All Festivals articles

Festivals

International cinema, local roots: what to watch at Borderlines Film Festival 2026

Bridging global cinema and countryside life, Borderlines brings more than 300 screenings – from big festival hits to restored favourites – to venues across the Marches this month.

By Ali Lalfam

International cinema, local roots: what to watch at Borderlines Film Festival 2026

Festivals

Queen at Sea: a nuanced and unshowy drama about the moral dilemmas that arise with dementia

By Rachel Pronger

Queen at Sea: a nuanced and unshowy drama about the moral dilemmas that arise with dementia

Festivals

No Good Men: A smartly observed political rom-com set in Afghanistan

By Meenakshi Shedde

No Good Men: A smartly observed political rom-com set in Afghanistan

Festivals

Josephine: a harrowing child’s eye view of the injustice faced by sexual assault survivors

By Rachel Pronger

Josephine: a harrowing child’s eye view of the injustice faced by sexual assault survivors

Festivals

Rose: Sandra Hüller is quietly mesmerising in this gender-defying German period drama

By John Bleasdale

Rose: Sandra Hüller is quietly mesmerising in this gender-defying German period drama

Festivals

Rosebush Pruning: strong performances and stylish visuals can’t save this hollow skewering of the ultra-rich

By Jonathan Romney

Rosebush Pruning: strong performances and stylish visuals can’t save this hollow skewering of the ultra-rich

Festivals

What to watch at Glasgow Film Festival 2026

By Ali Lalfam

What to watch at Glasgow Film Festival 2026

Festivals

The Arab: this symbolic tale of post-revolution Algeria is a powerful update to Camus

By Travis Jeppesen

The Arab: this symbolic tale of post-revolution Algeria is a powerful update to Camus

Festivals

Variations on a Theme: Rotterdam’s Tiger Competition winner explores the beauty of everyday life in a remote South African community

By John Bleasdale

Variations on a Theme: Rotterdam’s Tiger Competition winner explores the beauty of everyday life in a remote South African community

Festivals

Zi: Kogonada returns to indie filmmaking with a dreamy, directionless Hong Kong mystery

By Rory Doherty

Zi: Kogonada returns to indie filmmaking with a dreamy, directionless Hong Kong mystery

Festivals

The Invite: Discomfort is served in Olivia Wilde’s bittersweet sex comedy

By Nicolas Rapold

The Invite: Discomfort is served in Olivia Wilde’s bittersweet sex comedy

Festivals

The History of Concrete: John Wilson expands his eccentric TV series into a sneakily profound debut

By Nicolas Rapold

The History of Concrete: John Wilson expands his eccentric TV series into a sneakily profound debut

Festivals

The power of film: co-founders Ginta Gelvan and Johanna von Fischer on the international film festival 16 Days 16 Films

By Baneet Sarai

The power of film: co-founders Ginta Gelvan and Johanna von Fischer on the international film festival 16 Days 16 Films

Festivals

Left-Handed Girl: a Taiwanese comedy with a wild, whirling sense of momentum

By Adam Nayman

Left-Handed Girl: a Taiwanese comedy with a wild, whirling sense of momentum

Festivals

The Mastermind: Kelly Reichardt pulls off a perfect slow heist movie

By Nicolas Rapold

The Mastermind: Kelly Reichardt pulls off a perfect slow heist movie

Festivals

Below the Clouds: documentary tribute to Naples is filled with sepulchral melancholy

By Nick James

Below the Clouds: documentary tribute to Naples is filled with sepulchral melancholy

Festivals

20 great films playing at BFI London Film Festival 2025

Festivals

Rose of Nevada: a remarkably beautiful Cornish time-loop drama

By Jonathan Romney

Rose of Nevada: a remarkably beautiful Cornish time-loop drama

Festivals

Writing Life – Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students: Claire Simon’s touching documentary explores the universality of Ernaux’s writing

By Laura Venning

Writing Life – Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students: Claire Simon’s touching documentary explores the universality of Ernaux’s writing

Festivals

Maspalomas: an older gay man gets his mojo back after a stroke in this familiar feel-good comedy

By Neil Young

Maspalomas: an older gay man gets his mojo back after a stroke in this familiar feel-good comedy

Festivals

The Wizard of the Kremlin: a westernised take on Putin’s rise to power

By Travis Jeppesen

The Wizard of the Kremlin: a westernised take on Putin’s rise to power

Festivals

Frankenstein: Guillermo del Toro’s creation plays like a grand gothic fairytale

By Catherine Bray

Frankenstein: Guillermo del Toro’s creation plays like a grand gothic fairytale

Festivals

Sacrifice: celebrity-stuffed eco-satire takes aim at the virtue signalling of wealthy elites

By Adam Nayman

Sacrifice: celebrity-stuffed eco-satire takes aim at the virtue signalling of wealthy elites

Festivals

Back Home: Tsai Ming-liang lets the landscape of a rural Laos village speak for itself

By Travis Jeppesen

Back Home: Tsai Ming-liang lets the landscape of a rural Laos village speak for itself

Festivals

A House of Dynamite: Kathryn Bigelow’s terrifying nuclear threat thriller might be her best work yet

By John Bleasdale

A House of Dynamite: Kathryn Bigelow’s terrifying nuclear threat thriller might be her best work yet

Festivals

Father Mother Sister Brother: Jim Jarmusch’s low-key family anthology speaks from the heart

By Nicolas Rapold

Father Mother Sister Brother: Jim Jarmusch’s low-key family anthology speaks from the heart

Festivals

The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson is a knockout in Benny Safdie’s un-sensationalist MMA fighter biopic

By Jessica Kiang

The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson is a knockout in Benny Safdie’s un-sensationalist MMA fighter biopic

Festivals

La Grazia: less is more in Paolo Sorrentino’s quietly powerful political drama

By John Bleasdale

La Grazia: less is more in Paolo Sorrentino’s quietly powerful political drama

Festivals

No Other Choice: Park Chan-wook’s murderous thriller is goofy, grisly and perverse

By Nicolas Rapold

No Other Choice: Park Chan-wook’s murderous thriller is goofy, grisly and perverse

Festivals

After the Hunt: Luca Guadagnino’s overworked campus drama is designed to provoke but ends up feeling dated

By Jessica Kiang

After the Hunt: Luca Guadagnino’s overworked campus drama is designed to provoke but ends up feeling dated