THE 2026 FESTIVAL
ONE SELECTION,
TWO PLACES
In 2026 the Stafford Film Festival broadens. The festival grew up in Stafford town; this year it reaches across Staffordshire and takes a selection of films to Stockholm. Two screenings are set out below, and further UK locations will be announced if secured.
RESULTS ANNOUNCED
THE 2026 WINNERS AND HONOURABLE MENTIONS ARE IN
Eighteen winners and twenty honourable mentions across eighteen categories.
PRIVATE INDUSTRY SCREENING
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
2 August 2026
A selection of films from the festival screens privately in Stockholm for distributors and industry professionals. The aim is simple: to put the work of the festival's filmmakers in front of the people who can take it further.
This screening is not open to the public. Further Stockholm screenings open to the public are intended, and any announcement will be made here and on the newsletter first.
CONFIRMED
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
STOKE-ON-TRENT, STAFFORDSHIRE
Sunday 6 September 2026 · Mitchell Arts Centre
The UK screening is confirmed at the Mitchell Arts Centre in Stoke-on-Trent. Stoke-on-Trent is part of Staffordshire, and holding the screening there is a deliberate step in broadening the Stafford Film Festival into a county wide festival.
Doors 12:45. Three programmes of films with two intervals, each interval carrying a relaxed question and answer session with the filmmakers in the room. Awards close the day at 17:40.
The full running order is set out below, film by film. Further UK locations will be announced if secured.
SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2026 · MITCHELL ARTS CENTRE
THE FULL PROGRAMME
Sixteen films across three programmes, opening with a short introduction to the festival. Doors 12:45, introduction 13:00, first film 13:10, awards from 17:00, out by 17:50. Programme Two carries a parental guidance note for its closing two films. Award winners are announced on the day.
PROGRAMME ONE
13:00 to 14:20
13:00
Introduction to the festival
live on stage · welcome, how the day runs, intervals and awards
10:00
13:10
Xmas Box
directed by Adriana Mourelle · United Kingdom
1:00
13:11
Statue in the Garden
directed by Qianhui Yu · United Kingdom
7:38
13:18
Philip Hardaker: Sculptured to Speak
directed by Henry John Sedgley · United Kingdom
10:01
13:28
The Big Bad Wolf
directed by Leo William Wright · United Kingdom
5:00
13:33
Just A Wish Away
directed by Stephen Peers · United Kingdom
16:14
13:49
Murder For Dummies: Victim
directed by J.W. Roberts · United Kingdom
22:42
Interval 14:20 to 14:40, with a relaxed question and answer session.
PROGRAMME TWO
14:40 to 16:00
14:40
An Alternate Pond
directed by C. Thomas Lewis · United States
10:28
14:50
Brown Sheep
directed by Konna Thomson · United Kingdom
12:42
15:03
Safety Net
directed by Alfie Beard · United Kingdom
14:48
15:17
The Last Call
directed by Bailey Mowatt · United Kingdom
15:44
15:33
Shut your trap!
directed by Luis Ramos · Mexico
1:00
15:34
Hell
directed by Parker Croft · United States
5:00
15:39
Burger Dude: The Burginning
directed by Jackson Chaddock · United Kingdom
15:04
Parental guidance: Hell and Burger Dude: The Burginning close this programme and carry strong language and adult content. They are placed last so families can leave before the interval, 16:00 to 16:20.
PROGRAMME THREE
16:20 to 17:40
16:20
Petrol Head
directed by Patrick Swain and Jasper Frost · United Kingdom
14:59
16:34
Largo
directed by Salvatore Scarpa and Max Burgoyne-Moore · United Kingdom
18:59
16:53
The Land We Fight For
directed by Dimitri Nasennik · Estonia
39:17
The Land We Fight For is the closing film of the festival. Awards follow from 17:00.
WHAT A SCREENING INCLUDES
Every Stafford Film Festival screening pairs the selected films with conversation: filmmaker Q&As after selected films, interviews with finalists and winners, and time to talk with filmmakers and other film lovers. What to expect on the night.
Selected filmmakers: your screening pack and materials checklist arrives by email from lets.talk@staffordfilmfestival.com.
SCREENING ANNOUNCEMENTS, FIRST
SCREENING ANNOUNCEMENTS, FIRST
