Two troubled, street-smart boys, Ricky and Curtis, who struggle to navigate a volatile neighborhood. They face challenges in friendships, family and loyalty, as guns become a reality and boys try to be men before they're teenagers.
All Escapes screenings are shown with descriptive subtitles on screen. Tickets are free, but must be reserved online.
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Welcome to the Oatmeal World Cup - and if that sounds gray and boring, think again! A warm and genuinely funny Scottish film about finding the greatest meaning in the smallest things.
Join us from 6:30pm for Porridge at the Pictures, with hot porridge available from Golden Spurtle winners Forridge, followed by the film at 7:30pm. Stay after the film for a Q&A with two-time Golden Spurtle winner Lisa Williams, and 2023 winner Forridge.
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Based on the best-selling biographical novel. When a couple lose their home and at the same time discover one of them has a terminal illness, they decide to embark on a 630-mile coastal trek.
Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins.
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Jessica Parks is a smart Crown Court Judge at the top of her career. Behind the robe, she is a karaoke fiend, a loving wife and a supportive parent. When an event threatens to throw her life completely off balance, can she hold her family upright?
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A 93-year-old Irish writer Edna O'Brien recounts her controversial life, novels, love affairs, and stardom through personal journals read by actress Jessie Buckley, with perspectives from writers like Gabriel Byrne and Walter Mosley.
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of HAMILTON, the recording of the original Broadway cast is hitting the big screen for 3-days only, including a cast reunion featuring all-new interviews with members of the original cast and creators.
Molly, a young woman released from prison struggles to regain custody of her children. When she bumps into her childhood friend Amina the two women soon realize their only chance is to join forces and take destiny into their own hands.
Celebrate the spooky-season with a 4K restoration of this classic Hammer horror. After years of intense study, Victor Frankenstein brings a dead animal back to life through the power of science. Overawed with success he decides that he must now build the perfect human being – from body parts!
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When a solitary writer adopts and bonds with a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend, she begins to come to terms with her past and her own creative inner life.
Sing along to Disney's smash-hit musical, in support of MASC.
Fearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.
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Inspired by lockdown mutual aid initiatives, Hilary and Dan decided to turn their street into an energy-generating powerhouse – a prototype for a new way of living, with the hope of galvanising a wider push towards sustainable alternatives. The film charts their turbulent journey, from pitching the idea to their neighbours, and sleeping on the roof of their home to launching a bid for a Christmas number one single. A vibrant portrait of a local neighbourhood and charming testament to the power of art to change minds.
This film has descriptive subtitles shown on-screen. It includes the short film NEIL ARMSTRONG AND THE LANGHOLMITES (18 mins), and is followed by an in-person Q&A.
Two school-friends join forces with a green-fingered granddad to sell a crop of cannabis that the old man has accidentally grown on his allotment.
A triumph! A spectacle! A fuzzy wuzzy cuddle puddle! CatVideoFest is all that and more. Our favourite family-friendly cat-themed film event is back this October for a limited time from Oscilloscope Laboratories, benefitting local cats in need.
10% of all ticket sales will go to Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary to support cats.
Jessi moves to Folkestone's white cliffs; a crucible for debates on what English identity means as refugees cross daily from France. But the film Jessi thinks she’s making, about impossible social and psychological divisions, is changed by 6 of her new neighbours, who embody hope for a country of messy inclusivity. Through moments of emotion, humour, and the everyday, the film delves into their lives, echoed by locals’ thoughts and dreams as the Coronation comes, wars begin, and Governments change, tracing British identity amidst social and political chaos.
This film has descriptive subtitles shown on-screen. It includes a short film, and is followed by an in-person Q&A.
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A group of women bond in rehab and try to change their lives for the better.
Entertainment, working-class culture, human connection, and the power of pop align in this moving, funny and unmistakably British road movie about ageing pop star Dene, who hit fame in the 1980s with Black Lace and Agadoo. Following him are his spirited 89-year-old mother and his feisty girlfriend as they navigate love, family duty, and the relentless pursuit of one last chart success.
This film has descriptive subtitles shown on-screen. The screening includes the short film THE FARM ON OUR STREET (13 mins). The main feature includes a special guest appearance from Dene Michael of Black Lace followed by a vinyl 80s DJ - come and dance like it’s 1984!
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To Catch a Predator was a popular television show designed to hunt down child predators and lure them to a film set, where they would be interviewed and eventually arrested. PREDATORS is a chilling, thought-provoking exploration of the scintillating rise and staggering fall of the show, and the world it helped create.
