Manchester Film Festival 2026: Northern talent shines in record-breaking edition
Feature image: Press
The Manchester Film Festival has wrapped its 12th edition, running over 11 days and showcasing a strong line-up of local and international talent from across the independent film industry.
Festival director Neil Jeram-Croft reflected on this year’s programme, filled with a mix of features, shorts and documentaries spanning the cities’ cinema hotspots: “This has been our most successful edition yet and one we’re incredibly proud of. Surpassing 10,000 ticket sales for the first time.”
He added that the figures also point to wider momentum within the sector, particularly across the North: “The growth in our industry programme and the 30% rise in accreditations is further proof that Manchester is becoming a genuine destination for both film professionals and audiences alike.”
This year once again saw a strong showing of Northern talent, with a number of homegrown projects gaining recognition. Misper, a feature written and directed Harry Sheriff and Laurence Tratalos, took home Best UK Feature, while North West filmmaker Dan Sloan won Best Director for his short film Good Behaviour. The Oldham Man and the Sea – a documentary following 73-year-old Frank Rothwell OBE as he rows across the Atlantic – also proved a standout, winning Best Feature Documentary.
The award ceremony took place on the penultimate day of the festival at the Odeon Great Northern. Filmmakers, producers, cast and other cogs in the film-making machine piled into the event, filling the space with anticipation and a sense of community as peers shared support and discussed their work.
Awards were presented by members of the festival team and participating filmmakers, with Neil Jeram-Croft opening and closing the ceremony.
Below is the full list of winners for the 2026 edition.
Feature Film Award Winners:
- Golden Bee – Feature – Lifehack (directed by Ronan Corrigan)
- Special Jury Prize – Feature – LitterMates (directed by Micheal Woloson & Scott Tinkham)
- Best UK Feature – Misper (by Harry Sherriff & Laurence Tratalos)
- Best Documentary Feature – The Oldham Man and the Sea (co-directed by Marc Ingham and Colin Offland)
- Best International Feature – Maricel (Directed by Elias Demetriou)
- Best Director – Feature – Dhafer L’Abidine (Sophia)
- Best Actor – Feature – Thomas Turgoose (Synthesized)
- Best Actress – Feature – Nell Weik-Clark (Mutt Cat)
- Golden Bee – Short – Inflicted Kindness (directed by Gaia Dzhahinian)
- Special Jury Prize – Short – Uncle Artoo (directed by Zoe Whittaker)
- Best UK Short – The Truth About Space (directed by Jeremiah Towolawi)
- Best International Short – Whim Rules The Child And Weather The Field (directed by Katla Solnes)
- Best North West Short – Squeaky Bum (directed by Alicia Forde)
- Best Student Film – Earth (directed by Lelia Murton Poole)
- Best Cinematography – Feature – Aphrodite (directed by Stefano Lorenzi)
- Audience Award – Feature – Chatlines (directed by Neil Ely & Lloyd Eyre-Morgan)
Short Film Award Winners:
- Best Documentary Short – Something In The Air (directed by Niamh Barry)
- Best Animation – Yugen (directed by Nayelli Ojeda)
- Best Experimental – I Hate Jack (directed by Theo Watkins)
- Best Music Video – Blue For You (directed by Sebastian Ortiz Wilkins)
- Best Director – Short – Dan Sloan (Good Behaviour)
- Best Actor – Short – William Fox (Don’t Worry About Me)
- Best Actress – Short – Caron Henthorn (Jackie Is Lost)
- Best Cinematography – Short – Largo (directed by Max Burgoyne-Moore)
- Met Film Rising Star – Matthew Eyre (Safe Space)
- Screenplay Competition Winner – Kathryn Robinson (Stationery)
- Audience Award – Feature – Chatlines (directed by Neil Ely & Lloyd Eyre-Morgan)
- Audience Award – Short – From Sidney With Love (directed by East Elliot)
