Making Waves Film Festival 2025
20th February – 29th March, at various venues in Portsmouth.
Making Waves Film Festival, Portsmouth’s annual film festival returns with another live cinema experience, networking, food, live music and fresh filmmaking.
Events include:
The Book Thief (2013) 12A
Thursday 20th February from 3:00pm
At The Lens Studio, Guildhall, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth PO1 2AB
In partnership with Motiv8 South
Experience The Book Thief in a Unique Community-Curated Screening
Join us for this is a half-term neurodivergent friendly screening for young people. Dive into of The Book Thief (2013), curated by young people from Motiv8 South youth service, as part of the Making Waves Film Festival’s community cinema project. Selected for its profound literary themes and powerful story, this event also forms part of a city-wide festival celebrating literacy and literature.
Book your tickets today and join us for a journey into this timeless story about the power of storytelling and the indomitable human spirit.
A Making Waves Film Festival community curated cinema event in partnership with Motiv8 South funded by BFI Film Audience Network and supported by Guildhall.
Tickets: FREE
Pompey Dogs (1992) 18
Saturday 22nd March 18:30 – 23:00
Staggeringly Good Brewery, Unit 10, St Georges Industrial Estate, Rodney Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO4 8SS
A live immersive cinema experience.
Step into a wild night of Tarantino inspired chaos, cunning, and colour.
Six shades of shifty, disguised as decorators, have hijacked the brewery. They’re dripping with sweat, not paint, after a chase from the old bill. Their van’s a wreck, the art’s gone, and the only colours left are suspicion and blame.
You are the missing pigment. Armed with a brush – and a thirst for trouble – you’ll be sucked into a whirlwind of accusations, cryptic clues, and alibis so thin you could paint a house with ’em. Who’s the rat? Who’s a friend? Who just here for the beer?
The night explodes into a dramatic showdown. Then, roll the dice with an atmospheric screening of Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs in the brewery’s warehouse and an afterparty soundtracked by iconic tracks you’ll already be humming.
Don’t just watch the story – become a masterpiece in this twisted game of betrayal and bloodshed. Tickets? Grab ’em before they get splattered.
Important: No dogs. Just Pompey Dogs.
Tickets: TBC
Wave Makers Talent Day
Thursday 27th March 15:00-21:00
Staggeringly Good Brewery, Unit 10, St Georges Industrial Estate, Rodney Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO4 8SS
Join us for an inspiring evening of networking, film screenings, and industry insights at the Wave Makers Talent Day—a celebration of emerging talent in film and media. Whether you’re a filmmaker, creative professional, or simply passionate about storytelling, this event is your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired.
Programme Highlights:
16:00-17:30 | BFI NETWORK – Discover funding and development opportunities for your next project.
17:45-18:45 | Filmmaker Q&A – Hear from industry insiders as they share their experiences and insights.
19:00-20:30 | Future BAFTA Winners Short Film Competition – Witness the next generation of filmmaking talent in action.
Sponsored by Millstream Productions
Enjoy the creative atmosphere of Staggeringly Good Brewery while mingling with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals.
RSVP now to secure your spot and be part of a night celebrating the future of cinema!
Tickets: FREE
My Favourite Cake (2024)
Saturday 29th March 17:00-21:30
St Simons Church, Waverley Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO5 2PW
A cinematic dining experience with Kitchen of Hope.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of film, food, and culture at this Iranian Themed Cinematic Dining Event. This unique event combines a screening of the award-winning Iranian film My Favourite Cake with an authentic Persian feast, live music, and immersive decor inspired by Iranian gardens.
Enjoy a carefully crafted menu by Taarof chefs Soraya Hatami & Damon Hall, alongside talented Iranian cooks from Portsmouth City of Sanctuary’s Kitchen of Hope. Expect traditional dishes like Kashk-e Bademjan, Persian jewelled rice, and Gheymeh, paired with saffron & rose iced tea and lime & mint cordial.
With live traditional Iranian music, a beautifully themed space, and a Nowruz-inspired welcome, this is more than a meal—it’s a celebration of Iranian culture and community.
Read the view of this film by The Guardian HERE!