Versa Leeds Studios Announced as Official Partner of Leeds International Film Festival 2025
Monday 13th October, Leeds, UK – Following the release of their standout 2025 programme, the Leeds International Film Festival is announcing VERSA Leeds Studios as an official leading partner. As part of the wider VERSA Studios group, spanning Leeds, Manchester, and London, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to championing regional film culture and supporting the creative industries in Yorkshire.
As part of the partnership, VERSA Leeds Studios will host and support key festival events, including the Yorkshire Film Reception, the Yorkshire Short Film Competition 2025, and the LIFF Shorts Awards Night and After Party, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing local creative talent and supporting the growth of Leeds as a centre for film production.
The Leeds International Film Festival 2025 programme was announced last Thursday (9th October), marking the 39th edition of the event. The largest film festival in England outside of London, it has become renowned for hosting international talent and fostering new creative voices in the North of England. The Opening Night film will be Richard Linklater’s portrait of lyricist Lorenz Hart, Blue Moon, starring Ethan Hawke and Andrew Scott.
The line-up also includes Northern Premiers of highly anticipated films from British filmmakers including: Lynne’s Ramsay’s Die My Love and Dylan Southern’s The Thing with Feathers. Other major films making their Northern Premiers at the festival include Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On and Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
Versa has partnered with the festival to support their work uplifting the next generation of Yorkshire filmmakers through the Yorkshire Short Film Competition 2025, screenings of which will be held for free throughout the city on the following dates:
• Sun 2 Nov 15:00 – The Old Fire Station
• Tue 4 Nov 18:30 – Keighley Creative
• Fri 7 Nov 20:00 – Howard Assembly Room
• Thu 13 Nov 18:00 – Mill Hill Chapel
Spanning over 140,000 sq ft in the city centre, VERSA Leeds Studios features four premium sound stages, production offices, a large backlot and workshops. The studio is also home to Future Artists Entertainment, one of the UK’s fastest-growing production companies. Together, they have contributed over £36 million to the local creative economy and supported major feature films, including Maintenance Required, recently released on Amazon Prime.
Michael Ingall, Co-Founder of VERSA Studios and Chairman & Chief Executive of Allied London, said:
“VERSA Leeds Studios is now coming up to three years old, and we’re beginning to establish the complex as a truly international film and drama-making facility. As a group, we want to act as a catalyst in Leeds and across Yorkshire for film, drama, and the wider creative industries, to be at the heart of these sectors and help them grow, both in the city and the region.”
“We intend for this new partnership with Leeds International Film Festival to be a long-term one, reflecting our ambition to support both established and emerging filmmakers, and to attract film and high-end television production to Leeds. Partnering with LIFF was an obvious choice for us, as VERSA Studios Leeds sits at the heart of film production and we want to celebrate that within the filmmaking community and beyond.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said of the partnership: “Leeds has a unique place in the story of film and a long and illustrious track record as a proving ground for innovative and creative industry talent. Leeds International Film Festival itself has become world renowned and we are delighted to be teaming up with an international film studio based in the city to help showcase this year’s compelling line-up.”
Chris Fell, Director of Leeds International Film Festival at Leeds City Council said of the partnership: “We are thrilled to launch a new partnership with VERSA Leeds Studios, a leading UK production facility that is playing a major role in the development of film and the wider creative industries in the North of England. As we approach the 40th anniversary of LIFF in 2026, we will collaborate closely with VERSA Leeds Studios year-round to celebrate and support their growth in the city and the Yorkshire region – all starting with LIFF 2025 from 30 October to 16 November.”
