Evolve Film Festival is a youth, short film festival, founded to encourage U20s to create their first films, make better films, as well as providing a showcase for the creative work of more established young filmmakers.

We are though more than a film festival. We run free workshops in filmmaking, give youth work experience opportunities in the TV and Film industries (filming, judging, social media).

It was founded by Gary McDonagh, and is led by an executive board that includes Lucas Friedmann (owner of London Sync), Bob Kapp (Film Producer, Such Content), Sarah Rasmussen (retired West Berks education) and Creative Executive Jesse Cleverly.

On Sunday 21st June 2026, Evolve Film Festival welcomed over 220 people to Vue Cinema Reading, for a glitzy awards ceremony, to celebrate local young filmmakers. The event was the culmination of a series of free workshops that many of the young participants had taken part in, run by Evolve.

Congratulations to all the 2026 winners and finalists. To see the winning films, go to Evolve Film Festival on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EvolveFilmFestival