The Cardiff Mini Film Festival returns on the 23rd June with a big event taking place at venues around the Welsh capital. The Festival is expanding this year to feature screenings, masterclasses, networking hubs and it will end with the traditional awards ceremony.

The Mini Film Festival is designed primarily to give a platform for new filmmakers to show their stuff and meet like-minded people. The June event will have eight categories and a special section for low budget features.

The list of categories and judges is shown below:

Narrative – Philip John (Director of Being Human)

Documentary – Boyd Clack (Actor in Twin Town, Satellite City and Baker Boys)

Action/Thriller – John Shackleton (Producer of Panic Button and Director of We Are Monsters)

Acting – Adam O’Brian (Lead actor in BAFTA award winning, Imposter)

Feature Film – Elizabeth Morgan Hemlock (Producer of award winning, Mugabe and The White African)

Female Director – Nerys Evans (Producer/Director at S4C & ITV)

Welsh Language – Daf Palfrey (Director of DIY SOS, S4C dramas and music videos for the Superfurry Animals)

Art/Experimental – Merlin Crossingham (Animator and director at Aardman Animations)

Young Film Maker (Under 18) – Keri Collins (BAFTA Cymru nominated director who has written and directed for the BBC)

You can submit to the festival for free if you live in Wales, are under 18 or have made the film in Wales. Other entrants are required to pay £10 to submit.

Festival director, Jody Tozer, said, “The Cardiff Mini Film Festival is about more than just winning, as it is more than just a film festival. It’s a chance for people to learn, to be inspired and to meet people to collaborate with.”

You can read an interview Jody recently gave to this blog here.

You can also hear Philip John’s thoughts on the film industry and the burgeoning Cardiff film scene below.

The deadline for entering a short film is the 7th May 2013 for all entries.

For submission details and rules visit the website. Or email filmsbulldozer@gmail.com with any questions. You can also follow the Festival on Twitter @cardiffminifilm