This screening is followed by an in-person Q&A.
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A raw and intimate profile of two Ukrainian Medics from the frontlines of the war, CUBA & ALASKA captures the funny, the arcane, the painfully tragic and surprisingly warm healing that make up a soldier’s emotional journey during wartime. Fueled by contagious laughter from Cuba, and the dark humor of Alaska, the two best friends face down the unknown with a warrior fierceness befitting Thelma & Louise.
This screening includes the short film JAMNI (8 mins), and is followed by a remote Q&A.
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OUR LAND dares to tread where few have trespassed before. The film seamlessly juxtaposes the two sides of the debate around our access to nature, giving voice to different perspectives: those fighting for greater access to the countryside and the landowners who claim to be stewards of the land. As the battle for nature continues, the film asks the vital question; who truly has the right to roam?
This film has descriptive subtitles shown on-screen. It includes the short film RICK ON THE ROOF (16 mins), and is followed by an in-person Q&A.
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Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up the poster child for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process before making a pivot to stand-up comedy and political satire. Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Noam’s personal and professional journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration. With biting satire, Noam pushes her audiences to face difficult truths that aren't always funny but remind us that another reality is possible.
This screening includes the short film THE FLOWERS STAND SILENTLY, WITNESSING (17 mins), and is followed by a remote Q&A.
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With deep-sea mining looming, biologists race to collect and name the undiscovered species of the abyss, the last wilderness on earth. The film weaves wonder with urgency as they uncover mesmerising creatures and ecosystems thriving in darkness, challenging us to balance the drive for resources with the intrinsic value of an ecosystem. As we journey through this breathtaking realm, we are left to ponder – how deep is our love?
This film has descriptive subtitles shown on-screen. It includes the short film HEADLAND (14 mins) and is followed by an in-person Q&A.
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With the divided Korean nation as her recruitment pool, businesswoman Han Yujin’s unusual marriage agency matches women defectors from her native North with South Korean men, challenging society’s perceptions of both groups in the process.
This screening includes the short film LOVE IMMORTAL (12 mins), and is followed by a remote Q&A.
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Defying modernity, 90-year-old Agatha forges a solitary existence on her ancestral farm, preserving heirloom seeds in her handmade universe. Employing antiquated techniques, she plants and harvests an expansive field of fruit, vegetables and flowers entirely by hand, her daily rituals forming a vivid counterpoint to the rapid pace of contemporary life.
This screening includes the short film AFTER EIGHT (29 mins), and is followed by a remote Q&A. We regret that no-one under 15 years will be admitted to this screening, as the accompanying short is rated 15.
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Two intrepid Nairobi women decide to transform what used to be a whites-only library into a vibrant cultural hub. Along the way, they must navigate local politics, raise millions for the rebuild, and confront the lingering ghosts of Kenya’s colonial past.
This screening includes the short film FEAR NOTHING (15 mins), and is followed by a remote Q&A.
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In Gaza, the echoes of sound carry stories of hope and pain. Sound engineer Mohamed takes us on a powerful journey through four unique stories - each character giving voice to the war, sharing their experience, and offering a way to see and hear how Gaza’s sounds, once full of life, changed completely before and after 7th October 2023.
This screening includes the short film DANCING PALESTINE (37 mins), and is followed by a remote Q&A.
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In the magical town of Tepoztlán, Mexico, fifteen-year-old Karla intimately, and unabashedly, guides audiences in her journey for self-discovery, as she navigates the joys and uncertainties of adolescence, alongside society’s gender prejudices. Through Karla’s exploration of her transgender identity, the film presents an empowering, yet sweet coming-of-age story about self-expression, resilience, and the complexities of growing up, that is as specific as it is universal.
This event includes the Festival awards ceremony, the filmmaking challenge winners announcement, and the short film HOWLS TO THE HARBOUR (25 mins). It is followed by a remote Q&A.
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Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic.
Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune – but at what cost?
Welcome to Season Three of the FOLKESTONE FILM FESTIVAL, celebrating independent filmmakers with original ideas, championing good production values, and encouraging experimentation.
We have three different programmes of short films throughout the day, please check the main event page for the full schedule. Individual tickets are available for each programme, or you can get a value festival pass giving you access to the full day of screenings.
A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.
A life-affirming, genre-bending story about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.
Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on - for everyone around her, at least.
Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.
After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.
Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question – you know the one.
