PictureEast Film Festival 2026

Wasteman (2026 - Cal McMau)

Steering group

PEFF27 Opening Gala Screening of Wasteman

pictureeast film festival 2026

PictureEast Film Festival 2026 (PEFF26) took place in Newham and Barking & Dagenham from 20th January - 1st February 2026!

The dynamic programme of feature films, short film showcases and panel discussions continued our legacy of Curated Community Cinema in Newham, and expanded into Barking & Dagenham - championing the stories and cultures embedded in both boroughs and inherent to East London.

The 2026 festival continued with its mission to reignite cinematic culture by exploring the legacies of lost cinemas, discovering local film locations, understanding the connection between art & craft plus nurturing community cohesion through a series of cultural events.

PEFF26 PROGRAMME

This year’s festival launched in style with a special preview screening of Wasteman, starring Newham native - David Jonsson.

Further highlights included a preview of My Father’s Shadow, Akinola Davies Jr.’s Un Certain Regard–nominated debut, the BIFA-nominated Lollipop, the Barking & Dagenham Local Creatives Showcase, and family-friendly screenings such as international hit Ne Zha 2, the South Asian take on Hamlet starring Riz Ahmed, and the festival closed with a special and uplifting preview of Palestine Comedy Club.

PEFF26 Screenings

PEFF26 Eventbrite Link

Programme

PEFF26: PALESTINE COMEDY CLUB + LIVE COMEDY (CLOSING NIGHT)

Feb 1

The Boathouse Studios

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm18:30 – 21:0018:30 – 21:00

PEFF26: PALESTINE COMEDY CLUB + LIVE COMEDY (CLOSING NIGHT)

The Boathouse Studios

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm18:30 – 21:0018:30 – 21:00

The Boathouse Studios

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm18:30 – 21:0018:30 – 21:00

PEFF26: TALK (LOST CINEMAS) + DREAMERS + Q&A

Feb 1

The Boathouse Studios

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

PEFF26: TALK (LOST CINEMAS) + DREAMERS + Q&A

The Boathouse Studios

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

The Boathouse Studios

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

Feb 1

Women's Museum

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm12:00 – 14:0012:00 – 14:00

PEFF26: MOTHER VERA + PANEL

Women's Museum

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm12:00 – 14:0012:00 – 14:00

Women's Museum

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm12:00 – 14:0012:00 – 14:00

PEFF26: LOCAL CREATIVES SHOWCASE + PANEL + DJ

Jan 31

The Boathouse Studios

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

PEFF26: LOCAL CREATIVES SHOWCASE + PANEL + DJ

The Boathouse Studios

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

The Boathouse Studios

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Jan 31

A House for Artists

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

PEFF26: SHORTS - UNCOMMON VOICES + Q&A

A House for Artists

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

A House for Artists

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

PEFF26: NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE + FAMILY ACTIVITY

Jan 31

Kingsley Hall

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm14:00 – 17:0014:00 – 17:00

PEFF26: NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE + FAMILY ACTIVITY

