Discover SCENE: Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival

Image Credit: SCENE Festival, Fiona Finchett and Carl Sukonik

Every August, Manchester's cultural calendar builds towards Pride, and SCENE Manchester LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival is a great starting point for the celebrations.

Returning for its third year, SCENE brings together an exciting programme of LGBTQ+ film, television, documentaries, special events and live discussions across some of Manchester's most iconic venues. From exclusive premieres and celebrity guests to cult classics and emerging talent, the festival celebrates queer storytelling in all its forms.

SCENE 2026 Breakdown

SCENE 2026 celebrates queer stories across film and television, bringing together new releases, previews, premieres, documentaries, classic films and events with the people behind the screen.

Film & TV Screenings in Manchester

The festival opens with two films screening ahead of release: Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, winner of the Queer Palm at Cannes 2026. The programme also includes the UK premiere of NOFX: 40 Years of Fuckin' Up, with queer frontperson Fat Mike in attendance.

TV highlights include The Traitors, with a reunion of contestants at Aviva Studios, alongside Rivals: Behind the Drama and Heartstopper. The Heartstopper event features creator Alice Oseman discussing the graphic novels, their TV adaptation and the upcoming finale movie, Heartstopper Forever.

The programme also features Tip Toe, with writer Russell T Davies, executive producer Nicola Shindler and cast members discussing the Channel 4 drama. They will be on double-duty, as Russell’s award winning It’s A Sin will be shown in it’s entirety for the first time ever - ahead of the show being turned into a dance show by Rambert at Aviva Studios. 

Fans of queer reality TV can also hear from contestants from I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl in a special panel hosted by Charley Marlowe.

The festival will close with Chatlines, from Manchester’s own Lloyd Eyre-Morgan and Neil Ely. The film was made in Manchester on a shoestring and it is brilliant. Brimming with ideas and heart, it can only really be described as a chat-roulette, sci-fi time travel romantic comedy weepy.

Documentaries & Real-Life Stories

This year's documentary programme explores a range of queer stories, from artists and musicians to moments of LGBTQ+ history and culture.

Highlights include Queer As Punk, following a Malaysian punk band navigating restrictive laws, Barbara Forever, exploring the life and work of filmmaker Barbara Hammer, and Wolf, which sees musician Patrick Wolf tell his story to Tilda Swinton.

The programme also explores the controversy surrounding the making of Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders, while closing documentary Hunky Jesus follows queer nuns and their annual search for San Francisco's best Jesus lookalike.

There is also the animated documentary Bouchra which tells the familiar queer story of being yourself with your parents - but it’s animated like a noir version of Bojack Horseman with every character played by a frog or fox or inner city animal.

Short Films & New Talent

SCENE continues to champion emerging filmmakers, with new shorts, debut features and work from filmmakers across the North.

The SCENE Northern Shorts Showcase brings together queer Northern filmmaking talent, with audiences able to vote for the SCENE Audience Award. One film from the selection will also be nominated for the Iris Prize Best British category.

The Pink Screening Room returns for 2026, providing a space for new, underground and experimental work, with screenings including Satisfaction, She's The He and Black Burns Fast.

Dublin’s TITE (Trans Image/Trans Experience Festival) will also takeover The Pink Screening Room on Saturday 22nd with a day of trans and non-binary brilliance from shorts, to gonzo comedies, and the new stand alone chapter of the epic Castration Movie series. You could just sit in CULTPLEX all day and see 10 hours of trans brilliance - what a dream way to spend a Saturday. 

John Early’s debut film Maddie’s Secret is a festival highlight and so is the debut of Elliot Tuttle’s Blue Film that sees Manchester actor and superstar in the making Kieron Moore (Netflix’s Boots) star as a camboy who reconnects with a shadowy figure from his school days.

Comedy & Special Screenings

Comedy runs throughout the programme, from new films and shorts to interactive screenings and live events.

Gregg Araki's I Want Your Sex explores different generations and their relationship with sex, while She's The He brings a trans, 2000s-inspired comedy to the Pink Screening Room.

The festival will also host interactive screenings, including St Trinian's with RuPaul's Drag Race's Banksie and an all-drag screening of Stop! That! Train!.

And comedy fans are in for a treat when the festival closes with a live comedy night from Channel 4, but before that they can remember the legendary Caroline Aherne and spend a night watching back-to-back episodes of Ab Fab (with Drag Queens). These special events celebrate creatives and shows who were taken to the LGBTQ+ communities hearts. 

Classic & Cult Favourites

Alongside new releases and premieres, SCENE 2026 revisits films that have become part of queer screen culture.

Highlights include the 10th anniversary screening of Oscar-winning Moonlight, Theo and Hugo and the 25th anniversary of John Cameron Mitchell's Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which will be shown with in-screen performances and special guests.

The programme also includes the annual outdoor screening of The Wizard of Oz, alongside the UK premiere of documentary It's Dorothy, exploring Dorothy Gale's enduring place as an LGBTQ+ icon.

Free Film Screenings & Outdoor Cinema

The festival also takes its programme outdoors, with free screenings on the First Street Outdoor Screen. This year's selection includes camp and queer high school films, alongside the annual screening of The Wizard of Oz.

Elsewhere, audiences can catch South Asian trans shorts and a screening of Bollywood classic Devdas outdoors on First Street, accompanied by live dance performances.

Manchester & Northern Filmmakers

SCENE also puts a focus on local filmmaking and stories from Manchester and the wider North.

The festival supports new work from Mancunian filmmakers, including the premiere of Joshua Martin's short film Protest Condensation, which explores the impact of Section 28 laws on gay young people.

Beyond the Screen

SCENE extends beyond film screenings with panels, exhibitions, performances and events taking place across Manchester.

The programme includes conversations with filmmakers and TV talent, alongside events such as the Dragged to the Movies Exhibition and live performances. With screenings and events taking place at venues across the city, including CULTPLEX, HOME, Aviva Studios and New Century Hall, SCENE offers plenty of ways to experience the festival beyond the cinema.

You can also join them for their SCENE 2026 Closing Party. 

Why Visit SCENE?

SCENE is more than a film festival. It is a celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, creativity and community, bringing together major international premieres, beloved classics and new voices in one of the UK's most welcoming cities.

Whether you're a dedicated film fan, passionate about television, or planning a visit to Manchester during Pride season, SCENE offers a unique opportunity to experience world-class LGBTQ+ storytelling while exploring the city's thriving cultural scene.