Scalarama Leeds 2026: Full film schedule revealed as month-long DIY cinema festival returns
From 90s cult dark comedies and Sam Neill double bills to rare international archive gems, Leeds’ favourite grassroots cinema festival reveals its complete 2026 film schedule
Leeds’ favourite grassroots cinema celebration is back for 2026, bringing a sprawling month-long programme of cult classics, rare archive gems, independent oddities, and community screenings across the city.
Scalarama Leeds 2026 highlights the power of community-led film programming, utilising independent venues, community hubs, and local bars to bring unique cinematic experiences to local audiences.
Kicking off this Sunday with cult 80s horror Spookies, the festival features over 40 distinct events across September, concluding with a grand closing party on Friday, 2 October.
Among this year’s highlights (and there are many), Dario Argento’s classic giallo Tenebrae gets a big-screen viewing, while the late Sam Neil is honoured with two films - John Carpenter’s 1994 cosmic horror In The Mouth of Madness and the 1991 dark comedy Death in Brunswick.
The festival draws to a close on Wednesday, 30 September with a screening of Jawbreaker, the razor-sharp 1999 dark comedy starring Rose McGowan as the leader of a high school clique dealing with a birthday prank turned fatal.
Full Scalarama Leeds 2026 Film Schedule
BBFC ratings in brackets
August
- August 30: Spookies (15)
September (Week 1)
- September 1: The Net (12)
- September 2: 3 Giant Men (3 Dev Adam) (n/a)
- September 3: Forbidden Letters (18)
- September 4: The Manchurian Candidate (12)
- September 5: Happy Returns & 5th QTR (n/a)
- September 5: In the Mouth of Madness (18)
- September 6: Funeral Parade of Roses (15)
- September 6: Peeping Tom (15)
September (Week 2)
- September 7: Twin Town (18)
- September 8: A Matter of Life and Death (U)
- September 9: The Ear (15)
- September 10: Climax (18)
- September 10: Faust (15)
- September 11: Turbo Kid (18)
- September 11: Nowhere (18)
- September 12: Akeelah and the Bee (PG)
- September 12: Tenebrae (18)
- September 13: Victor/Victoria (15)
September (Week 3)
- September 14: One Way or Another (12)
- September 15: Josie and the Pussycats (PG)
- September 16: Women's Animation from Near and Far (n/a)
- September 16: 9 to 5 (12)
- September 16: Found Film Club (n/a)
- September 16: Festival de Tinnes: Time (n/a)
- September 17: Desert Hearts (18)
- September 17: Closed Circuit (15)
- September 17: Sunset Boulevard (12)
- September 18: The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (18)
- September 20: Millennium Mambo (15)
September (Week 4)
- September 21: Blood on Méliès' Moon (n/a)
- September 22: Palestine Comedy Club (n/a)
- September 22: Instrument (15)
- September 22: Four Rooms (18)
- September 23: Death in Brunswick (15)
- September 23: The Dirties (15)
- September 24: North by Northeast (n/a)
- September 24: Pretty Red Dress (15)
- September 25: The Spin (n/a)
- September 26: Babylon (18)
- September 27: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (15)
- September 27: The Blood of a Poet (PG)
Late September & October Closing
- September 28: Images of the World and the Inscription of War (12)
- September 29: Minema (n/a)
- September 30: Jawbreaker (15)
- October 2: Scalarama Leeds 2026 Closing Party
For individual venue locations, screening times, and advance ticket links across all participating community spaces, visit the official festival portal today.