Kingsley Hall

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm14:00 – 17:0014:00 – 17:00

Kingsley Hall

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm14:00 – 17:0014:00 – 17:00

Jan 31

My Heathway Shop

11:00 am – 1:30 pm11:00 – 13:3011:00 – 13:30

PEFF26: NE ZHA 2 + ACTIVITY

My Heathway Shop

11:00 am – 1:30 pm11:00 – 13:3011:00 – 13:30

My Heathway Shop

11:00 am – 1:30 pm11:00 – 13:3011:00 – 13:30

Jan 30

Kingsley Hall

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm19:00 – 21:0019:00 – 21:00

PEFF26: BLUE HAS NO BORDERS + Q&A

Kingsley Hall

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm19:00 – 21:0019:00 – 21:00

Kingsley Hall

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm19:00 – 21:0019:00 – 21:00

PEFF26: YOUNG PROGRAMMERS SHORTS SHOWCASE + NETWORKING + Q&A

Jan 30

The Wilds

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm18:00 – 20:0018:00 – 20:00

PEFF26: YOUNG PROGRAMMERS SHORTS SHOWCASE + NETWORKING + Q&A

The Wilds

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm18:00 – 20:0018:00 – 20:00

The Wilds

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm18:00 – 20:0018:00 – 20:00

Jan 30

The Wilds

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm16:00 – 18:0016:00 – 18:00

PEFF26: FINDING OPTEL + FAMILY ACTIVITY

The Wilds

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm16:00 – 18:0016:00 – 18:00

The Wilds

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm16:00 – 18:0016:00 – 18:00

Jan 30

Chadwell Health Community Centre

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm16:00 – 18:0016:00 – 18:00

PEFF26: HOMEBOUND + Q&A

Chadwell Health Community Centre

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm16:00 – 18:0016:00 – 18:00

Chadwell Health Community Centre

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm16:00 – 18:0016:00 – 18:00

Jan 29

A House For Artists

7:30 pm – 10:00 pm19:30 – 22:0019:30 – 22:00

PEFF26: LOLLIPOP + Q&A

A House For Artists

7:30 pm – 10:00 pm19:30 – 22:0019:30 – 22:00

A House For Artists

7:30 pm – 10:00 pm19:30 – 22:0019:30 – 22:00

Jan 28

Vue Dagenham

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

PEFF26: MY FATHER’S SHADOW + PANEL

Vue Dagenham

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Vue Dagenham

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Jan 27

Lumiere Cinema Romford

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

PEFF26: HAMLET + PANEL

Lumiere Cinema Romford

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Lumiere Cinema Romford

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Jan 25

Good Hotel

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

PEFF26: I SWEAR + Q&A

Good Hotel

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Good Hotel

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Jan 25

Good Hotel

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

PEFF26: THE STAND + Q&A

Good Hotel

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

Good Hotel

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm15:00 – 18:0015:00 – 18:00

Jan 25

Good Hotel

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm12:00 – 14:0012:00 – 14:00

PEFF26: SAVAGES + Q&A

Good Hotel

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm12:00 – 14:0012:00 – 14:00

Good Hotel

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm12:00 – 14:0012:00 – 14:00

Jan 24

Good Hotel

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

PEFF26: SOULEYMANE’S STORY + Q&A

Good Hotel

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Good Hotel

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

Jan 24

UCL East Community Cinema

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm16:00 – 19:0016:00 – 19:00

PEFF26: URCHIN + Q&A

UCL East Community Cinema

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm16:00 – 19:0016:00 – 19:00

UCL East Community Cinema

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm16:00 – 19:0016:00 – 19:00

Jan 24

Discover Children's Story Centre

2:00 pm – 4:40 pm14:00 – 16:4014:00 – 16:40

PEFF26: GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE - THE MOVIE

Discover Children's Story Centre

2:00 pm – 4:40 pm14:00 – 16:4014:00 – 16:40

Discover Children's Story Centre

2:00 pm – 4:40 pm14:00 – 16:4014:00 – 16:40

PEFF26: THE BAD GUYS 2 + FAMILY ACTIVITY

Jan 24

Good Hotel

11:00 am – 1:00 pm11:00 – 13:0011:00 – 13:00

PEFF26: THE BAD GUYS 2 + FAMILY ACTIVITY

Good Hotel

11:00 am – 1:00 pm11:00 – 13:0011:00 – 13:00

Good Hotel

11:00 am – 1:00 pm11:00 – 13:0011:00 – 13:00

Jan 23

The Source

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm18:00 – 21:0018:00 – 21:00

PEFF26: LONDON BOYS + Q&A

The Source

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm18:00 – 21:0018:00 – 21:00

The Source

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm18:00 – 21:0018:00 – 21:00

Jan 23

Stratford Library

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm16:00 – 18:3016:00 – 18:30

PEFF26: HOW TO BUILD A LIBRARY + PANEL

Stratford Library

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm16:00 – 18:3016:00 – 18:30

Stratford Library

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm16:00 – 18:3016:00 – 18:30

PEFF26: MARLEE MATLIN - NOT ALONE ANYMORE (SUBTITLED) + Q&A (BSL FRIENDLY)

