The Into Film Festival Programme

The Into Film Festival 2026 boasts another packed programme of screenings and events, with 100 films playing across over 3,000 screenings and events, in almost 600 venues, all across the UK.

This year's programme includes big cinematic titles, as well as films that we hope will provoke discussion and stimulate debate on issues relevant to today's generation of young people. Through an offering of over 100 titles, many of which are accompanied by film guides and resources that map to the curriculum - as well as through our Into Film Festival Review Writing Competition - the Festival programme is designed to help teachers get clear educational value out of their Festival experience.

As well as celebrating the world of film - both in front of and behind the camera - this year's Festival will also be supporting the National Year of Reading, encouraging children and young people everywhere to Go All In on the films they love by reading into them.

Bookings for this year's Into Film Festival are now live. Places will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and many events will book up very quickly, so be sure to secure your places as soon as possible. And remember - the Into Film Festival is entirely free! To book your places you'll just need to be logged in to your Into Film Account.

Find out more about this year's programme and if you don't already have one, sign up for an account below.

• Set up a free Into Film Account

National Year of Reading

This year we are aligning with the National Year of Reading, through a partnership with the National Literacy Trust, to present a core strand of book adaptations and literary titles. From screen adaptations of novels like Animal Farm (2025), Hamnet, The Magic Faraway Tree, Watership Down, Hamlet, The Odyssey, Sense & Sensibility (2026) and many more. 

We'll also be including a mystery literary screening, challenging young people to solve the clues that will reveal the film they're about to watch, and hoping to host some authors in Q&A sessions.

Set Texts

As ever, this year's Festival programme features a number of films that are directly linked to academic curricula, with adaptations of several film studies and English set texts. While entertaining and enlightening for all, catching these films on the big screen can be a terrific aid to studies and help young people better grasp the stories, themes and characters ahead of essays and exams later in the year.

Amazing Animation

A staple of the Into Film Festival, animation is one of the most enduringly popular forms of film, particularly for younger audiences. This year alone has seen some of the biggest franchises in the history of animation return, with Toy Story 5 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - both of which are also playing in this year's Festival - lighting up cinemas. Below, we've picked out a few more of the fantastic animated feature films showing at this year's Into Film Festival.

Films for Older Students

While we believe that all the films showing at the Into Film Festival are well worth watching for young people of all ages - not to mention adults of all ages! - we also appreciate that older students may want something a bit more mature to get their teeth into. From striking horror, to thoughtful science-fiction, and emotional dramas, these are just a few of the films to engage teenagers at this year's Festival.

Documentaries

As ever, as well as fiction films, the Into Film Festival also offers a chance to explore non-fiction stories that address a number of real-world issues. This year's selection includes a look into the indomitable spirit of adventure that humankind has always fostered, explorations of forms of protest, both active and passive, and a look into a prophetic dystopian author whose work in the 1940s becomes more and more relevant as the decades pass.

Pupil Premieres

As well as seeking to celebrate the films that have been a success throughout 2026 - as well as bringing back some old favourites from years gone by back to the big screen - we also like to take the opportunity to look ahead at future favourites and brand new films. That's why each year we ensure the Festival has a few very special one-off pupil premieres, which allow young people to see brand-new films before anybody else.

And so much more...

The above is just a mere taster of what's on offer at this year's Into Film Festival, with almost 100 titles showing in total, as well as numerous special events, talks, and Q&As with the talent behind the films and other screen industry professionals.

Browse the full catalogue and find events near you below.

The Into Film Festival is possible thanks to the support of Cinema First and multiple partners across the cinema sector.