Cheltenham International Film Festival

About

Cheltenham International Film Festival (CIFF) celebrates its 6th anniversary in 2024 and will continue to bring the best of world cinema to its thriving audience through films that question, inspire, entertain; through documentaries that raise issues and inform; through film shorts by filmmakers new to the industry; and through tributes to recognise the contributions of celebrated artists to the legacy of great cinema. 

Tickets are now on sale – here.

Tickets may be purchased by clicking on the films you are interested to see and you will be taken to The Cheltenham Trust web site to complete your transaction. Note: The Cheltenham Trust charges a booking fee per transaction so it is best to save money by selecting all the films you wish to see and purchasing your tickets in one transaction.

Become a Friend of Cheltenham International Film Festival

You may also wish to consider becoming a Friend of Cheltenham International Film Festival and benefitting from your annual membership. For £35 you receive one ticket for the VIP opening night; 25% discount on your film ticket purchases plus 2 film ticket vouchers. For a couple the annual Friends Membership fee is £60; in return you receive two VIP Opening Night tickets; plus 4 film ticket vouchers as well as a 25% discount on all your film ticket purchases. To become a Friend click here.

FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Opening night film

The comedy feature, Timestalker, praised by film critics with100% on Rotten Tomatoes opens the film festival as a preview in the presence of its writer/director/actor, Alice Lowe, who film critics call a genuine and quite visionary comic. The film plus Alice plus opening night reception to follow is sure to sell out so best to book early.

Music in film

Anniversaries are the name of the game: we celebrate A Hard Day’s Night (1964) in the presence of 60’s icon, Pattie Body, wife to George Harrison during Beatlemania before marrying Eric Clapton both of whom wrote classic songs about her: “Something” and “Wonderful Tonight”. Pattie will share memories from her New York Times Best Seller Wonderful Today. Legendary director, Tony Palmer, brings two films to the festival including Leonard Cohen: Bird On A Wire, which upset the singer, was lost, then found and restored by Tony to critical praise – hear the story. And, we screen the premiere of Rock Bottom an animated feature to the music of Robert Wyatt with guest panel. 

Country Focus

We have designated South Korea for our country of focus in 2024. Korean cinema has taken the world by storm over the past few years gaining favour with their distinctive style with the general public worldwide. We have selected five contemporary Korean films and two Korean classics for audiences to choose from.

Best Films

We love this category as it gives us an opportunity to support emerging filmmakers with their first or second film. We have short-listed five more films for Best Film in 2024; they are judged by a jury made up of film industry and media professionals. We encourage you to watch these films and let us have your views. 

Talking Movies

When watching a film we sometimes think; what does that mean, why did happen, which is why we invite filmmakers and artists to the film festival to interact with our audience. This year we welcome German director and screenwriter, Nora Fingscheid, who won critical acclaim for her film System Crasher which we screened in 2019; and remains one of our favourites. She is joined by best-selling writer Amy Liptrot to share their thoughts on The Outrun. We shall also welcome Screen International “Star of Tomorrow” director, Virginia Gilbert with Reawakening; and from one of the Best Films, Girls Will Be Girls, we are joined by young Indian female actor, Preeti Panigrahi.

Comedy

Arthur’s Whisky brings together three very different stars in their own right: Diane Keaton, Patricia Hodge and Lulu. So how did they bond... by going out to dinner and finding a common sense of humour. Patricia Hodge, Lulu and director, Stephen Cookson, share their behind the scenes tales of making this multi-award-winning comedy in the dead cold of an English winter.

Laughing At Power: A panel discussion by three people (maybe more, watch this space) who laugh at and send up power will share their thoughts and memories of laughing at power.  Taking part are: Jonathan Pie (Tom Walker); Michael (Lord) Dobbs creator of the much-watched, House of Cards; Maurice Gran (one-half of Marks/Gran creators of Alan B’Stard of The New Statesman, made famous by Rik Mayall).