Jan 22

The Tate Institute

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

PEFF26: MARLEE MATLIN - NOT ALONE ANYMORE (SUBTITLED) + Q&A (BSL FRIENDLY)

The Tate Institute

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

The Tate Institute

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm19:00 – 22:0019:00 – 22:00

PEFF26: CREATIVE CONNECTIONS SHORTS SHOWCASE + NETWORKING

Jan 21

UCL East Marshgate

6:00 pm – 9:30 pm18:00 – 21:3018:00 – 21:30

PEFF26: CREATIVE CONNECTIONS SHORTS SHOWCASE + NETWORKING

UCL East Marshgate

6:00 pm – 9:30 pm18:00 – 21:3018:00 – 21:30

UCL East Marshgate

6:00 pm – 9:30 pm18:00 – 21:3018:00 – 21:30

PEFF26: WASTEMAN + PANEL (OPENING NIGHT)

Jan 20

Everyman Stratford International

6:30 pm – 10:00 pm18:30 – 22:0018:30 – 22:00

PEFF26: WASTEMAN + PANEL (OPENING NIGHT)

Everyman Stratford International

6:30 pm – 10:00 pm18:30 – 22:0018:30 – 22:00

Everyman Stratford International

6:30 pm – 10:00 pm18:30 – 22:0018:30 – 22:00

PEFF26 Speakers

PEFF26, Shorts, My Father's Shadow

Alex Shin

PEFF26, Shorts, My Father's Shadow

Co-Founder, Ammeno

PEFF26, Shorts, My Father's Shadow

PEFF26, Urchin

Okezie Morro

PEFF26, Urchin

Actor, Urchin

PEFF26, Urchin

Rohan Ilett

PEFF26, Urchin

Location Marshall, Urchin

PEFF26, Urchin

PEFF26, Wasteman

Eoin Doran

PEFF26, Wasteman

Screenwriter, Wasteman

PEFF26, Wasteman

Lorenzo Levrini

PEFF26, Wasteman

Director of Photography, Wasteman

PEFF26, Wasteman

Collette Creary-Myers

PEFF26, Wasteman

Art Director, Wasteman

PEFF26, Wasteman

Sophia Gibber

PEFF26, Wasteman

Producer Wasteman

PEFF26, Wasteman

Phoebe Platman

PEFF26, Wasteman

Production Designer, Wasteman

PEFF26, Wasteman

Bianca Simone

PEFF26, Wasteman

Hair & Makeup Artist, Wasteman

PEFF26, Wasteman

PEFF26, How to Build a Library

Tania Sengupta

PEFF26, How to Build a Library

Lecturer at University College London

PEFF26, How to Build a Library

Shahed Saleem

PEFF26, How to Build a Library

Architect and Author

PEFF26, How to Build a Library

PEFF26, London Boys

Arun Nangla

PEFF26, London Boys

Co-director & Cinematographer, London Boys

PEFF26, London Boys

Laura Pavone

PEFF26, London Boys

Co-director & Editor, London Boys

PEFF26, London Boys

PEFF26, London Boys, Shorts

Cary Sawhney

PEFF26, London Boys, Shorts

Director of KHAANA

PEFF26, London Boys, Shorts

PEFF26, The Stand

Joshua Castellino

PEFF26, The Stand

Professor & Executive Dean at Brunel University London

PEFF26, The Stand

PEFF26, My Father's Shadow

Jermaine Canute Edwards

PEFF26, My Father's Shadow

Cinematographer, My Father’s Shadow

PEFF26, My Father's Shadow

Jerry Chiemeke

PEFF26, My Father's Shadow

Writer, Journalist and Film Critic

PEFF26, My Father's Shadow

Chee Keong Cheung

PEFF26, My Father's Shadow

Filmmaker

PEFF26, My Father's Shadow

PEFF26, Lollipop

Idil Ahmed

PEFF26, Lollipop

Actress, Lollipop

PEFF26, Lollipop

PEFF26, Homebound

Toyeba Mushtaq

PEFF26, Homebound

Curator & Programmer of South Asian Cinema

PEFF26, Homebound

PEFF26, Blue Has No Borders

Jessi Gutch

PEFF26, Blue Has No Borders

Director, Blue Has No Borders

PEFF26, Blue Has No Borders

PEFF26, Mother Vera

Cecile Embleton

PEFF26, Mother Vera

Filmmaker, Mother Vera

PEFF26, Mother Vera

PEFF26, Mother Vera, Shorts

Jaha Browne

PEFF26, Mother Vera, Shorts

Director and Audio Artist

PEFF26, Mother Vera, Shorts

PEFF26, Nigel Smith, Dreamers, Lost Cinemas Talk, Talks

Nigel Smith

PEFF26, Nigel Smith, Dreamers, Lost Cinemas Talk, Talks

London Tour Guide

PEFF26, Nigel Smith, Dreamers, Lost Cinemas Talk, Talks

