Spectacular summer cinema in Chichester

Thursday, 9 July 2026 11:00

Chichester International Film Festival is returning this summer with 15 days of films, special events and open-air screenings.

The 2026 festival runs from August 7 to 23, with organisers promising another celebration of cinema from across the world.

This year’s programme includes open-air screenings of Star Wars: A New Hope, Pretty Woman and Babe, bringing a mix of science fiction, romance and family favourites to the city.

The cinema’s education team, will guide audiences through the programme, including its strands, talks, special events and hidden gems.

The festival has a long history in the city. It was launched in 1992 as the film flagbearer for the Festival of Chichester, a wider summer arts programme.

Since then, it has grown into a nationally acclaimed film festival with a focus on quality cinema from around the world.

Over the years, Chichester has welcomed an impressive list of film directors, actors, writers, composers and critics. Previous visitors have included Sir Alec Guinness, Kathleen Turner, Ken Russell, Mike Leigh, Daniel Brühl, Elaine Paige, John Lithgow, Derek Jacobi, Virginia McKenna, Steve Coogan, Timothy Spall and Ralph Fiennes.

The festival has also expanded significantly since its early years. Before Walter Francisco took over the festival in 2024, founder and Artistic Director Roger Gibson had seen it grow from 29 films in one location to 150 films across seven locations.

Past events have included screenings in Priory Park, silent films with live music in St John’s Chapel, screenings at Chichester Cathedral and drive-in cinema events in the city centre.

Buy half-price vouchers for Chichester Film Festival on V2VOUCHERS.CO.UK or find other half-price deals on a wide range of experiences across the South, from meals out at local restaurants to tickets for some of the region’s biggest events.

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