Festival highlights include:
- Sony Pictures Entertainment presents two signature industry conversations with Left Bank Pictures and Crunchyroll, exploring emerging directing talent and the future of storytelling.
- UK first look at Children of Blood and Bone with director Gina Prince-Bythewood presenting exclusive footage and participating in a live Q&A.
- Yemi Bamiro’s Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story screens in Newcastle, Birmingham and London, with the director attending every screening.
- S.O.U.L. Fest North East launches at Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle, with a full day of shorts, filmmaker panels and networking.
- Four-day online industry programme debuts nationwide with webinars, an agents session and script surgery.
LONDON, UK, (Aug 6, 2026) – S.O.U.L. Fest Film Festival x ABFF London, the UK’s leading Black British film festival, returns for its eighth edition from 5-13 September 2026. For the first time, this year’s festival opens in Newcastle before returning to Birmingham and BFI Southbank in London, alongside a new nationwide four-day online industry programme connecting emerging filmmakers with leading voices across film and television.
The 2026 edition runs: Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 5 September; MAC Birmingham on Sunday 6 September; an online industry programme from Monday 7 to Thursday 10 September; and the flagship weekend at BFI Southbank from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September.
Produced by We Are Parable, The British Blacklist and S.O.U.L. Film, in partnership with the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), and supported by Founding Sponsor Sony Pictures Entertainment and Venue Partner BFI Southbank, the festival brings together an outstanding programme of films, exclusive previews, industry conversations and special events celebrating global storytelling.
Both BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying, S.O.U.L. Fest has filled more than 5,800 seats, screened 133 films and showcased 147 filmmakers since becoming an annual festival in 2019. The 2026 edition is its largest expansion to date, taking the festival from the South Bank to the Midlands to the North East in a single week connecting audiences through an ambitious programme of screenings, conversations and professional development.
Iyare Igiehon, Founder and Festival Director of S.O.U.L. Fest, said:
“We’re really proud of this year’s line-up. The festival expands every year, and this year we’re reaching another city, and we’ve grown the programme in each of them into a full day and evening. We’ve got beautiful feature films, we’ve got an incredible first look, and we’ve got brilliant films from Black British filmmakers — some of whom we’ll be turning into award-winning Black British filmmakers by the end of it. It’s another year where the festival has made real strides forward.”
Nicole Friday, Co- Founder & Producer of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF): & President, NICE CROWD, commented:
“ABFF has always believed that great storytelling has the power to connect people, cultures and creative communities. Our collaboration with S.O.U.L. Fest reflects that shared vision, creating opportunities for artists, industry leaders and audiences to come together, exchange ideas and celebrate outstanding work from around the world. We’re excited to continue building bridges that expand opportunity and strengthen the global creative community.”
Sony Pictures Entertainment leads this year’s industry programme with two signature conversations that champion emerging talent and explore the future of storytelling. Bringing together award-winning filmmakers, creative leaders and cultural voices from film, television, anime and sport, the sessions reflect the festival’s commitment to expanding access, elevating new perspectives and fostering the next generation of storytellers.
Beyond the Screen: Black Talent, Anime, and the Future of Storytelling (Saturday, 12 September, 12:30 pm, NFT2, BFI Southbank), presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment with Crunchyroll, explores how anime has become a powerful cultural force influencing sports, music, world-building, performance, and storytelling. Moderated by award-winning multimedia journalist Raquel, the conversation brings together Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect co-host LeAlec Murray alongside West Ham United footballer Kyle Walker-Peters, and rapper and manga artist Shao Dow, to explore how anime and adjacent storytelling traditions shape culture, creative identity, and how Black creatives, performers, athletes, and fans are helping redefine the future of global fandom and entertainment.