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Aatif Nawaz

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Comedian

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Shazia Mirza

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Comedian

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Shohini Chaudhuri

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Professor at the University of Essex

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Samer Jaber

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

Activist, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Newham

PEFF26, Palestine Comedy Club

PEFF26 Speakers & Performers

PEFF26 Short Filmmakers

PEFF26 Speakers

PEFF26, Shorts

Harry Reeves

PEFF26, Shorts

Co-Founder, Ammeno

PEFF26, Shorts

PEFF26, Shorts, My Father's Shadow

Alex Shin

PEFF26, Shorts, My Father's Shadow

Co-Founder, Ammeno

PEFF26, Shorts, My Father's Shadow

PEFF26, Shorts

Aum Patel

PEFF26, Shorts

Co-Founder, Ammeno

PEFF26, Shorts

Ibrahim Kargbo

PEFF26, Shorts

Co-Founder, Ammeno

PEFF26, Shorts

PEFF26, London Boys, Shorts

Cary Sawhney

PEFF26, London Boys, Shorts

Director of KHAANA

PEFF26, London Boys, Shorts

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

Mark Ryder

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

Filmmaker, Toast

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

Kasey-Anais Blondell

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

Filmmaker, Skate

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Timi Akindele-Ajani

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Filmmaker, Tony and Guests

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

King Simpson

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

Filmmaker, Home

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

Luke Brookner

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

Filmmaker, Home

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts, Shorts

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts

Rhys Aaron Lewis

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts

Filmmaker, Run Like We

PEFF26, Young Programmers Shorts

PEFF26, Uncommon Voices, Shorts

Edem Kelman

PEFF26, Uncommon Voices, Shorts

Director, Terence (Uncommon Voices)

PEFF26, Uncommon Voices, Shorts

PEFF26, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Tyra Chuck

PEFF26, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Filmmaker, Hear My World

PEFF26, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Dalila McFarlane Martin

PEFF26, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Director, Reload (Local Creatives Showcase)

PEFF26, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Joelle Mae David

PEFF26, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

Director and founder of production company Bluebird Pictures

PEFF26, Local Creatives Showcase, Shorts

PEFF26, Mother Vera, Shorts

Jaha Browne

PEFF26, Mother Vera, Shorts

Director and Audio Artist

PEFF26, Mother Vera, Shorts

pictureeast steering group

The Steering Group made an invaluable contribution to the 2026 iteration of PictureEast Film Festival. Passionate creatives who live, work and play in both Newham and Barking & Dagenham, have and will continue to shape every facet of the festival - including programming, community engagement and branding thanks to the support of Film London’s Spotlight scheme and other community partners.

Uncommon Voices Screening at PEFF26

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