The full programme has been announced for the 8th annual Sea Change Festival - Scotland’s only annual film festival celebrating female filmmaking talent. Screening films made by female and non-binary directors, the festival will take place from the 18 - 20 September on the beautiful and remote Hebridean island of Tiree (over 80 miles away from the nearest permanent cinema).
Sea Change 2026 will open on Friday 18 September with a special preview screening of the major new Scottish period drama The Education of Jane Cumming, ahead of its 2027 cinema release. Starring Fiona Shaw, Clare Dunne and Flora Nicholson, and shot on location in Edinburgh, the film follows two teachers whose lives are thrown into turmoil after one of their pupils accuses them of having a love affair. Inspired by true events in the early 1800s, the film is a powerful and timely drama about prejudice, resilience and the courage to stand up for the truth.
The festival will then close on Sunday 20 September with award-winning documentarian Jeanie Finlay introducing her new feature All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea, a wry David and Goliath story about navigating grief and finding power in a Teeside fishing community. Tiree holds a special place in Finlay’s heart, with a key scene in the film being shot there.
Sea Change 2026 will shine the spotlight on contemporary and historical female animators, with international animation from Austria’s Tricky Women Festival, a showcase of work from BAFTA-winning animator Paloma Baeza and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Lotte Reineger’s The Adventures of Prince Achmed with live music and sound effects from The Cabinet of Living Cinema.
Other big screen highlights across the packed three days include a special preview screening of Lou Lockwood’s documentary Bel, a sensitive portrait of Kenyan-Scottish musician, singer and songwriter, Beldina Odenyo; Eleanor Mortimore’s deep sea doc How Deep Is Your Love, following a group of deep-sea scientists as they set out to study and collect specimens from one of the least explored parts of the planet and Sarah Friedland’s Venice Award-winning debut Fam.
Away from the big screen, unique festival events include a Gaelic Singing to the Seals lesson on Vaul Beach with Tiree singer Ishbel Campbell, an underwater snorkel and sketching session with animator Viola Madau, guided wild sea swims and beach pilates and a chance to experience the island’s new Hygge Nordic Sauna.
Explore the full programme on the Sea Change Film Festival website.
Katharine Simpson from Screen Scotland said: “Jen and the team have programmed what promises to be a brilliant series of screenings and events which continue the important mission of the festival, showcasing the work of women in film within the unique and inspiring environment of Tiree. It’s fantastic to be able to support Screen Argyll and its work which so closely reflects our ambitions to raise the profile of underrepresented filmmakers and to broaden and deepen access to film culture across all parts of Scotland.”
Tickets are on sale now at the Sea Change FIlm Festival website.
Previous guests at the festival - which showcases new and archive films made by women and non-binary people across the world- have included director Carol Morley, Shallow Grave star Kerry Fox and award-winning Orkney writer Amy Liptrot.
Sea Change is run by the Tiree-based Screen Argyll and supported by Screen Scotland. Film Hub Scotland fund the Screen Argyll Network.