From Shadow to Set: Opening Doors for Emerging Directors (Sunday, 13 September, 3:30 pm, NFT2, BFI Southbank) presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment with Left Bank Pictures, explores how director shadowing provides emerging Black British directors with meaningful access to high-end productions, demystifies the directing process, builds professional networks and strengthens the pipeline of diverse directing talent. The conversation features BAFTA-winning producer Simon Maloney (Time, I May Destroy You), IFTA-nominated director John Hayes (This City Is Ours, Nightsleeper) and writer-director and S.O.U.L. Fest alumnus Dean Leon Anderson, moderated by Valeria Bullo.
UK first look: Children of Blood and Bone (Saturday 12 September, 2.45pm, NFT1, BFI Southbank) — exclusive select footage from Gina Prince-Bythewood’s adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling novel, co-written with Adeyemi and set in the epic fantasy kingdom of Orïsha. Her first film since The Woman King, it stars Thuso Mbedu, Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg and Tosin Cole alongside Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King with Idris Elba and Viola Davis, and will be released by Paramount Pictures in January 2027. Prince-Bythewood will present the footage in person and take part in a Q&A, with further guests to be announced.
One film will connect audiences across all three festival cities. Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story (2025, 98 mins) is the 2026 festival film — British director Yemi Bamiro’s portrait of the Harlem photographer and activist who helped popularise the phrase and gave the movement its visual language. Across a seventy-year career, Brathwaite shot half a million images, from people on the street to Nina Simone, Muhammad Ali, Marvin Gaye and the Jackson Five, insisting on joy and beauty at a time when that was a radical act. It features Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Gabrielle Union, Jesse Williams and Tyler Mitchell, with Keys and Swizz Beatz among the executive producers. Following its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, the film opens S.O.U.L. Fest at Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 5 September, screens at MAC Birmingham on Sunday 6 September, and opens the London weekend at BFI Southbank on Friday 11 September. Bamiro will attend all three screenings for post-film Q&As, with the Newcastle conversation hosted by broadcaster and journalist Ellen E. Jones. [London and Birmingham hosts to be announced.]
S.O.U.L. Fest North East at Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle (Saturday 5 September) ) builds a full day around shorts from North East filmmakers and a competitive shorts showcase, each with an accompanying panel, followed by the Northern Premiere of Black Is Beautiful with a live Q&A hosted by Ellen E. Jones, and an evening networking reception. Funded by North East Screen and Newcastle City Council, supported by Northern Roots, and delivered with outreach partner World Headquarters.
S.O.U.L. Fest Midlands at MAC Birmingham (Sunday 6 September) marks a third year in the Midlands, running the same full-day format with shorts from Midlands filmmakers, a competitive shorts showcase, panels, a screening of Black Is Beautiful and a networking reception.
The online industry programme (Monday 7 – Thursday 10 September, 6.30pm each evening) replaces this year’s masterclass strand with four evenings of webinars connecting filmmakers with the people who can move their careers forward, wherever in the country they’re based — including an agents session putting emerging writers and directors in front of the people who represent them, and a script surgery offering direct feedback on work in development. Sessions are £7 each and open to filmmakers nationwide. [Full line-up and speakers to confirm.]
A networking breakfast hosted by Channel 4 at its London headquarters (Thursday 10 September, 9am-11am) brings filmmakers together with commissioners and executives.
BFI Player
New for 2026, a selection of festival films will stream on BFI Player for one month after the festival closes, extending the programme’s reach well beyond the nine days and giving audiences outside the three host cities a route into the work
The festival will also screen shorts from emerging talent in London, Birmingham and the North East, and will announce winners across seven categories at the 2026 S.O.U.L. Fest x ABFF London Awards at BFI Southbank. Past recipients include Letitia Wright, named Best Director in 2025 for “Highway to the Moon” and Susan Wokoma for Best Screen play “Dark Skin Bruises Differently.” Selection at S.O.U.L. Fest qualifies a film to enter both the BAFTA Awards and the British Independent Film Awards, so every filmmaker programmed leaves with a route into both.
