Elgin Film Festival brings big screen magic to Moray – tickets on sale now

The very first Elgin Film Festival will take place from 19–22 February 2026, bringing award‑winning films, local talent, hands‑on workshops, and family‑friendly fun to venues across the town.

The festival is part of Film Hub Scotland’s Spotlight programme and will be hosted at much loved Elgin venues including Moray Playhouse and Elgin Town Hall for the Community @ Elgin Community Centre. While Elgin Town Hall undergoes major redevelopment through the Moray Growth Deal, the festival offers a sneak peek into the vibrant cultural activity the revamped venue will host when it reopens in 2027.

The festival opens on Thursday 19 February with a free outdoor screening of archive footage celebrating Elgin’s history, projected onto St Giles Church. Film fans can then head indoors for a selection of international and Scottish works, including the Ukrainian sci‑fi drama U Are The Universe (2024) and the locally made short Lady Maclean (2025). Also showing is 3,000 Feet (2025), a new Scottish documentary about the legacy of Hugh Munro, followed by a Q&A with co‑director Kevin Woods.

Across the weekend, audiences can enjoy:

• Oscar‑nominated international films, including Iranian hit It Was Just an Accident (2025)
• A special tribute screening of the iconic Stand By Me (1986), chosen and introduced by young people from Out of Darkness Theatre Company
• Creative workshops led by local artists, including a Stop Motion animation workshop with Fraser Macdonald
• A screening of the Oscar‑winning animation Flow (2024) and a showcase of films made during the workshop
• A sparkling Saturday‑night screening of Cabaret (1972), complete with fizz on arrival and a live cabaret variety show from local performers
• A Sunday morning selection of charming short films for young children from the Discovery Film Festival
• An uplifting Scottish premiere of Sundance Audience Award winner DJ Ahmet (2025), paired with a new short by Inverness filmmaker Neil Hepburn
• Final outdoor projections celebrating Elgin’s heritage at St Giles Cathedral

The full programme and ticket links are live here now.

Gražina Ščučkaitė, Spotlight Co-ordinator at Film Hub Scotland said: “We’re thrilled to bring the Spotlight programme to Elgin for the very first Elgin Film Festival. The passion and enthusiasm from local partners has been exceptional, and together we’ve built a programme that celebrates everything from global award‑winners to homegrown Scottish stories. Film festivals play a powerful role in connecting communities through shared experience, and we’re proud to support an event that puts Moray’s creativity, heritage and audiences at its heart.”

Moray Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, added: “Bringing the first Elgin Film Festival to the heart of Moray is a fantastic milestone for our cultural landscape. It showcases not only outstanding international cinema, but also the incredible creative talent we have right here in our local communities. As we continue working towards the redevelopment of Elgin Town Hall through the Moray Growth Deal, this festival offers an exciting glimpse of what a vibrant, modern cultural quarter will bring to residents and visitors alike. I’m delighted to see Elgin take its place on Scotland’s cultural map with such energy and ambition.”

Donnie Squair from Elgin Town Hall for the Community commented: “While our venue is undergoing its major transformation, it’s fantastic to welcome the Elgin Film Festival into the community space at Elgin Community Centre. This festival demonstrates exactly the kind of diverse, high‑quality cultural activity that the redeveloped Town Hall will host when it reopens in 2027. We’re proud to play our part in bringing film, creativity and celebration to Elgin, and we look forward to seeing audiences enjoy a truly inspiring weekend.”

Elgin Film Festival is delivered by Film Hub Scotland’s Spotlight Programme, with support from BFI National Lottery funding.