Audience Scores Revealed

The votes have been tallied, and we are thrilled to reveal the final audience scores for the 2026 Festival as determined by our audience ratings.

Once again documentaries have scored highly with Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk coming out on top with 90.9% and All And Nothing not far behind with 89.7%. When Life Gives You Lemons...Everyone's Everest and Common Ground both scored 82% and The Shepherd And The Bear 79%.

Our family films went down well with everybody who saw them, resulting in big scores for Kangaroo (90.4%), Bugsy Malone (87%) and Happy Feet (80.9%). The students from Carlisle College picked highly rated modern classics giving There Will Be Blood 90% and Waves 87.9%.

Of the new non-documentaries Sirāt scored the highest with 87.3% followed by The Last Viking (80.6%), DJ Ahmet (80.3%), A Private Life (79.9%) and The President's Cake (79%)  

You can see all of the scores on our website.

Thank You

That's a wrap on this year's Festival. Thank you for joining us to celebrate a wonderful weekend of the very best international and independent cinema as we welcomed friends, filmmakers and audiences to a feast of film and events at the North West's favourite, friendly film festival.

We couldn’t have done it without you, the audience, our funders and sponsors, and especially our brigade of volunteers.

Your thoughts on this year’s Festival will help us shape our 2027 edition so please complete our survey as soon as possible.

Osprey Winners Announced

Congratulations to all of the short films that were screened at the Theatre By The Lake on Saturday afternoon. What a wonderful selection of shorts showcasing amazing Cumbrian talent spanning genres, themes and styles.

Many thanks to Anwen, Lady Hurt for joining us and presenting the inaugural John Hurt Award for Excellence in Short Filmmaking to Dougal Vecqueray for MRI as voted for by the audience. BLACKPOOL by Stephen Gallacher got the second highest number of votes followed by DEAR HEART by Emily Barnard & Sara Barnes.

The judges prize in the Open Category went to MEAT RAFFLE by Stuart Armstrong, building on his success of winning the Audience Award last year for Lay-By.

The Student Prize was awarded to MRI by Dougal Vecqueray, a wonderful animation made at the Aardman Academy based on his own hospital experiences dealing with a heart condition.

MRI will be screened before the sold out closing film at the Festival on Sunday evening.

Thanks to the team at the Theatre By The Lake for all their hard word getting the films on the big screen.

Second Chance Screenings Announced

Missed a highly rated film? Couldn’t get a ticket? Here is your second chance to see the best of the fest, highly rated or sold out screenings. All showing in Alhambra screen 2.

• Sound of Falling, Saturday 21 March, 9pm
• The Secret Agent, Sunday 22 March, 1pm
• The Last Viking, Sunday 22 March, 4pm
• The President’s Cake, Sunday 22 March, 6.30pm

Plus there's an additional screening of Orwell 2+2=5, Saturday 1pm

Check out the Ticket Updates for the latest on ticket availability to other titles.

Extra Screenings of Saving Our Rainforests

Saving Our Rainforests on Friday at 9pm is sold out, so we’re also showing it at 8.15pm and 9.45pm.

Tickets Selling Fast

Our opening and closing films are now SOLD OUT but don't forget there is a second screening of The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford on Saturday morning at 10:30am.  Many other screenings are filling up now, so don't leave it too late to get your tickets. Check the Ticket Updates to find out what is selling fast and this is where we'll also announce what will be filling the Second Chance slots.

We've changed how tickets work this year so please look at the Your Visit page to ensure you have an enjoyable time.

Don't forget about the free Fringe Festival, other offers and the Osprey Short Film Awards.

Welcome To Keswick Film Festival

Join us from the 19 to 22 March as we bring you the best of independant and international cinema to the magnificent surroundings of the Lake District.

Featuring premieres, talks, short films, retrospectives, Q&As, award winners, an entire Fringe Festival, hidden gems and more. This year's programme truly has something for everyone.

Tickets are selling fast and some screenings have already sold out, visit the news page to check the latest availability and find out about any additional screenings.

Explore the Programme – 1976

1976 was a pivotal year in cinema culture. It brought us some unforgettable films. Those of us lucky enough to watch them in cinemas when they first came out know the silent effect they had on cinema’s legacy. We could have chosen Network, All the President’s Men, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Small Change, Carrie or even Rocky to represent the sea change in approach to filmmaking.

However, we think the films chosen are representative. The New Hollywood movement produced Taxi Driver and Cria Cuervos epitomised Spanish cinema at the start of the democratic era. Alan Parker turned from commercials to Bugsy Malone and the world was (nearly) ready for Roeg's kaleidoscopic metaphysical mindbender The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Last Chance To Buy A Pass

Remember, Festival Passes are only available until the close of business on Monday 16 March. Not only do they provide great value, allowing you to see up to 13 films, they also give you access to the Opening Night parties, priority access on returns for any sold-out screenings and discounts from places in town. See the Benefits & Offers page for full details.

Osprey Short Film Award to Commemorate Sir John Hurt

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.

Welcoming KE Adventure - our World Premiere Film Sponsor

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!

More Passholder and Festival Benefits

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.

Free Festival Shuttle Bus

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.

Festival Fringe Announced

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.

With huge thanks to all our Fringe contributors.

Please note, there is no admission charge to Fringe films and events, but seats will need to be booked via the Alhambra website. Donations towards the Festival running will be requested at the screenings with any surplus going to Keswick Area Food Share.

Tickets Now on General Sale

Everybody can now buy tickets for individual films at the Festival.  Please book now to avoid disappointment as many films are already selling fast.

If you want to see multiple films our Festival Passes are a great option but these are only available until Monday 16 March.

See the Passes and Tickets page for full details including changes to how passes and tickets work this year.

More Passholder Benefits

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.

Passes and Priority Tickets On Sale

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.

Programme Revealed

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.

Opening Film Revealed

 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 .

KFF @ Rheged

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.

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.