The South London Film Festival Unveils 2026 Programme Featuring Three UK Premieres

The South London Film Festival returns to Picturehouse Ritzy, Brixton from 12–27 September 2026 for its sixth edition, bringing together independent filmmakers, established screen talent and audiences for three weekends of screenings, awards, filmmaker conversations and networking. This year’s programme features three UK premieres and a world premiere, alongside work from Academy Award and BAFTA-winning filmmakers and films backed by some of the most recognisable names working across British and international cinema.

Tickets for The South London Film Festival 2026 are now on sale at www.southlondonfilmfest.co.uk.

Highlights include the UK Premieres of the chilling horror short film Spilled Milk, written and directed by Jared Leaf, executive produced by Jordan Peele and developed through the Monkeypaw Productions and TIFF “No Drama” initiative; Echoes, directed by Alex Lanipekun and starring Ashley Walters and Nathalie Emmanuel about male friendship, mental health, and childhood trauma; and Vultures, written and directed by Dian Weys, following a hot-headed and desperate tow-truck driver whose determination to protect his tow sends an already volatile situation spiralling out of control.

The festival will also present the world premiere of An Ode to Joy, a heartfelt short directed by Ashleigh Ashley and starring Rudolph Walker, exploring mature love, family and grief.

The festival will open with The South London Film Festival Official Awards Showcase 2026, presenting 15 award-winning and selected short films from this year’s programme, including The Pigs Underneath, directed by Charlie Dennis, executive produced by Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, and starring Josh Tedeku and Vinette Robinson; Vote Gavin Lyle, written and directed by Academy Award winner Aneil Karia and starring Jack Lowden; and BAFTA-winning animated short Two Black Boys in Paradise, based on the poem by Dean Atta and narrated by Jordan Stephens; Rule, Britannia, directed by Max Fisher; Starboy, starring Malcolm Kamulete, Michael Salami and Akai Coleman; Plastic Surgery, starring Anna Popplewell and Daniel Ings; and Beloved Bermondsey, a documentary portrait of a South London community navigating change and regeneration.

The programme also includes the music video for The Boy Who Played the Harp from BRIT and Mercury Prize-winning artist Dave, directed by Edem Wornoo, alongside work from Mykea Fairweather Perry, Ben S. Hyland, Dian Weys, Olly Ginelli, Josephine Lohoar Self and King She.

The showcase will be followed by a live filmmaker Q&A and awards ceremony and will mark the launch of the inaugural South London Icon Award, recognising an individual who has made a meaningful contribution to film, culture and the creative industries.

The festival will also present its Behind the Smile strand, in collaboration with The Film and TV Charity, bringing together ten films exploring mental health, grief, vulnerability, identity and the pressures shaping contemporary life.

The programme includes The Intimacy Coordinator, directed by Louisa Connolly-Burnham; How Black Men Lose Their Smile, featuring Ashley “Bashy” Thomas; and Bobby, directed by Isabella Webber and narrated by Sir Michael Caine.

Also screening are Far From the Plains, starring Adolescence actor Amari Bacchus alongside BRIT-nominated artist Kojey Radical and Faith Alabi; The Wolf, written by and starring Kellie Shirley; Black Cab, directed by James Arden; The Proudest Rose, directed by Giorgia Young and starring Florence Bell; and The Snip, directed by Ben S. Hyland.

Following the screening, filmmakers will join The South London Film Festival Managing Director Kyriakos Georgiou and Marcus Ryder, CEO of The Film and TV Charity, for a discussion exploring the films, their relationship to mental health and how the screen industries can work towards a more mentally healthy environment.

The festival closes with She Owns the Scene Vol. 2, a programme amplifying women both in front of and behind the camera.

The line-up includes How to Hide It, directed by professional boxer and Olympian Ramla Ali and Richard A. Moore and executive produced by Idris Elba and Sabrina Elba; MANGO, written and directed by Joan Iyiola and executive produced by BAFTA-winning actor Wunmi Mosaku; and BIFA-longlisted Leaving Ikorodu in 1999, directed by Rashida Seriki and featuring Sheila Atim, Tobi Bakre and Tomi Ojo.

The closing programme also features Candy Bar, directed by Nash Edgerton and starring Damon Herriman; Young Director Award winner With You Always, directed by Florence Poppy Deary; When She Sings, directed by Paul Holbrook and starring Garrick Hagon and Laura Bayston; Gan Canny from Lou Burns and Aaron Burns; A Hundred and Fifteen Times Yes! from Juliette Rose Mercier; We Are Here, Still from Ava Bounds; and Sculpted from Hannah Collins.

Kyriakos Georgiou, Founder and Managing Director of The South London Film Festival, said:

“The South London Film Festival was founded on the principle: ‘Don’t give people a rulebook. Give them a platform.’ 

