The 2026 Stroud Film festival begins this month and showcases many films and film makers connected with the town.
The Prince Albert pub is the venue for the opening film of the festival on 21st February, a feature length documentary An Unlikely Fandom. The film charts the impact of Thomas the Tank Engine on a generation of adult fans. It coincides with the 80th anniversary of the publication of the first Thomas book and the event is close to the Rodborough home of creator Thomas’ creator Revd W Awdry. Another local connection comes through Our Land at the Vue on 7th March. This award winning documentary about the right to roam has a soundtrack by the celebrated Stroud based musician Daniel Inzani.
By contrast, although still with a Stroud connection, We Swim is a run by the Friends of Stroud Lido. One of the organisers, Jess McQuail says, ‘The event features three short films all celebrating aspects of why we love swimming and swimming pools.’
Also with a swimming connection is Rave on for the Avon, programmed by Stroud Film Society. This documentary was made by passionate cold water swimmers concerned about the quality of the water in our local rivers. The film’s production team will be at the Sub Rooms to introduce the screening.
Stroud based film maker Christine Felce made two award winning films in 1980 She believed they were lost in a fire until recently when a cinema in London rediscovered the films in an archive. Christine will show the films and tell their story at the Museum in the Park on 14th March.
Pip Heywood, is both a film maker and the poet laureate of Nailsworth. As part of the festival he brings new films which explore the local landscape in an event called Flightpath on 1st March, also at the Museum.. Pip says the films are “A moving meditation that reminds us of the power of simplicity.”
Two events feature short films by professional film makers with local connections. Where We are on 7th March is at SVA and What We Do for Those We Love on 8th March at The Museum. Alongside these is UnderBytes, short films made by local young people at SVA on 6th March.
Another group of young people, RYSE, have programmed on 2nd March Stroud Water Riots Recollection, and other Revolting Stories, which will include aspects of Stroud’s history of rebellion.
A first for the festival is the Immersive Film event also at the Museum. Short films using pioneering technology and virtual reality headsets give the viewer a chance to explore new ways of story telling.
A more traditional technology is celebrated in Words Worth Spreading, a programme of short films timed to coincide with the Stroud Wayzgoose Letterpress Print Fair on 7th March.
This year’s festival; features a 90 Second Film Challenge which invites everyone to make a short film in just five days, on a given theme. It’s free to enter and the films are on the big screen at Lansdown Hall. Stroud on 14th March. Two Film School sessions (28th Feb and 1st March) run at a subsidised rate to give people the skills to use their phone to make a film rather than just ‘shooting video’
Alongside these events with local links, is a programme of feature films both classic and more contemporary and from India and Ukraine to Palestine and Brazil. Another dimension to the programme brings directors from across the country to share their recent work in person.
