Scarborough Film Festival returned for its third year!!
The festival will run from 26th - 29th March with 13 events and used multiple venues around town including SJT, Cask and Keg, Craft and Beck View Studios and the Library
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This project is supported by Film Hub North with National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network.
Downloadable version of the programme avalible here.
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Wednesday 25th March
Craft Movie Quiz with Ruben and Charlotte //
Wednesday 25th March, 8.30pm start,
Join us to warm up for the Film Festival at Craft Bar for a special Movie Quiz hosted by Ruben and Charlotte. Entry is £1 per person. Alcoholic and Non-Alcohlic Drinks Avalible
This is a casual drop-in event.
Access: Craft is a step free venue, however the accessible toilet is up a series of steps.
PAY AS YOU FEEL, NO BOOKING REQUIRED
Music Videos + Gig + Zine Launch
Thursday 26th March, 7pm, Beck View Studios, 95mins, (15), (distributor: via filmmakers)
Scarborough has long had a thriving music scene, and this event celebrates how that scene has been documented on Film and photography. For this event we are excited for the first time to partner with Yorkshire Coast Gigs and Beck view Studios to present a night of Scarborough made music videos for local and international bands, Q and A with the makers, and live acousitc performances from Orchard, Beth Pilling and Nalgo Bay. We will also be launching a new zine in collaboration with Photo Scarborough, which explores some of the DIY gig photography in the town. Join us for this unique launch to Scarborough Film Festival 2026!
Access: Step free venue and accessible toilet on site
CW: Flashing images, swearing, lound noises
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Thursday 26th March
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Friday 27th March
The Stimming Pool (Relaxed Screening)
Friday 27th March, 2pm, SJT, 67mins, (12A), (distributor: Dartmouth Films)
The Stimming Pool is a unique documentary film exploring a world shaped by neurodiverse perspectives.
The narrative unfolds through an autistic camera, capturing diverse subjects navigating environments both challenging and comforting.
Access: This is a relaxed screening so volume will be lowered slightly, lights will remain dimmed and people are encouraged to get up and move around as required
CW: infrequent strong language, brief moderate violence, bloody images
I AM MARTIN PARR + Intro
Friday 27th March, 5.30pm, SJT, 66mins, (12), (distributor: dogwoof)
Since the 1970s, English photographer Martin Parr has held up a sometimes tender, sometimes critical and always mischievous mirror to our times, forcing us to take a hard look at how consumer society has shaped our lives. Discover the maverick behind some of the most iconic images of the past century on an intimate and exclusive road trip across England with the uncompromising Parr, whose subjects, frames and colours have revolutionised contemporary photography. This screening will be intorduced by Photo Scarborough, and there will be a series of Historic Scarborough photographs avalible to view after the screening in the lobby.
CW: brief nudity
Little Voice + Tuesday Funky Choir + Solidarity Social
Friday 27th March, 7.00pm - SJT and the Railway Club, (15), 93 mins (distributor: park circus)
Do you remember Little Voice filming in Scarborough? Now is your chance to see it back on the big screen. The story follows Laura, who hides in her room until thrust into the spotlight, but will she ever find her true voice. The film has an iconic cast including Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine and Ewan McGregor and is one not to be missed. The film will be preceeded by a joyful performance from the Tuesday Funky Choir, and join us after the screening over the road at the Railway Club for a good old dance with Solidarity Social.​
CW: frequent strong language, nudity, moderate sex references, sexism
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Saturday 28th March
Family Film: Little Amélie
Saturday 28th March, 10.15am, SJT, (PG), 77mins (distributor: Vue)
Join us for a Saturday morning family film, it follows a young Belgian girl living in 1960s Japan uses her big imagination to explore the world around her in this animated coming-of-age drama.
CW: mild threat, upsetting scenes mild threat, upsetting scenes
Children must be accompained by parents/carers at all times.
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Kids Shadow Puppet Film Workshop
Saturday 28th March, 11.45-1.15pm, Boden Room, SJT
A free kids workshop, where you will get the opportunity to make your own shadow puppets with artist Terenia Edwards. Cut and create your own characters and see them come alive! Workshop is free and open to drop in, sutible for ages 5+ Children must be accompained by parents/carers at all times.
