BFF Programme Is Here!

Under the banner “God Save the United Kingdom of Cinema!”, the festival invites audiences to explore British cinema across eras and genres. This year’s programme looks at British culture and history, social divisions and the legacy of colonialism. Screenings will take place at Kino Muza, Kino Pałacowe and Kino Rialto, as well as in unusual venues across the city as part of the OUTSIDE THE BOX section.

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British Cinema Icons and Three Retrospectives

One of the highlights of this year’s programme is a trio of retrospectives dedicated to three outstanding figures in British cinema.

Stephen Daldry, the director of Billy Elliot, The Hours and The Reader, will visit Poznań and meet audiences following screenings of his films. The retrospective showcases the breadth of his work across film, theatre and television.

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Peter Greenaway, one of the most distinctive and unconventional voices in British cinema, will also join the festival in Poznań. His retrospective includes The Draughtsman’s Contract, The Pillow Book and The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.

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The third retrospective celebrates Alan Rickman, marking the 10th anniversary of his death and the 80th anniversary of his birth. It offers a chance to discover a different side of the actor and revisit performances beyond his best-known roles. The retrospective will be complemented by a special festive screening of the beloved romantic comedy Love Actually, presented at eN Studios in an unconventional setting.

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New Releases, Classics and Uncompromising Cinema

The FIRST THINGS FIRST section presents the latest in British cinema, including preview screenings. Highlights include Simon Stone’s Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman, Danny Boyle’s Ink, Paul Greengrass’s Uprising and Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers, starring Ian McKellen. For the first time in the festival’s history, audiences will vote for the winner of the Audience Award in this section.

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Fans of classic cinema should head to FIVE O’CLOCK, a section co-curated with the British Film Institute. This year, it pays tribute to four major British film studios: Gainsborough Pictures, Ealing Studios, Hammer Film Productions and Merchant Ivory. The programme includes Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Curse of Frankenstein and The Remains of the Day.

BLOODY HELL! is for fans of horror, grotesque imagery, dark humour and rebellious genre cinema. Titles include Witchfinder General (Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General), Dead Man’s Shoes and Shaun of the Dead. The programme is rounded out by HIGH SEASON, featuring some of the most talked-about films of the current season, and NEVER GROW UP, a section for younger audiences.

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British Cinema, Society and History

MIND THE GAP explores inequality, class, migration, identity and the experiences of minority communities. This year, colour is the section’s central theme. COMMONWEALTH examines the history of the British Empire and the long-lasting consequences of colonialism. Together, these sections explore how cinema reflects the tensions that have shaped — and continue to shape — the contemporary world.

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OUTSIDE THE BOX — Cinema Beyond the Screen

One of the British Film Festival’s signature sections takes screenings into unusual spaces across Poznań, making the venue an integral part of the cinematic experience. This year, audiences can watch films at Grunwald Municipal Swimming Pool, inside a Polish Post building, at BodyLab gym in the former Eskulap venue, and at Collegium Maius, among other locations. Tickets for most screenings in this section sold out in just three minutes.

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BBC Studios and the Industry Programme

The British Film Festival continues its collaboration with BBC Studios. This year’s selection features three titles: Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence, the documentary Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure and the children’s animation Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club. All screenings will take place at Kino Pałacowe and are free to attend. Tickets can be reserved online, provided visitors hold a ticket to another British Film Festival event.

On 12 and 13 November, the festival will also host BFF Industry, the largest edition of its industry programme to date. Bringing together professionals from the Polish and British film industries, it will feature discussions on the state of the British film industry, regional production, film financing in Europe and Polish-British co-productions.

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The British Film Festival 2026 takes place in Poznań from 10 to 15 November. Festival passes and tickets go on sale on 29 October at 2 pm.