Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2026
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Start date
November 6, 2026 8:35 pm
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End date
November 21, 2026
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Summerhall Events
1, Summerhall, Newington, Edinburgh EH9 1PL
The Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2026 returns from Friday 6 to Saturday 21 November, bringing international short films, UK premieres, and Scottish filmmaking to Filmhouse and Summerhall.
Now in its 16th edition, the festival features 27 award-winning films and 29 UK premieres, with selections from Cannes, Venice, and the Berlinale. The programme covers animation, documentary, comedy, drama, and experimental cinema.
Alongside the screenings, audiences can attend filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, and networking events.
What to Expect at the Edinburgh Short Film Festival
The 2026 programme mixes international festival favourites with new work by Scottish and UK filmmakers.
One of the highlights is Scottish Shorts Night on Saturday 7 November, featuring nine Scottish productions spanning comedy, animation, drama, and documentary. A networking event follows the Filmhouse screening.
Other highlights include:
- 6 November: Opening night, Side By Side, at Filmhouse.
- 13 November: German short films presented by International Kurzfilmwoche Regensburg at Summerhall.
- 14 November: Japanese short films presented by Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, plus a separate Balkan shorts programme.
- 15 November: European Film Festivals Showcase, followed by a panel discussion with visiting festival representatives.
- 20 November: Too Many Tabs Open in My Head, an international competition programme at Summerhall.
- 21 November: Closing competition screening, Tough Day at Work?, followed by the festival awards.
The full programme provides opportunities to discover films that rarely receive conventional cinema releases, alongside work from emerging filmmakers.
Key Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6–21 November 2026 |
| Venues | Filmhouse and Summerhall, Edinburgh |
| Opening screening | Friday 6 November, 8:35pm |
| Programme | International short films, Scottish shorts, and festival showcases |
| Age guidance | 18+ |
| Organiser | Edinburgh Short Film Festival |
Tickets and Venues
Screenings take place at Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, and Summerhall, 1 Summerhall Place, with different programmes scheduled across the festival.
Tickets are available for individual screenings. Prices and start times vary, so check the relevant programme before booking.
Visit the official Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2026 programme for the full schedule, film descriptions, content guidance, and booking links.
Filmhouse is accessible by public transport from Edinburgh city centre, while Summerhall is located near the Meadows in the Southside.
The festival concludes on Saturday 21 November with its final competition screening and awards ceremony at Filmhouse.