The Indian Film Festival Guide: London, Birmingham and Manchester This July

This July, three of the UK's most celebrated cities become home to one of the most exciting film festival programmes of the year. The London Indian Film Festival, Birmingham Indian Film Festival, and Manchester Indian Film Festival run across ten days each - and between them they offer one of the richest, most diverse programmes of South Asian cinema ever assembled on British screens.

Book It Please is proud to be a sponsor of all three festivals. Whether you are planning a dedicated film weekend, or simply want to add an extraordinary evening to an existing trip, here is your complete guide to what is on, where it is happening, and how to make the most of it.

London Indian Film Festival (9 – 16 July 2026)

UK and Europe's largest South Asian film festival, now in its 17th year.

The London Indian Film Festival is the anchor of the three and it is the biggest South Asian film festival in the UK and Europe, running across some of London's most iconic cultural venues. This year's programme spans BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Regent Street Cinema, the Nehru Centre, Cine Lumiere, Genesis Cinema, Forest Cinema, and Lumiere Romford.

The 2026 programme is the boldest yet. Cutting-edge new cinema premieres from India and around South Asia, many cherry-picked from the finest film festivals around the world, alongside restorations of magnificent classics of Indian cinema.

Highlights not to miss:

52 Blue | Thursday 9 July, 18:10, BFI Southbank (with Q&A)

Award-winning director Ali El Arabi's poignant coming-of-age drama follows Ashish, a young man who dreams of meeting his idol Messi at the Football World Cup in Qatar. A rousing tale of self-discovery and love, opening the festival with a Q&A.

Lagaan | Sunday 12 July, 10:45, BFI IMAX (with intro by Aamir Khan)

One of the greatest Indian films ever made, returning to the big screen in a special BFI IMAX screening with an introduction by Aamir Khan himself. An unmissable moment for any lover of Indian cinema.

Aamir Khan In Conversation | Thursday 16 July, 18:00, BFI Southbank

An evening with one of Indian cinema's most celebrated actors and filmmakers. This alone makes the trip to London worthwhile.

In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones | Wednesday 15 July, 20:20, BFI Southbank

Written by Booker Prize laureate Arundhati Roy, who also stars in the film, this cult classic from 1989 receives its UK premiere in a newly restored 4K version. Nearly four decades after it first aired on Doordarshan, this is a rare opportunity to see a important piece of Indian cinema history on the big screen.

The Mahabharata | Multiple screenings

Peter Brook's legendary stage-to-screen adaptation -  a timeless tale of morality, love, and warfare - in a new 8K restoration that premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2024. With a Q&A from Simon Brook.

Full programme: londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk

Birmingham Indian Film Festival (10 – 19 July 2026)

At Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, and Lockworks Cinema, Wolverhampton.

Birmingham's festival runs concurrently with London's, making a combined trip across both cities entirely possible for the most dedicated festival-goers. The 2026 programme spans themes of disability, motherhood, LGBTQIA+ stories, political drama, and Indian cinema classics.

Highlights not to miss:

52 Blue (Opening Gala) | Thursday 10 July, 19:00, Midlands Arts Centre

The festival opens with Ali El Arabi's film, which also opens in London the night before - a testament to how eagerly anticipated this film is. The Opening Gala includes a BSL signed Q&A with director Ali El Arabi.

White Snow | Friday 11 July, 19:30, Midlands Arts Centre

A stirring and powerful political drama that follows a mother's journey through the Kashmir Himalayan peaks to screen her son's film - which has been banned for the absurd reason of causing social unrest. One of the most compelling films in this year's programme.

All About Weddings (Biye Fiye Niye) | Saturday 12 July, 12:00, Midlands Arts Centre

A dazzling Kolkata wedding that spirals into chaos as secrets explode and unspoken desires surface. The film premiered in Paris at the Gange Sur Seine 2025, where it won a Special Jury Award.

Too Desi Too Queer | Thursday 17 July, 19:00, Midlands Arts Centre / Sunday 19 July, 19:00, Lockworks Cinema Wolverhampton

This celebrated LGBTQIA+ showcase returns with UK premieres curated with Rainbow Noir, exploring identity, empowerment, connection, and wellbeing. With a BSL signed panel discussion.

The Mahabharata (Closing Gala) | Sunday 19 July, 14:00, Midlands Arts Centre

Peter Brook's monumental work closes the festival in Birmingham, with a Q&A from Simon Brook.

Full programme: birminghamindianfilmfestival.co.uk

Manchester Indian Film Festival (9 – 18 July 2026)

At HOME Cinema Manchester, Pictureville Cinema Bradford, Showroom Cinema Sheffield, and Cultplix Manchester.

The Manchester festival spreads its reach across the north of England — Manchester, Bradford, and Sheffield all hosting screenings, making this a genuinely regional programme rather than a single-city event.

Highlights not to miss:

The Mahabharata | Friday 11 July, 14:00, HOME Cinema Manchester / Saturday 12 July, 14:00,

Pictureville Cinema Bradford / Saturday 12 July, 14:30, Showroom Cinema Sheffield
Three chances to see Peter Brook's restored masterwork across three great northern cities.

Too Desi Too Queer | Thursday 9 July, 18:30, Pictureville Cinema Bradford / Friday 11 July, 18:00,

HOME Cinema Manchester / Wednesday 15 July, 18:30, Showroom Cinema Sheffield
Three screenings of the LGBTQIA+ showcase across the north, with Q&A and debate in partnership with Rainbow Noir, Bradford Queer Film Festival, and QTIBPOC Cinema Club.

In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones | Tuesday 14 July, 18:00, HOME Cinema Manchester

Arundhati Roy's restored cult classic, making its UK premiere. A genuinely rare screening worth travelling for.

New Brit-Asian Shorts | Thursday 16 July, 19:30, Cultplix Manchester

A selection of short films from exciting and emerging British Asian filmmakers - from award-winning dramas to insightful documentaries, with a discussion on stage.

Full programme: manchesterindianfilmfestival.co.uk

Planning Your Festival Trip

London: The festival is spread across venues from the South Bank to Romford, with BFI Southbank as the central hub. A hotel on the South Bank or in central London puts you within easy reach of most screenings. The Aamir Khan In Conversation event on 16 July will be one of the most in-demand tickets of the festival - book early.

Birmingham: Midlands Arts Centre at Cannon Hill Park is the primary venue, with Lockworks Cinema in Wolverhampton hosting selected screenings. A central Birmingham hotel is the most practical base.

Manchester: HOME Cinema is the main hub, with additional screenings at Pictureville in Bradford and Showroom in Sheffield. If you're planning a multi-city northern itinerary, all three are within comfortable travelling distance of each other.

Where to Stay

Book It Please has hotels in London, Birmingham, and Manchester and whether you are staying for a single evening or making a full festival week of it, find your hotel at bookitplease.com/hotels.

July is also one of the busiest months in the sporting calendar, with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 3 – 5 July, the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest on 24 – 26 July, and the FIFA World Cup knockout stages running through to the final on 19 July. If you are already planning a trip around the festivals, it is worth checking what else is happening in the city while you are there. Live sport tickets are searchable and bookable on Book It Please alongside your hotel - find events at bookitplease.com/sports.

Book It Please is a proud sponsor of the London Indian Film Festival, Birmingham Indian Film Festival, and Manchester Indian Film Festival 2026.