“Film has a unique ability to bring audiences together, inspire people and make an impact, and we’re proud to be championing those voices. Six years in, we’re incredibly proud of how the festival is growing – not just in the calibre and range of films being submitted, but in the conversations and connections happening around them. 

“Each year, we see how film reflects the mood and voices of the world around us. This year’s programme holds up a powerful mirror to many of the feelings and experiences echoing through society. We’re proud to bring established names together with emerging filmmakers at the beginning of their careers, but what excites us most is the work itself: great films, excellent storytelling and human voices from filmmakers with something to say. 

“We want The South London Film Festival to be somewhere both filmmakers and audiences can feel seen and inspired – a place where the industry can meet audiences and everyone can feel part of a creative community.”

The 2026 edition follows a standout year for the festival, which in 2025 hosted the world premiere of Highway to the Moon, the directorial debut of Letitia Wright. The film went on to win Best Experimental Short, with the festival later joining forces with the project to take the film into schools across London and extend its impact beyond the cinema.

Receiving thousands of submissions each year, The South London Film Festival has grown into a platform for filmmakers from across the UK and internationally, with this year’s programme spanning narrative film, animation, documentary, music video, commercial filmmaking and work tackling some of the most pressing social and cultural conversations of the moment.

The 2026 edition comes as the festival continues to develop its ambitions beyond exhibition, strengthening opportunities for filmmaker conversations, networking, industry engagement and career development, while remaining rooted in the communities and creative culture of South London.

THE SOUTH LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2026 PROGRAMME

SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER, 1PM | THE SOUTH LONDON FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL AWARDS SHOWCASE 2026

Picturehouse Ritzy, Brixton

Rule, Brittania | Director: Max Fisher

A pair of flag-waving Brits head out to sea to stop refugee small boats, only for their naval fantasy to fall apart and leave them dependent on the very people they set out to stop.

Two Black Boys In Paradise | Director: Baz Sells

Based on Dean Atta’s poem and narrated by Jordan Stephens, the BAFTA-winning animation follows two young men on a tender journey towards self-acceptance, belonging and love.

Vote Gavin Lyle | Director: Aneil Karia

Starring Jack Lowden, the film follows a middle-England family man and aspiring right-wing parliamentary candidate over the course of a single day, exploring nationalism, masculinity and the quiet absurdities of modern British life.

Spilled Milk | Director: Jared Leaf/Executive Producer: Jordan Peele

A father’s innocent trip to buy milk leads him to an encounter with an enigmatic figure known as “The Milk Man”, where things quickly take an unexpected turn.

Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp | Director: Edem Wornoo

The music video for the title track from Dave’s album The Boy Who Played the Harp.

Plastic Surgery | Director: Guy Trevellyan

A doctor preparing for her final day at work before maternity leave is thrown into chaos when a hidden threat emerges. Starring Anna Popplewell and Daniel Ings.

Weekend One | Director: Mykea Fairweather Perry

A 35-year-old father moves into an unfinished flat with his two young sons and struggles with the emotional and financial pressures of providing for them over a difficult first weekend.

Beloved Bermondsey | Director: Eren Kaplan

A short documentary about a changing South London neighbourhood, with teenagers, long-term residents and newer arrivals reflecting on regeneration, community and what Bermondsey means to them.

The Man That I Wave At | Director: Ben S. Hyland

A man spirals into an existential crisis as he attempts to work out the identity of the mysterious stranger he regularly waves at.

Starboy | Director: AR Ugas

A rising rapper is forced to confront the consequences of his music’s influence when he attends the birthday party of one of his young fans. Starring Malcolm Kamulete, Michael Salami and Akai Coleman.

Vultures | Director: Dian Weys

In the volatile aftermath of a car crash, a desperate tow-truck driver fiercely protects his claim to the vehicle before the situation rapidly spirals beyond his control.

The Long Spring | Director: Olly Ginelli

Arron takes his younger sister Kika on a journey towards what he believes will be a better life, but his youthful optimism may have overlooked one of the darkest possibilities they could face.

Daddy’s Girl | Director: Josephine Lohoar Self

A precocious 12-year-old plots her stepfather’s demise, but a weekend spent in his company forces her to confront grief she has kept hidden.

The Pigs Underneath | Director: Charlie Dennis/Executive Producer: Jordan Peele

Residents of a working-class town are forced to meet a brutal quota in order to survive, with terrifying consequences for those who fail. A heightened exploration of inequality, unchecked power and systemic class oppression starring Josh Tedeku and Vinette Robinson.

Andrex – Push Like You’re Pooing | Director: King She

A taboo-breaking campaign film confronting the anxiety and shame around bowel movements during childbirth and encouraging women and birthing people to talk more openly about a completely normal experience. 

The screening will be followed by a live Q&A and Awards Ceremony, with filmmakers and talent behind the award-winning films, before guests are invited to continue conversations and networking at the Ritzy bar.

SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER, 3PM | THE SOUTH LONDON FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS: BEHIND THE SMILE, In collaboration with The Film and TV Charity

Picturehouse Ritzy, Brixton

The Intimacy Coordinator | Director: Louisa Connolly-Burnham

Kate is an intimacy coordinator. She is also a sex addict.

The Snip | Director: Ben S. Hyland

Tony and Lindsay seek a permanent solution to their family’s fertility, but for Tony, the apparently straightforward procedure poses a threat to his fragile sense of masculinity.

Echoes | Director: Alex Lanipekun

A successful businessman unexpectedly reunites with a homeless childhood friend, forcing buried secrets from their boarding-school years and the trauma he has tried to forget back to the surface. Starring Ashley Walters and Nathalie Emmanuel.

Far From The Plains | Director: Luigi Sibona

As storms approach and his mother struggles with depression, 14-year-old Frankie finds refuge in a South London stable before loss forces him to search for hope in unexpected places. Starring Amari Bacchus, Kojey Radical and Faith Alabi.

Bobby | Director: Isabella Webber

Set against the backdrop of Dunkirk in May 1940, a young boy undertakes a defiant act of courage to save a single life. Narrated by Sir Michael Caine and starring Stephen McMillan.

Bashy – How Black Men Lose Their Smile | Director: George Power

A stripped-back visual piece centred on Ashley Thomas (Bashy) and his music, exploring identity, vulnerability and the accumulation of experiences and micro-aggressions that shape Black men’s lives.

An Ode To Joy | Director: Ashleigh Ashley

Following the death of his beloved wife Joy, mischievous Hezekiah attempts to find a new normal while continuing their familiar rituals, tending her garden and talking to the woman he has lost. Starring Rudolph Walker.

The Wolf | Director: Maeve Murphy

Leah has lost sight of who she is inside an abusive relationship, but when the man she once imagined as her protector threatens her son, she realises it is time to escape. Written by and starring Kellie Shirley.

Black Cab | Director: James Arden

In the near future, Harry, a third-generation London cab driver, struggles to understand his place and purpose as the world around him rapidly changes. Starring Jay Simpson.

The Proudest Rose | Director: Giorgia Young

Searching for connection and recovery following the death of her father, Jess works in a garden while fighting largely alone to hold herself together. Starring Florence Bell.

Following the screening, filmmakers will join Kyriakos Georgiou and Marcus Ryder, CEO of The Film and TV Charity, to discuss the films, their relationship to mental health and how the industry can support a more mentally healthy working environment.

SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER, 5PM | THE SOUTH LONDON FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS: SHE OWNS THE SCENE VOL. 2 + CLOSING NIGHT

Picturehouse Ritzy, Brixton

Candy Bar | Director: Nash Edgerton

A young girl waiting in a candy-bar queue becomes convinced that the man standing nearby looks like her father. Starring Zumi Edgerton and Damon Herriman.

Sculpted | Director: Hannah Collins

At a crossroads between life and memory, Eve is guided through raw fragments of her past by a guardian angel.

Mango | Director: Joan Iyiola

Independent florist Zadie is privately living with fibroids while preparing for a potentially career-changing opportunity, but the condition she is struggling to control increasingly threatens to overwhelm her life. Executive produced by Wunmi Mosaku.

How To Hide It | Directors: Ramla Ali and Richard A. Moore

British-Sudanese Muslim woman Zahra impulsively buys a lottery ticket and wins £184 million, leaving her to grapple with the religious implications of her windfall and how she could possibly explain her sudden wealth to her traditional family. Executive produced by Idris Elba and Sabrina Elba.

Leaving Ikorodu In 1999 | Director: Rashida Seriki

Ten-year-old Momo is driven to the airport to leave Nigeria and reunite with her mother in London, while the aunt who has raised her becomes increasingly uncertain whether leaving home is truly in the child’s best interests.

We Are Here, Still | Director: Ava Bounds

A visual tribute to the stolen childhoods of Gaza and to the children who should be free to laugh, play and grow.

With You Always | Director: Florence Poppy Deary

A deeply personal reflection on grief, memory and the filmmaker’s late twenties, framed as an apology to a grandmother who may — or may not — still be watching.

When She Sings | Director: Paul Holbrook

In a dreary British seaside town, a talented artist is haunted by a sinister mermaid and terrorised by a group of strange locals. Starring Garrick Hagon and Laura Bayston.

Gan Canny | Directors: Lou Burns and Aaron Burns

Two siblings unhappy with the way their estranged mother has arranged their grandmother’s funeral impulsively steal the hearse and take Nana on one final road trip.

A Hundred And Fifteen Times Yes! | Director: Juliette Rose Mercier

In a near future, a lonely autistic man uses an advanced AI and VR service to repeatedly relive a perfect proposal with the man he believes he has lost.

Following the screening, filmmakers, festival guests and audiences will gather at Picturehouse Ritzy to mark the close of The South London Film Festival 2026.