Regional Competition Shorts
Saturday 28th March, 12 noon, SJT, (15), 60mins, (distributor: direct from filmmakers)
Our annual competition of regional shorts, celebrates the amazing talent of local filmmakers. Chosen from over 50 submissions, these films cross different genres from animation to fiction to documentry. They tell stories from angry cars to outdoor swimming, pigeon keeping to skateboarding. Come along to get inspired and watch amazing storytelling from across the region. Join us in the SJT bar afterwards for a drink and to meet other creatives/filmmakers.
Access: Subtitled screening
CW: mild threat, flashing images, domestic violence
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Maya and the Wave + Q & A
Saturday 28th March, 2.00pm, SJT, (12A), 98mins, (distributor: direct from filmmaker)
Filmmaker Stephanie Johnes follows the incredible and inspirational story of Brazilian big wave surfer Maya Gabeira in her award-winning documentary.
When Maya, having always dreamed of surfing giant waves, attempts to surf the infamous big wave of Nazaré, Portugal, and nearly drowns in the process, it is the beginning of an arduous and inspiring story. This screening is supported by Secret Spot, and will be followed by a Q & A with local surf community
Access: This film has English Subtitles
CW: moderate threat, violence, sexism, upsetting scenes, strong language
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Pauline Black: A Two Tone Story + Intro from Pauline Black
Saturday 28th March, 4.30pm, SJT, (15), 92mins, (distributor: docnroll)
To mark The Selecter performing at Scarborough Punk Festival. We present a captivating documentary chronicling the life and career of Pauline Black, lead singer of The Selecter. Over four decades, Pauline became a trailblazer in music and an outspoken advocate for racial equality. Through intimate interviews, archival footage, and a powerful soundtrack, the documentary explores Pauline’s lasting legacy and its relevance today, especially in discussions of race, gender, and identity. The screening will feature a live introduction from Pauline Black.
CW: racism, sexism, violence, strong language
Access: Hard of hearing subtitles
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Preview Screening: Rose of Nevada
Saturday 28th March, 7.45pm, SJT, (15), 114mins, (distributor: BFI)
An exclusive preview of the new film by Mark Jenkin ( director of Bait, which was previously screened at SFF in 2023). A haunted time-travelling odyssey brings a long-lost ship unexpectedly back to harbour, only for a new crew to set sail and re-enter the past. With an all star cast including George MacKay and Callum Turner, be prepared to dip into a murky mystery set along the stunning Cornish Coastline.
CW: Contains themes of suicide, strong language
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Sunday 29th March
Dread Beat and Blood + Intro
Sunday 29th March, 1pm, The Cask, (15), 45mins, (distributor: BFI
A chance to watch the vibrant 1979 documentary portrait of dub poet and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson, fighting racism with the spoken word on the streets of 1970s Brixton, directed by Franco Rosso(Babylon). The film will be introduced by local dub/reggae sound system 'Rebel Radics', who will also be doing a strictly vinyl DJ set after both music screenings.
Access: venue has step-free access and accessible toilet
CW: racism, discrimination, strong language
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Style Wars + Intro
Sunday 29th March, 2.30pm, The Cask, (18), 70mins
Lauded as the definitive hip hop documentary of its era, 1983’s Style Wars became iconic for capturing the moment the graffiti scene rose in prominence before becoming an international phenomenon. The film follows early-days graffiti writers from the streets of New York into their homes and meeting their families, alongside interviews with ‘talking heads’ authority figures such as spokespeople from the mayor’s office.This screening will be introudced by music producer, writer and illustrator k.i.s.t.a, and a gallery of graffitti/illustration will be on display and you will beable to have a go yourself.
Access: venue has step-free access and accesible toilet
CW: discrimination, strong language, Contains Flashing Images
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Closing Party: DJ sets k.i.s.t.a & rebel radics
Sunday 29th March, 4pm, The Cask
Join us to celebrate the end of Scarborough Film Festival 2026, with vinyl djs Dan Radics and k.i.s.t.a playing music inspired by the music docs screened during the day. Alcoholic and non-alcohlic drinks will be avalible from the bar during the event.
FREE, Drop-In​
SFF 2026 - 26th -29th March 2026
