The Manchester Film Festival is delighted to announce the programme for its 2026 edition, taking place from 19–29 March across Manchester city centre. Marking the festival’s biggest year to date, screenings will take place across more venues than ever before, including HOME, Odeon Great Northern, Northern Light Cinema, Aviva Studios and Flix at the Treehouse Hotel Manchester, reflecting the continued growth and expanding reach of the festival. The festival’s lead partner is CUPRA City Garage. Other partners include FILMD, Met Film School and Screen Manchester.
The festival’s continued growth was underlined at the 2025 edition, which saw ticket sales rise by 15%, audiences of over 7,000 across the programme, and more sold-out screenings than ever before.
The festival will present a rich and dynamic programme, showcasing 52 feature films, including 9 UK premieres and 8 world premieres. All films in the programme will be screening in Manchester for the first time.
Highlights include Erupcja, directed by Pete Ohs (Jethica) and starring global pop icon Charli XCX (The Moment); Rose of Nevada, directed by Mark Jenkin (Bait) and starring George MacKay (1917) and Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald); and the Manchester premiere of The Souffleur, directed by Gastón Solnicki (Kékszakállú) and starring Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe (Poor Things).
Additional Manchester premieres include Our Hero Balthazar, directed by Oscar Boyson (The Calling) and starring Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) and Jaeden Martell (It); The Last Viking, directed by Anders Thomas Jensen (Everything) and starring BAFTA-winning actor Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round); Honey Bunch, directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli (Viola) and starring Jason Isaacs (The Death of Stalin); and Lady, directed by Samuel Abrahams (Shadows) and starring Sian Clifford (Fleabag).
The programme also features new work from internationally acclaimed filmmakers, including Jim Jarmusch (Paterson), who returns with Father Mother Sister Brother, starring Oscar- and BAFTA-winning actor Cate Blanchett (Tár), Oscar-nominated actor Adam Driver (Marriage Story), Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) and Charlotte Rampling (45 Years); Alice Winocour (Proxima), who presents Couture, starring Oscar-winning actor Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted); László Nemes, Academy Award winner for Son of Saul, directs Orphan; and François Ozon (Everything Went Fine), whose award-winning film The Stranger is featured in the programme.
Alongside these established names, the programme spotlights emerging filmmakers, including Harry Sherrif (Limbo) with Misper, starring Samuel Blenkin (Alien: Earth), and Max Walker-Silverman (A Love Song)’s Rebuilding, starring BAFTA-winning actor Josh O’Connor (God’s Own Country).
The programme also features distinctive projects including Rhino, a documentary narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road) and directed by Tom Martienssen; the critically acclaimed Hen from director György Pálfi; and One Of Us, starring Kit Connor (Warfare).
The festival will continue its commitment to supporting and showcasing filmmakers based in Manchester and the wider North West, championing stories rooted in the region. This year’s programme includes three films made by Manchester-based filmmakers, reflecting the breadth and ambition of voices emerging from the city. The selected films are:Chatlines (World Premiere), directed by Lloyd Eyre Morgan (Departures) and Neil Ely (Departures). A sharply observed LGBTQi sci-fi drama exploring loneliness, intimacy and connection in the digital age, starring Mancunian actor Nico Mirallegro (Skins).
Synthesized (World Premiere), directed by Chris Green (Strangeways Here We Come). A bold, music-driven film about ambition, creativity and identity, starring Thomas Turgoose (This Is England).
The Old Man and the Sea (Manchester Premiere), directed by Colin Offland and Marc Ingham. A contemporary reworking of a classic story, reimagined through a distinctly local lens.
Once again, the line-up includes a short film programme, which will include a North West Shorts strand highlighting some of the amazing talent in the Short Film art form, in films either produced or made by filmmakers based in the region. Highlights include Kit Harrington’s (Game of Thrones) directorial debut Psychopump and Pigs starring Bessie Carter (Bridgerton), and father and daughter, Olivia Williams (The Crown) and Jim Carter (Downton Abbey).
Neil Jeram-Croft, Festival Director, says: “We are incredibly proud to present the programme for the 12th edition of Manchester Film Festival, which marks our biggest and most ambitious year to date. This year’s line-up brings together an exceptional range of films and filmmakers, with screenings taking place across more venues than ever before, reflecting both the growth of the festival and the appetite for independent cinema in the city. We are especially looking forward to welcoming filmmakers from across the UK and internationally, as well as welcoming back our brilliant volunteers, whose support is vital to bringing the festival to life. We can’t wait to welcome audiences this March for ten days of powerful storytelling, standout premieres and inspiring conversations.”
As a BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festival, this year’s edition continues to champion exceptional filmmaking and original voices.
Over ten days, guests can enjoy an expansive line-up featuring international premieres, short and feature films, intimate Q&As, industry mixers, relaxed drinks events and the excitement of the red carpet. There will be a Programme Additions announcement, along with filmmaker and talent attendance news, closer to the festival.
The festival’s annual Industry Programme will be announced at the end of February. The Festival’s Annual Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday 29 March.
The 11th edition of the Manchester Film Festival took place 14-23 March 2025 at venues across the city centre and featured highlights such as The Penguin Lessons starring Steve Coogan and Y2K starring Rachel Zegler and Fred Durst.
Tickets and passes are on sale now and can be purchased via the official website at manchesterfilmfestival.com.
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