VERSA Leeds Studios partners with LIFF 2025
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.
Versa has partnered with LIFF 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 at The Old Fire Station; Tue 4 Nov at Keighley Creative; Fri 7 Nov at Howard Assembly Room; Thu 13 Nov at 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.
“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.”
— Michael Ingall, Co-Founder of VERSA Studios and Chairman & Chief Executive of Allied London
“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.”
— Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture
“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.”
— Chris Fell, Director of Leeds International Film Festival at Leeds City Council
About VERSA Studios
VERSA Studios, a premium TV and film studio business with facilities across London, Manchester, and Leeds, provides proven facilities for both scripted and unscripted productions.
Established in 2018, VERSA Studios offers production facilities and services across its three UK locations. Its high-quality facilities, experienced studio management team, and client-focused approach form the foundation of the business. In 2018, VERSA began operating Granada Studios in Manchester, the former home of Granada Television and ITV. Since then, the company has established three major studio complexes in the UK’s key city centres, offering over 600,000 sq ft of studio and production space. VERSA has also built four new TV studio tech galleries, making it one of the most versatile studio operators in the UK, capable of supporting a wide range of scripted and unscripted productions across television, film, and all forms of modern multimedia production.
VERSA is home to a diverse portfolio of major productions. These include popular entertainment shows such as Big Brother, BBC Morning Live, and Blue Peter, alongside other productions like Bullseye, Dragons’ Den, Martin Lewis Live, The John Bishop Show, Justin’s House, Celebability, Friday Night Live, and Saturday Night Takeaway. The studio has also hosted acclaimed drama productions, including Bodies, Douglas is Cancelled, Platform 7, Funny Woman, Boat Story, Peaky Blinders, and Marvel’s Secret Invasion, establishing VERSA as a leading production destination in the UK.
Versa Studios is a sister company to Department at Leeds Dock, with both businesses focused on supporting the media and creative industries. Department operates as a serviced office and coworking provider in Leeds and Manchester. Both companies were founded by Allied London Group.
