Leeds International Film Festival returns for its landmark 40th anniversary edition this autumn, bringing world-class cinema to venues across the city from October 29 to November 15.
While the festival draws acclaimed feature films and international auteurs from every corner of the globe, this year’s line-up places a huge emphasis on the talent, heritage, and landscapes of West Yorkshire.
From major features directed by celebrated Yorkshire-born filmmakers to grassroots documentaries exploring local subcultures, regional storytelling takes centre stage across the 18-day festival.
Audiences can look forward to everything from gothic horror set on Victorian Yorkshire estates to moving portraits of Leeds-based punk bands, alongside historical docudramas revisiting defining moments in West Yorkshire history.
A major pillar of this year’s programme is the dedicated Yorkshire Short Film Competition, presented in partnership with VERSA Leeds Studios, which spotlights eight standout short films created by emerging regional filmmakers.
Combined with standout feature-length productions and documentaries, here are the 15 films with strong Yorkshire connections screening at LIFF 2026 - visit the website today to find the ideal screenings for you this year and pick up your tickets.
7. Wicker (15)
Featuring former University of Leeds student Alexander Skarsgård, directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson present an offbeat romantic fantasy. Olivia Colman (pictured) stars as a lonely fisherwoman who causes an uproar across her village when she orders a husband hand-woven from wicker.
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8. Practical Anarchy (15)
Directed by Michael McCabe, this short documentary explores the history of Bradford's 1in12 Club. The film examines the member-owned venue that became a vital hub for West Yorkshire punk subcultures, social protest, and activist collectives across two decades. | Provided (PR Handout)
9. Pay As You Go (15)
Director Tom Diffenthal delivers a Yorkshire-produced Kafkaesque comedy. The story follows a struggling tenant attempting to escape a dystopian pay-as-you-go utility tariff while being subjected to a relentless inspection by a cheerful support officer. | Provided (PR Handout)
10. Wuthering Hearts (15)
Created by Yorkshire animator Laura Jayne Hodkin, this animated short blends emo subculture with teenage romance. The film centres on a teenager named Helena who struggles to navigate her first love affair while battling deep-seated melancholia. | Provided
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11. The Witches of Pool Bottom (15)
Filmed on location in Pool Bottom, West Yorkshire, director Ava Bounds delivers a surreal comedy exploring body image. The narrative confronts societal expectations and female self-surveillance as young women navigate absurd local pressures. | Provided
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12. Claw & Order (15)
Set in Whitby, North Yorkshire, director Mikey Sneddon tackles an urgent coastal crisis. When Whitby's lobster stocks face an unexplained extinction event, local fishermen and scientists unite to save their marine ecosystem and heritage. | Provided