Submissions are now open for chance to be entered into the full CWFF 09 programme. To qualify for the festival filmmakers must register online at www.cwff.org.uk and send their films by May 13th (with a small entry fee of GBP5) or for final deadline submissions send entries through by June 24th (for a fee of GBP8). If selected the films will be shown as part of the main programme at this year?s festival.

Canary Wharf Film Festival is taking place in the prestigious heart of London?s Docklands this September ? bringing the capital?s creative and commercial minds together in a unique celebration of filmmaking.

CWFF '09 will include a selection of award winning shorts from the worldwide festival stage with a spotlight on the cinema of Serbia. There will also be a number of workshops, Q&As with established filmmakers and the new 'Golden Canaries' Award Show to close the festival.

CWFF 09 runs from 3-7 September, 2009, with films being shown at a wide range of locations, including Cineworld West India Quay, Museum in Docklands and the East Wintergarden. The festival - which is being supported by the Canary Wharf Group plc and Film London - will show the best quality in short film; the most colourful animations, hilarious comedies, intriguing documentaries, and gripping dramas.

Olivia Bellas, Festival Director for CWFF 09 said: ?This festival will showcase the very best in UK and international short film to a diverse audience, drawing filmmakers and film fans to the area and highlighting it as London's newest creative hub. Few people realise there is a burgeoning arts community in the local area, so we?re hoping the festival will bolster this artistic growth by drawing filmmakers and film-lovers to this incredible and often under-utilised part of the city.

She added: ?With the financial crisis hitting the Canary Wharf area particularly hard, we?re hoping this injection of creative spirit will help to inspire and give the area a real lift ? including businesses, workers and local residents.?