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The Independent continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary with the launch of a competition called New Voices and the sharing of brand-new research regarding free-thinking. We also look forward to The Independent’s upcoming free-thinking film series at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and talk about an exciting new YouTube series from Tasty UK ‘Tasty Presents: Culinary Roots‘.
The Independent is launching New Voices, a nationwide writing competition inviting aspiring writers to submit an opinion piece on a topic in the news, with one aim: to make readers think differently.
Prizes (and publication in The Independent’s award-winning Voices section) will go to the best entries that stand out from the crowd and approach a subject from a fresh perspective. Open to UK residents aged 18 or over who have never been published before, 800-word entries will be judged on originality, quality of writing and strength of argument. The winner will receive £500, alongside £5,000 of advertising inventory for a UK-registered charity of their choice; with four runners-up receiving £2,500 of advertising inventory for their chosen charities.
Entry is free, with submissions to newvoices@independent.co.uk closing at 23:59 GMT on 13 November 2026. Full details and terms and conditions can be found on independent.co.uk.
Released on Tuesday 13 October, The Independent’s revealing new research project examines what it means to be a free thinker today.
Discovering that three quarters of UK adults believe that it’s harder than ever to be a free thinker, the study looks at the changing landscape of independent thought, the role of media in free thinking, which generation is the most free thinking, when and how free thinking flourishes, what free thinking means to different groups, the reality and challenges of being a free thinker in 2026, and where free thinking is going next.
Read more about it on The Independent now.
The Independent and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) are launching a new film festival as part of the paper’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
The festival marks the 40th anniversary of The Independent and brings together a specially curated programme of film screenings, conversations and cultural events celebrating independent thought, creative expression and ideas that challenge convention.
Tickets and further programme information are available at ica.art/the-independent. Members of The Independent are eligible for a 20% discount on the festival programme.
19 October: An exclusive private event for Independent Members. Featuring a screening of Bridget Jones’s Diary, including a drinks reception and Q&A with Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding, hosted by The Independent’s Editor-in-Chief, Geordie Greig.
20 October: Cancelled: The Rise and Fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, followed by a Q&A with Geordie Greig and Kim Aris; and the premiere of Wombs of Debt, a new 25-minute documentary exploring the experiences of female sugarcane cutters in southern India.
21 October: Arrows of Desire: Peter Wollen, featuring a screening of Peter Wollen’s Friendship’s Death (1987), followed by a conversation with anthology editors Kodwo Eshun, Oliver Fuke and Nicolas Helm-Grovas.
22 October: Ali & Ava. Plus Stolen Desire, the debut feature by Japanese filmmaker Shōhei Imamura, opening the ICA’s Long Takes retrospective dedicated to his work.
23 October: The off-circuit premiere of The Night Is Fading Away, accompanied by a special Q&A.
24 October: Under The Skin, with a special Q&A
25 October: Orlando, accompanied by a special Q&A.
Photo credit: Ali & Ava, dir. Clio Barnard, UK 2021, 95 min. Courtesy Altitude Films.
Food is more than what we eat. It’s culture, identity and the stories that connect us.
Launching this November, Tasty’s Culinary Roots is a premium YouTube documentary series uncovering the people, places and traditions behind Britain’s vibrant food culture.
For brands, it’s a chance to go beyond food trends and become part of the story. Connecting with passionate audiences through authentic storytelling, cultural discovery and the communities shaping what Britain eats.
Be part of the story. Contact tapi.nyoni@
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