Jodie Foster Retrospective

 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.

Programme and Sales Dates

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

Volunteer At KFF

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.

Support Your Favourite Film Festival

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

Osprey Short Film Awards - Now Accepting Entries

We are now accepting entries for the 2026 Osprey Short Film Awards. We are looking for films with a Cumbrian connection (e.g made in Cumbria or by Cumbrians), made after 2024 and under 15 minutes. For full details on how to enter please visit our Shorts page.

Keswick Film Festival 2026 Dates Announced

We are delighted to reveal that the dates of the 2026 Festival will be

19 - 22 March! 

Our new KFF Director Julia Vickers says: “In usual Keswick Film Festival style, we’ll be showing a fabulous selection of films from across the world in our favourite places – the Alhambra Cinema, Theatre by the Lake and Rheged. Save those dates!”

Scores & Awards

That was quite an Anniversary!

Thank you to all of you who came to Keswick last weekend to make it such an enjoyable weekend. It is always lovely to see people renewing acquaintanceships 12 months on – and to welcome so many new faces to KFF.

There was an incredible range of films on offer, which made it hard to choose at times – and the scores reflected the quality of the films in the programme.

Eventually, it was The Marching Band that took the audience award – the third consecutive year that a film at Rheged has taken the prize. The Monk and the Gun wasn’t far behind. You can see the Top 15 films here on the website.

The Ospreys continue to amaze with their demonstration of film-making prowess. The selection gets better each year – and what a treat to have Ian Picken, KFF’s first Festival Director, to announce the Audience Award was won by Stuart Armstrong for Lay-by. Harvey Greenfield director Jonnie Howard presented the Student Award to Asa Pegler for It Get's Better and the Open Award went to Juliet Klottrup for Travelling Home, which if you missed can now be seen on the Nowness platform.