Mansfield Town Film Festival (MTFF) is coming to West Nottinghamshire College once again with a powerful programme of short films exploring working-class identity.
Working class voices is the next series of short films to feature at the college's Create Theatre.
The film festival continues to build momentum with the second instalment of its new Reel Futures screening series, following the success of its inaugural Women’s Voices event earlier this month.
Taking place on Tuesday 22 April in the college’s Create Theatre, Working Class Voices will showcase short films, community and lived experience, alongside a live filmmaker Q&A.
The Reel Futures series, delivered in partnership with the college, has been launched as part of MTFF’s wider mission to open up access to the film industry and create new pathways for young people and emerging creatives in Mansfield.
The first event in March drew a strong audience of students, local residents and filmmakers, with many attendees experiencing independent film and festival culture for the first time. The evening demonstrated the appetite for more accessible, locally rooted cultural experiences in Mansfield, particularly those that allow audiences to engage directly with filmmakers and the creative process.
Building on that success, the upcoming Working Class Voices event aims to spotlight stories that are often underrepresented on screen, with a selection of films that reflect the humour, resilience and complexity of working-class life across the UK and beyond.
The programme will feature a range of standout short films, including stories that explore economic struggle, identity, belonging and community, themes that resonate strongly with audiences in Mansfield and similar towns.
Each screening will be followed by a hybrid filmmaker Q&A, with creatives joining both in-person and remotely, offering audiences a unique opportunity to hear directly from the voices behind the work, ask questions, and gain insight into how films are made and how to break into the industry.
Jay Martin, Festival Director of Mansfield Town Film Festival, said: “Reel Futures is about breaking down the barriers that often exist around the film industry and showing people that these spaces are for them.
“The response to our first event was incredible, we had a room full of people engaging with film in a way they hadn’t before, and that’s exactly what this is about.
“This next event is particularly important to us as a festival rooted in Mansfield. Working-class stories are often overlooked or misrepresented on screen, so to be able to bring a programme like this into the town and create a space where people can see their own experiences reflected, feels really special.
More than anything, we want people to come along, experience something new, and realise that the film industry isn’t as out of reach as it might seem.”
West Nottinghamshire College media teacher Jon Hall said: “The first event was fantastic, with award-winning films from all around the world being featured. Students got to ask questions directly to an international panel of filmmakers.
“I've had a sneak preview and some of the films this time round and the quality is top notch. A must for any fan or student of film!”
Reel Futures forms part of MTFF’s broader ambition to position Mansfield as a growing hub for creativity and storytelling, aligning with regional efforts to strengthen the creative economy and provide opportunities for local talent.
With tickets priced at just £7.50, the event is designed to remain accessible while offering a high-quality cultural experience typically found in larger cities.
MTFF is encouraging local residents, students and anyone curious about film to attend, particularly those who may not have previously engaged with arts and culture.
Reel Futures: Working Class Voices takes place on Wednesday 22 April at the Create Theatre, West Nottinghamshire College, Derby Road.
Tickets can be booked for just £7.50 here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/create/reel-futures-working-class-voices/e-grxbbg