News

We are delighted to announce that Anwen, widow of KFF Patron the late Sir John Hurt, will be the guest of honour at this year’s Festival when she presents the Osprey Short Film Awards at the ceremony on Saturday 21 March.

Lady Hurt will present the inaugural John Hurt Award for Excellence in Short Filmmaking along with the Open and Student Awards. Formerly the Audience Award, the John Hurt Award will continue to be voted for by the enthusiastic audience of filmmakers and festival-goers at the ceremony.

Lady Hurt commented: “With a long and varied career, John was a strong advocate for independent film. It’s a personal delight to present the newly named Award in honour of John, a fitting way to remember his passion for helping and inspiring the next generation.”

Ten films have been shortlisted in the 2026 Open and Student categories and feature a diverse array of genres, from charming stop-motion animations and documentaries to bold queer cinema and surrealist student work. The selection takes us on a journey from the delicate ecosystems of the Duddon Estuary to the neon-lit chaos of Blackpool. We see the world through the eyes of red squirrels, young skaters, and even a reanimated postman.

KFF is pleased to be working with KE Adventure to bring the special screening of When Life Gives You Lemons … Everyone’s Everest to this year’s Festival.

For 40 years KE Adventure have been operating active adventure holidays to the world’s most beautiful regions, including the Himalaya where When Life Gives You Lemons … was partially filmed.

If you are inspired to take on the same challenge as Sally, KE Adventure can take you on the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon – the world’s highest!

Buy a pass and in addition to benefits already in place, for the duration of the Festival receive:

• 10% off food and drink at Barua Street Food (Lake Road, Keswick), just book ahead and show your Pass on arrival

For ALL Festival-Goers we are delighted to be working with Chinty’s Cafe (St John’s Street, just down the road from the Alhambra) to provide a special space for Festival-goers on Friday and Saturday with:

• Central tables reserved for Festival Passholders (other tables available to Festival-goers but BOOK!)
• Special Festival meal-deal of a bowl of soup plus side (scone/ sausage roll/ vegan chickpea bun) plus coffee for £10
• Takeaways available all day

Please note Chinty’s Café is CASH ONLY; book on 017687 74118, in person or email chintyt@gmail.com.

Thanks to funding from Film Hub North we are pleased to be able to offer a FREE shuttle bus service on Sunday 22 March, extended this year to include the journey between Penrith and Rheged.

The bus will run a circular route, leaving Keswick then picking up in Penrith town and arriving at Rheged in time for the start of each film.

Return buses will depart Rheged to drop off in Penrith and arrive back in Keswick in time for the films at the Alhambra.

See the travel page for full details including how to book your seat.

Nurturing talented filmmakers in our community is important to Keswick Film Festival and we are proud to present a selection of films made by groups and individuals, that showcase Cumbrian Life.

From BlueJam Arts based in Penrith to our colleagues and students at Carlisle College, from short films by young filmmakers to films about the Borrowdale temperate rainforest and suicide prevention in Cumbria, our Festival Fringe demonstrates local storytelling at its best.

The Fringe programme and timetable are now available to download and you can find more details on all of the events on the Fringe page.

All you smart people who have already bought a Pass to the Festival are in for several treats as we secure additional benefits exclusively for you.

As a Passholder you already enjoy

• priority ticket booking up to this Thursday, 12 February
• priority access to return tickets for sold-out screenings  
• exclusive access to the Passholder Party and the Afterparty on the Festival Opening Night

We are now pleased to offer 10% off purchases at Brewery Hub, Keswick’s brand new beer emporium located opposite the Bank Tavern and Fat Face on Main Street. For the duration of the Festival, just show your Festival Pass to get your 10% discount on local bottled craft beer.

Festival Passes are now available and passholders can book their entitlement of tickets for films at the Festival.

Keswick Film Club members can also book tickets for individual films.

The remaining tickets will go on general sale on 12 February.

Find out more on the Tickets Page.

The programme for KFF26 is now available. Alongside UK, European and World Premieres we also have a selection of films chosen by students from Carlisle College.

See all of these titles on our KFF26 Film Page.

But we're not finished! Coming soon, our Festival Fringe programme this year will feature the work of talented filmmakers across the region as we proudly present a selection of films made by groups and individuals that showcase Cumbrian Life.

 We're thrilled to announce the KFF26 Opening Film will be The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford

This new British feature will be the highlight of our Gala Festival Opening evening at the Alhambra Cinema on Thursday 19th March. A dark comedy, The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford stars Peter Mullan as a tour guide whose world is upended when a big-budget fantasy TV show begins filming in his remote Scottish village. We hope to welcome the Director and members of the cast to introduce the film and host a Q&A .

We may be the Keswick Film Festival and we enjoy two lovely venues in town – our Festival HQ at the Alhambra Cinema and Theatre by the Lake. But we also show Festival films at the giant Screen 1 at Rheged, located just a short drive or bus ride from Keswick and Penrith.

Our exciting 2026 programme - KFF @ Rheged - showcases hand-picked films to give an immersive experience on this massive 60 ft screen. This year we have the UK Gala Premiere of All And Nothing, The Shepherd and the Bear, The North, Sirât and a special event with Terry Abraham looking at his filmmaking work in the Lake District over the years.

The first themed strand of KFF26 is our Jodie Foster Retrospective.

This leading American performer and filmmaker started her career as a child actor before establishing herself in diverse adult roles, and becoming a film director of note. She has received several accolades including two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Foster also was awarded with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2013 and the Honorary Palme d'Or in 2021.

We could have filled an entire Festival with films in which Foster has appeared! Out of over 48 feature films we have chosen two from early in her career – both from 1976 but starkly contrasting in content and nature – Alan Parker’s Bugsy Malone and Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, alongside her most recent feature film A Private Life.

The Full KFF26 programme will be announced on 19 January

Tickets and Passes will be on sale from 22 January with an exclusive 3-week Priority Booking window for Festival Pass holders and Keswick Film Club Members (you can join KFC here)

Individual Festival Tickets for non Keswick Film Club members will go on sale on 12 February

Keswick Film Festival is run entirely by volunteers. The dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteers is what makes the Festival a success and a wonderful experience for those attending every year.

We could always do with more people to help us and will be delighted if you want to join our friendly team and help us to make the Festival a sensational event.

There are many different roles available, so we are sure there will be something you will enjoy. You can find more information on our Volunteering page.

To help us to build on the success of our wonderful festival we are seeking multiple partners who share our love of cinema and the inspirational setting of the Lake District.

Your support for our film festival means we are able to bring you the very best of international and independent cinema and provide the opportunity to see exceptional films many of which will never make it into commercial cinemas in the UK.

View our Sponsorship page to find out the ways you or your business can support the Festival