Folkestone Documentary Festival 2026

20/06/2026

The final deadline for submissions to the 2026 Folkestone Documentary Festival is in 3 days time!

➡️ Entry via FilmFreeway
🗳️Final deadline for submissions 23 June.
👀We can’t wait to watch your films

12/06/2026

🎬 Upcoming Doc Club screening: Time and Water
📍 Wednesday June 24th at 7:30pm, Silver Screen

From Academy Award-nominated director Sara Dosa Time and Water follows Icelandic writer Andri Snær Magnason as he reflects on the loss of the country’s glaciers and what it means to preserve memories of a changing world.

Blending personal archives, family history and Icelandic folklore the film explores how we hold on to places people and stories in times of profound change.

Join us for an evening of breathtaking scenery and thought-provoking storytelling.

10/06/2026

The first of our FREE Filmmaking Challenge workshops in partnership with Screen South and Peter Blach is coming up on Monday 15 June, 12.30-1.30pm. A friendly lunchtime webinar to introduce you to the team and an opportunity to ask any questions. Book your free ticket in advance through Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/filmmaking-challenge-2026-4841327

New to filmmaking or need to brush up on your skills? Fear not! Screen South is hosting a series of FREE workshops designed to equip you with the basics to shoot and edit a short documentary film for this year's Filmmaking Challenge.

03/06/2026

🎬 COMING UP AT FOLKESTONE DOC CLUB | JUNE & JULY

❄️ Time and Water
📅 Wednesday 24 June
🕢 7:30pm

As Iceland’s glaciers melt away, renowned poet and author Andri Snær Magnason creates a cinematic time capsule to preserve a disappearing world. Weaving together family archives, folklore, photographs and the changing landscape of Iceland, this is a beautiful and deeply personal reflection on memory, climate and what endures.

🎵 It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
📅 Wednesday 29 July
🕢 7:30pm

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg tells the story of the extraordinary Jeff Buckley, whose singular voice and boundary-pushing artistry captivated a generation. Featuring rare footage and intimate insights, the film celebrates the life, music and enduring legacy of the artist behind Grace.

🎟️ All welcome. Join us at Silver Screen.

28/05/2026

Got summer plans? ☀️

The Folkestone Documentary Festival Filmmaking Challenge is back!

A creative challenge for anyone who wants to make a short documentary film.

Shoot it on anything (yes, your phone counts 📱), keep it to 5 minutes or less, and make it between 27 May and 21 September 2026.

There are two prizes up for grabs: BEST FILM and BEST ENVIRONMENTAL FILM 🏆 plus a £1000 equipment and post-production support voucher.

No experience needed. Just curiosity, ideas, and a story worth filming 🎬

We’re also running FREE workshops all summer to help you get started, from storytelling to shooting on your phone to hands-on kit sessions.

Deadline for submissions: Monday 21 September 2026 (midday).

Full rules, workshops info, and how to enter on the Folkestone Documentary Festival website.

So… what are you filming this summer? 🎥

19/05/2026

We’re now a qualifying film festival!

As an emerging documentary festival, it’s a huge honour to announce that Folkestone Documentary Festival is now an official BIFA qualifying festival for British features and shorts.

Alongside our recent Grierson awards qualification, this means selected films screening at the festival may now be eligible for consideration by the British Independent Film Awards - one of the UK’s leading celebrations of independent cinema.

Becoming BIFA qualifying recognises the strength of the festival’s curation and programming, and further establishes Folkestone Documentary Festival as an important platform for championing bold, independent filmmaking within the UK screen industry. Co-Director of the festival, Charlie Phillips, says:

“BIFA is one of the most respected organisations supporting independent film in the UK, so becoming a qualifying festival is a massive step for us. It means films screening at Folkestone Documentary Festival now have a clearer pathway towards national industry recognition, while helping us attract exciting new British features and shorts to the programme.”

Open submissions are being accepted until 23 June via Film Freeway.

13/05/2026

🎬 Upcoming Doc Club screening: The Tale of Silyan

Set in a rural farming community The Tale of Silyan follows Nikola as he struggles to adapt to a changing way of life. When he rescues an injured white stork an unexpected bond begins to grow.

From the Oscar-nominated director of Honeyland this is a thoughtful and deeply human story about resilience migration and connection.

📍 May 27th at 7:30pm - Silver Screen Folkestone

01/05/2026

Early Bird tickets are here! 🎟️

Join us for Folkestone Documentary Festival, 22-25 October.

Four days of documentaries connecting local stories with global perspectives.

Expect films that inspire, challenge, and stay with you.

Full price Early Bird pass: £40
Concession Early Bird pass: £25

Available 1 May - 31 July

22/04/2026

Join the community at Folkestone Documentary Festival 2026 🎬

SUPER EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE UNTIL END OF APRIL 🎟️

Full Festival Passes are just £30 (or £20 concession)
Four days of documentaries, Q&As, special events and seaside cinema culture.

It’s not too late to grab yours!

FilmCommunity

17/04/2026

Who gets to tell a woman’s story?

Broken English, directed by Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard, puts Marianne Faithfull’s voice back at the centre.

An intimate, thoughtful look at a life often defined by others.

🎬 Doc Club screening
📍 April 29th, 7:30pm — Silver Screen

Don’t miss it.

BrokenEnglish WomenInFilm FilmCommunity ArthouseCinema FilmEvent