 The initial idea of IFF was to publicise an invitation to make a film about faith, with a prize of £1000 attached alongside a seminar event to discuss faith in the context of film.Response exceeded expectation and convinced the organisers to run an expanded event in Manchester in 2009.Venue, Zion Arts Centre, Manchester, now called Z-arts (2009)

The 2nd IFF was a larger event than the inaugural gathering, which meant that the Festival moved to a larger venue, which remains the IFF's home in Manchester.