Manchester Film Festival 2026 Sets Dates
Manchester Film Festival is delighted to announce that the 2026 edition of the festival will take place 19th–29th March 2026, bringing another ten days of exceptional cinema to venues across the city, including Aviva Studios, HOME, Odeon Great Northern, Flix at Treehouse Hotel and CULTPLEX.
Early bird passes are officially on sale now, offering film lovers the chance to secure their place at one of the UK’s most exciting film events at discounted prices.
Continuing its commitment to celebrating local creative talent, Manchester Film Festival is proud to unveil the official 2026 festival poster, designed by Charlie Cunliffe, a student from Pendleton Sixth Form College. Charlie’s striking visual, chosen from a competitive field of entries, will feature across promotional materials and throughout the city in the lead-up to the festival.
The runner-up for this year’s poster competition was Shuhd Al Dafey, whose work was also highly commended.
Festival Director Neil Jeram Croft praised the students’ achievements:
“This is the third year we have worked with Pendleton Sixth Form design students and once again the work they all put in was exceptional. It was really tough to choose a winner, but we felt that Charlie’s design really stood out with its simplicity and use of colour. We think it’s going to look fantastic all over Manchester this spring.”
More information about Early Bird Passes:
- 6 Film Pass – £36 (normally £45)
- 10 Film Pass – £52 (normally £65)
- Full Festival Pass – £71.95 (normally £89.95)
Available to purchase HERE. These passes offer incredible value for those eager to immerse themselves in groundbreaking premieres, shorts, features, Q&As, networking events and more.
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.
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.
About Manchester Film Festival:
The Manchester Film Festival is an annual celebration of international cinema, showcasing a diverse range of films from established and emerging filmmakers. Established in 2014, the festival has grown to become a significant event in the global film calendar, attracting both industry professionals and avid film enthusiasts. The festival is both a BAFTA qualifying festival for British short films and BIFA qualifying for shorts and features.
