Opening Film

PROGRAMME

17-21 SEPTEMBER 2026

Each screening includes a short Q&A with the filmmakers. Please exit the room after each session and re-enter for the next.

 

THU 17.09.2026 

 

14:00 Press Conference with Filmmakers and Jurors at RSA (Royal Society of Arts)

 

h 17:30 Industry Panel: “AI in Film”, with Robbie Moffat (Palm Tree Films) – at The Queens Head Piccadilly

 

+ industry networking at The Queens Head Piccadilly 

 

FRI 18.09.2026

 

h 11-13 Industry Panel: “Women Driving Change in Film & Television”, in collaboration with “Yes She Cannes” – at RSA (Royal Society of Arts). With Faith Elizabeth (CEO & Founder Yes She Cannes) and Daphne Schmon (CEO & Founder Breaking Through The Lens). Spaces are limited. [SOLD OUT]

 

h 14:00 SHORTS BLOCK 1 (VUE Screen 1):

My Private Yellowstone by Liam Bosman

Maureen by James Peaty

The Very Last Glimpse Of Grace by Daphnea Doto

A Girl Called Alice by Tristan Loraine

The Wolf by Maeve Murphy

Lethni by Luigi Di Domenico

The Postman by Gavin Irvine

My Hero by Jessica Magaye

Born to Dance by Michał Cygan

ASKING4IT by Emma Jesse

We Duel at Dawn! By Kristofer Seppälä

Haunted by Lee Apsey

No Swan In Sight by Vanessa Rose

Self+Tape by James Cleave

All Filmmakers on stage 

16:50 SHORTS BLOCK 2 (VUE Screen 1):

Plaster by Tanguy Pichon

Well-Being by Kevin McNally

Sold As Seen by Dan Eycott

Dead Dreams Falling by Craig Murray

FutureGaze by Freddie Hill

Midmorning Dawn by Grace Truly

The Audition by James ‘JJ’ Johnson

Aspettando/Waiting by Alessandro Marchese

After A Long Day by Lidya Esmelioglu

Sylvia by Jevan Chowdhury

Sophie’s Bakes by Hugo Coelho

Making Up by Ryan Paige

OTP (One-Time Password) by Gary Apple

Braced for the Truth by Alexandra Shaw

Untouched by Simon Drew

All Filmmakers on stage 

19:00 OPENING RED CARPET

 

20:00 OPENING FILM:

Quiet on Set: The Class Division in the Film Industry? By Mark Forbes (01:06:08) + Q&A with Filmmaker

SAT 19.09.2026

 

VUE Screen 1

13:00 TRUE SPARK BLOCK:

Wild Horses at the Door by Carrie Lederer

Truckload by Aella Jordan-Edge

Final Performance of The Year by Gary Apple

25 Minutes by Tarik Ben Salah

Approval Needed by Karen Anstee (aka Kaz Anstee)

Filmmakers on stage

DOCUMENTARIES:

15:00 The Bridge by Jimmy Hedger + Q&A with filmmaker

16:40 Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue by Jill Campbell + Q&A with filmmaker

18:50 The Engineer by Sam Reynard + Q&A with filmmaker

FILM:

20:15 The Man Who Spoke Twice by Lawton Charman + Q&A with filmmaker

 

VUE Screen 2

14:00 (AI) The Black Cube: Hunting by Vitali Pikalevsky (00:04:38) 

14:10 (AI) Out of Competition: Dreamer by Robbie Moffat (1:45:00) + Q&A

16:20 (HORROR) Knock Knock by Tyler Field (00:08:50) [SOLD OUT]

16:30 (HORROR) DAAL (WORLD PREMIERE) by Richa Moitra (1:50:02) + Q&A [SOLD OUT]

18:45 Connected  (WORLD PREMIERE) by Deborah Hadfield (01:41:05) + Q&A

20:50 The Dying of The Light by Ivan Perić and Alvaro Congosto (01:07:56) + Q&A

SUN 20.09.2026 

VUE Screen 1

13:00 ROOTED OUT – Chapter 2 (WORLD PREMIERE) by Freddie Hutton-Mills (1:27:30) + Q&A with Director

15:00 RIP (UK PREMIERE) by Alessandro D’Ambrosi and Santa de Santis (1:44:40) + Q&A with Director

17:10 Innovation Secrets – Will Innovation Save Us or Kill Us?  (WORLD PREMIERE) by Sindre Kaupang (00:50:53) + Q&A 

 

18:20 PITCH CORNER

 

19:00 AWARD CEREMONY

 

20:30 Fotocall winners

 

MON 21.09.2026 

h 11-13 Industry Panel: “Representation Matters: Disability, Class and Queerness in Film” at RSA (Royal Society of Arts). With Helen Oakleigh. Spaces are limited.