hard to make a really special evening.”

First-time volunteer for the festival, Immie, who took on the crucial role of helping with social media and website updates said: “NXDFFF was not only an opportunity to see some great films, but also acted as an open door into the local community. As someone relatively new to the area I discovered local venues and met some lovely people. It feels more than a film festival, it’s an opportunity for the community to come together.”

My son ended up sitting with all his nursery school friends and really enjoyed watching the film with them and sharing all their snacks!
Audience member

There was plenty of good feedback from audience members too: “I attended the screening of Paddington in Peru at the Bear Church with my three year old son and newborn daughter. It was so lovely to see so many familiar faces from the Bear Cubs and our local nursery. My son ended up sitting with all his nursery school friends and really enjoyed watching the film with them and sharing all their snacks! So great to be able to watch a film together in the middle of Deptford and we hope to attend future screenings at the same venue,” said a local parent.

“I hadn’t seen Dr Strangelove for years, but it seems that it’s as relevant now as it was when Kubrick made it in 1964. Thanks NXDFFF for including it in your programme,” said another audience member.

Find out more about NXDFF