Scene Festival Unveils 2025 Lineup with Russell T Davies and 10-Year Cucumber Reunion

Manchester, 2nd July SCENE: Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Film and TV Festival returns this August with a bold first wave of programming, featuring cult classics, iconic creators, musical tributes, and a very special reunion marking 10 years of Russell T Davies’ Cucumber.

Running from Friday 15th to Thursday 21st August 2025, SCENE returns with a vibrant, city-wide celebration of queer storytelling. Following its breakout debut in 2024, this year’s edition offers another week of powerful screenings, industry conversations and unforgettable events as part of Manchester Pride 2025.

10 Years of Cucumber + In Conversation with Russell T Davies & Cast

Wednesday 20th August | New Century Hall

Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Channel 4’s Cucumber with its creator Russell T Davies (Queer as Folk, It’s A Sin), alongside cast members Vincent Franklin and Cyril Nri. Together they reflect on the show’s legacy, cultural impact, and lead character Henry’s (played by Franklin) journey through Manchester’s dating scene. Includes a selected episode screening and audience Q&A. (Additional guests to be announced.)

Opening Night Film: Lesbian Space Princess

Friday 15th August | HOME

Lesbian Space Princess opens the festival at HOME, a genre-bending sci-fi romance that sets the tone for a week of bold queer cinema.

Jonathan Harvey in Conversation + Beautiful Thing

Saturday 16th August | New Century Hall 

Celebrate the work of Jonathan Harvey, writer of Gimme Gimme Gimme, Beautiful People, and Beautiful Thing featuring favourite clips from across his career and a screening of the much-loved queer classic Beautiful Thing.

Party Monster Screening + WOW Presents Plus Retrospective with Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato

Sunday 17th August | Aviva Studios 

The ground-breaking producers behind RuPaul’s Drag Race Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato join us for a conversation on queer storytelling, how their fiercely independent spirit took them on the journey to creating their own platform, WOW Presents Plus, and the importance of honouring queer cultural history. Followed by a screening of one of their seminal films, Party Monster (2003), starring Macaulay Culkin as notorious club kid Michael Alig.

Waterloo Road: Everyone Welcome

Sunday 17th August | New Century Hall

Join Waterloo Road producer Adam Leatherland, director Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, and cast members Miya Ocego and Sonya Nisa (Aleena and Lois) for a conversation on LGBTQ+ representation in schools and on screen. Hosted by Thomas Duke (@SteppingThroughFilm).

Manchester Camerata presents LGBTQ+ Composers in Concert + Monk in Pieces

Thursday 21st August | Aviva Studios

Join Manchester Camerata and Aaron Akugbo for a moving concert celebrating LGBTQ+ composers, featuring works by Meredith Monk and Aaron Copland. Followed by Monk in Pieces - a Teddy Award-nominated documentary about Monk’s trailblazing life and legacy.

Showgirls 30th Anniversary Screening + Drag Takeover

Thursday 21st August | HOME

Join us for the 4K re-release of this camp classic with in-screen drag queen performances inspired by Nomi Malione herself.

Best of Sheffield DocFest

Sunday 17th August  | Vue, Printworks

SCENE is proud to partner with Sheffield DocFest to spotlight some of the standout queer documentaries from their 2025 programme.

SCENE Outdoor Screen on First Street 

Saturday 16th - Thursday 21st August | First Street 

Six days of free screenings, from an Oz-themed celebration (including The Wizard of Oz and a Wicked sing-along) to cult comedies like To Wong Foo, Mean Girls and more. 

SCENE New Narrative

Monday 18th - Wednesday 20th August | Vue, Printworks

SCENE New Narrative highlights new international LGBTQ+ fiction features, a curated showcase of fiction features from around the world, many screening in the North for the first time, including: Drive Back Home (starring Alan Cumming), Plainclothes (with Russell Tovey & Tom Blythe) and Dreams in Nightmares.

Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot + SCENE’s Lesbian TV Quiz

Sunday 17th August | New Century Hall

Filmmaker Regan Latimer presents a witty, personal deep-dive into lesbian TV tropes and why queer representation matters. Followed by a sapphic pub quiz packed with niche trivia, great prizes, and bragging rights.

SCENE 2025 also works closely with festivals and partners including - CULTPLEX, GAZE,  Iris Prize, and GASP!, and will unveil additional events and strands including Queer As Jokes and NightLives as part of the final programme announcement on 24th July.

With more guests, premieres, and parties still to come, SCENE 2025 is shaping up to be a joyful celebration of LGBTQ+ screen culture.
Tickets start at just £2.50, with many events free of charge. Profits from ticket sales, along with booking fees from our ticketing partner Skiddle, will be donated to Manchester Pride Charity.

For festival attendees looking to make an extended visit, a range of exclusive hotel offers, rewards, and packages will be available from participating city centre hotels throughout the duration of the festival. Perks include Up to 30% off your stay, fabulous drag breakfasts & brunches, limited-edition Pride cocktails, freebies and surprises .

More details can be found here - Scene & Stay.
Tickets & line-up: www.scenefestival.com
Instagram @scene_festival | X / Facebook @SCENEFestival
Press enquiries: scene@premiercomms.com