It's here! 🎉The 2026 Montrose LandxSea Film Festival programme is now on sale with select early bird screenings available to book, and details of some of this year's incredible special guests.
The team have concocted a truly epic, three-day weekend filled with films of every flavour, from as far as Nigeria, Iraq, Bolivia and Croatia, as well as homegrown cinema from exciting, Scottish and UK filmmakers.
Still from Derek vs Derek by James Dawson - our Opening Night film (and Scottish premiere) on Friday 11 September.
On the menu this year: 22 films, 8 Scottish premieres, a European premiere, loads of guest filmmakers, creatives and performers; a shorts programme, features, documentaries, archive cinema, even live performances - all designed to spark conversations about our planet, our environment, and our relationship to the world around us!
OUR FESTIVAL THEME: HOLD FAST
How do we stay connected and keep our footing when the world around us is shifting so dramatically? This question inspired our festival theme: Hold Fast, a weaving together of stories of fishermen, farmers, swimmers, artists and unexpected protectors fighting for the coastlines, communities and ways of life they love.
"To hold fast" - with its fitting nautical origins, is a phrase with salt in it: practical, urgent, a little weather-beaten. It means to grip tight, stay steady, and not let go. But it doesn't mean we must stand still.
Our films this year ask us to collectively reflect on what we carry forward, what we let go, and what we choose to protect together.
Still from Whispers in the Woods by Vincent Munier - our Closing Night film (and Scottish premiere) on Sunday 13 September.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights include our opening night Scottish Premiere of Derek vs Derek, a funny, timely story of two Devonshire farmers feuding over the future of the countryside, while the UK Premiere of Materia Prima takes us to the Bolivian Andes and a story of women-led resistance to colonial extraction practices.
In Hope Is a Word, poet and activist Nnimmo Bassey nurtures writers in the Niger Delta, whilst Whispers in the Woods, takes us to the childhood, mist-laden mountains of celebrated wildlife photographer Vincent Munier. Expressing the Earth brings together geopoetics, Scotland’s landscapes and James Hutton’s revolutionary idea of deep time, especially resonant in the year of Hutton 300. Jo in the Water introduces open-water swimmer-turned-unlikely-activist Jo as she takes on a major water company. All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea by Jeanie Finlay sees fisherman Stan Rennie leading a grassroots fight for answers after thousands of crabs wash up dead on his home coastline.
From the archive British animated classic Watership Down, newly restored in 4K, returns as a big screen favourite for kids and adults alike, and with Finis Terrae, Jean Epstein’s 1929 silent classic is brought to life with a vivid live performance of a new score.
Last but not least, all are invited to join us on Sunday morning for our annual LandxSea Beach Dook, in the beautiful waters of Montrose Bay - don’t forget your swimsuits.
The annual Montrose LandxSea Film Fest beach dook!
TICKETING INFORMATION
You can book films individually, or - if you want to binge as much as possible during the long weekend, why not take advantage of our Weekend Passes and Ticket Bundles?
We also offer the option of paying it forward through Supporter Tickets - these cost a little extra and help support free festival tickets for young people and community audiences. You can view all our ticketing options here.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
A big thank you to the people and organisations we couldn't do this without!
Montrose LandxSea Film Festival is pleased to have exceptional two-year support from Screen Scotland, part of Creative Scotland, delivering services and support with funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery; Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery; and the British Council in partnership with the Independent Cinema Office.
Thank you to our Lead Sponsors Montrose Rope and Sail/Montrose Bag Company.
Additional generous support is provided by our lovely home venue: the Montrose Playhouse.