Festival 2026

Crossing the Screen Film Festival 2026

Crossing the Screen 2026 — presented as the landmark 10th Eastbourne International Film Festival — took place from 2 to 9 May 2026 across the Cavendish Hotel in Eastbourne and the Hailsham Pavilion Cinema, marking the festival’s most ambitious edition. Celebrating a decade of independent cinema, the anniversary programme brought together bold international features, documentaries, experimental works, animations, and short films from across the world. The festival expanded its commitment to education and community engagement through workshops, student-led initiatives, filmmaker talks, and the launch of the 48 Hour Film Challenge in collaboration with Film Sussex. This milestone edition also deepened its focus on emerging talent and cultural dialogue, partnering with organisations such as the East Sussex College Group and Talent Accelerator to provide creative opportunities for young filmmakers and students. Special events included animation workshops, industry seminars, and community screenings.

Some notable highlights from the 2026 catalogue included screenings of Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Arab and Tarzan Nasser and A Sad and Beautiful World by Cyril Aris, alongside a wide-ranging international short film competition and educational strand dedicated to young audiences and local creatives. 

Official Catalogue