Cambridge Film Festival

The launch of Cambridge Film Festival 2026 happens as soon as Thursday 22nd October. Barely a week to go . And an eleven days of cinema premieres, award winners and a fabulous family range with Beauty and the Beast and Little Women. Wonderfully welcome is the reduced sound level for youngsters.And some shows are free (check it out in attached schedule)

Debut - Australian film explores personality and its influence on life

What to choose to see ? Go for a Palme d’Or winner Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsveor  Set in a remote Norwegian fjord community, the film follows the growing suspicion and tension that emerge when bruises found on a child raise questions about parenting and family life.

Fatherland - focus of Panel of Experts for discussion

A fascinating evening with a panel  of academics who discuss the powerful cultural legacy of Thomas Mann in the light of Fatherland, and the status of its German heritage.  alongside Andrew Haigh’s A Long Winter, Lukas Dhont’s Coward and Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters.

Coward

I always love the Short Fusion programme which this year as last features UK and European premières like Distant Sky and Sad Girlz. Best Director at Cannes was won by  La Bola Negra which scooped the pool of Awards to include Spain’s Academy as well as People’s Choice at TIFF. Spanish films were a massive hit last year, brilliantly screened and deeply memorable, a great selling point for this year’s choices

The Debut, Jesse Eisenberg’s latest feature, stars Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey and Bernadette Peters alongside Eisenberg. The film follows a shy young woman whose casting in a local musical draws her into an increasingly consuming theatrical world.

Twenty four Hour Party People

Nina Roza is particularly notable as a UK premiere and as Canada’s submission for the 2027 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Geneviève Dulude-De Celles’ film follows a Montreal art dealer who travels to rural Bulgaria after hearing about a six-year-old girl believed to possess extraordinary artistic talent.

 I see Buildings Fall like Lightning is a follow up Clio Barnard film as impressive as her Bradford based collection Ava and Ali above is from 2022 and a magnet for her fans. - Martin Mc Donagh’s Wild Horse Nine a murky comedy set before the 1973 Chilean Coup, will close it after nearly two weeks of fabulous and frenetic screening. I asked someone for their first choice

“ As it’s Hallowe’en , it has to be Isabel Huppert in The Red Countess”

We all have our reasons for our choices and there is certainly a plethora of those this year. Believe it or not I have never seen ‘Bend it Like Beckham” Now is the hour.