Tickets are on sale now
For information and to purchase tickets please visit https://www.soulfilmfest.co.uk/
NOTES TO EDITORS
About S.O.U.L. Fest: S.O.U.L. Fest (Screening Our Unseen Lives) is the UK’s leading Black British film festival, dedicated to showcasing the best in Black cinema and providing a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers. Selection at S.O.U.L. Fest qualifies a film to enter both the BAFTA Awards and the British Independent Film Awards. The festival began as a free quarterly screening series in 2014 and has run as an annual festival since 2019. Its mission is to celebrate the richness of Black culture and storytelling through the power of film. S.O.U.L. Fest is produced by S.O.U.L. Film Festival Limited.
About We Are Parable: We Are Parable is a multi-award-winning company that provides audiences with opportunities to experience Black cinema and TV in culturally relevant, memorable and unique ways. Founded in 2013, We Are Parable is dedicated to supporting filmmakers and championing new voices in film through exhibition, distribution and mentorship opportunities.
About The British Blacklist: The British Blacklist is a media platform that celebrates the work of UK-based Black creatives and those of the wider Diaspora across Screen, Stage, Literature and Sound. Since 2012, it has been the go-to platform for information about the exciting work of UK-based Black storytellers, from new talent to established household names.
About Soul Film: Soul Film is a platform with the mission to make the British film and TV industry more diverse by celebrating and connecting filmmakers and audiences from the Global Majority.
About ABFF: The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is the premier annual event dedicated to discovering emerging talent and shaping the future of film and television. Founded in 1997, ABFF is one of the entertainment industry’s leading gatherings, annually bringing together thousands of filmmakers, artists, executives, brands, and audiences to celebrate storytelling, creativity, and innovation. Through film screenings, premieres, conversations, networking, and cultural experiences, ABFF has become a destination where entertainment, culture, and commerce intersect, fostering meaningful connections and business opportunities while inspiring the next generation of storytellers.
About the S.O.U.L. Fest Awards: The S.O.U.L. Fest Awards are presented at BFI Southbank on the closing weekend of the festival across seven categories:
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Performer
- Craft Award – for outstanding achievement in a craft department, such as cinematography or hair and make-up
- We See You Award – recognising a rising star
- Impact Award – for an outstanding contribution to diversity in the screen industries
Selection at S.O.U.L. Fest qualifies a film to enter both the BAFTA Awards and the British Independent Film Awards.
2025 S.O.U.L. Fest Award winners:
- Best Film Mango – producers Laura Jumel, Alison Holder, Mary Iyiola and Joan Iyiola
- Best Director Letitia Wright, Highway to the Moon
- Best Screenplay Susan Wokoma, Dark Skin Bruises Differently
- Best Performer Olivia Nakintu as Zadie, Mango
- Craft Award Yinka Edward, director of photography, Mango
- We See You Award Nana Duncan, The Donor
- Impact Award Miranda Wayland
Previous Impact Award recipients are; Menelik Shabazz (2019), Kiell Smith-Bynoe (2022), Simone Pennant MBE (2023) and Jimmy Akingbola (2024).
About Tyneside Cinema: Tyneside Cinema is the North East’s leading independent cinema and a registered charity, housed in a Grade II listed Art Deco building on Pilgrim Street in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. Founded in 1937 by Dixon Scott, it is the last surviving newsreel theatre in the UK still operating full-time as a cinema. Across four screens it presents the most varied film programme in the region alongside events, education and heritage work, with a longstanding commitment to providing a platform for marginalised members of its community.
About MAC Birmingham: Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is a contemporary arts centre and independent charity set in the surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. Opened in 1962 and reopened in 2010 following a major redevelopment, it has spent more than sixty years working to make art an important part of people’s lives. MAC welcomes over 850,000 visitors a year and is the most visited free attraction in the West Midlands, with a programme spanning live theatre, independent cinema, visual arts exhibitions, creative courses and special events, and a particular focus on sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. MAC is a registered charity, no. 528979.
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