Bigger, Bolder and Brighter: Lytham International Film Festival returns to light up the autumn

LYTHAM, U.K. - June 15, 2026 - PRLog -- BAFTA winners, an Oscar-nominated short, and Hollywood stuntmen from the Fylde Coast are all heading to Lytham this September, as the award-winning Lytham International Film Festival (LYIFF) returns for its fourth and most ambitious edition yet.

Taking place Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th September, LYIFF 2026 transforms three iconic Lytham venues — the Institute, the Assembly Rooms, and the Methodist Church — into professional-grade cinema spaces, with Opening and Closing Night galas hosted at The Island Cinema on the South Promenade. Whether you're a dedicated film lover or just looking for something a little different this autumn, there's never been a better time to come.

This year's headline film is A Friend of Dorothy — 2026 Academy Award nominee for Best Short Film, starring BAFTA winner Miriam Margolyes and Stephen Fry. Expect laughs, warmth, and more than a few tears. Dame Maureen Lipman also appears in The Dog That Couldn't Bark, one of several powerful short films screening across the weekend.

From gripping international features to bold short films from across the UK and beyond, LYIFF 2026 is packed with stories that challenge, comfort and inspire — across genres including drama, documentary, dark comedy, horror, and more. The full programme includes:

• Curated short film strands: dedicated screenings covering Women in Focus, LGBTQ+ Voices, Regional filmmakers, Film Hub North-funded Shorts, and spine-chilling After Dark late-night content
• Feature films from Germany, Poland, Canada, China, and the UK — including a free family-friendly Saturday morning screening
• A Community Showcase from Kirkham Grammar School
• Live Q&As with filmmakers throughout the weekend

Industry masterclasses and workshops run throughout the weekend, open to aspiring filmmakers and curious audiences alike. Highlights include the Fylde Coast's own Ryan Green — stunt performer on 1917, House of the Dragon and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — speaking about his career, alongside BAFTA-winning director Will Jewell, award-winning producer/director Rebecca Rose (whose new film Grain is in this year's selection), and a hands-on horror practical effects workshop.

"LYIFF is about connection - between audiences and filmmakers, between stories and the people they move," said Festival Director Ed Greenberg. "This year we have our biggest programme ever, spread across three beautiful Lytham venues, with films that genuinely have something to say. Whether you've been with us since the beginning or this is your first time, we can't wait to welcome you."

To book your passes, explore the full film schedule, or discover more about the lineup, visit the official festival website at www.lyiff.com.