Jali Film Weekender returns 28 October – 1 November 2026 for our second edition, presenting a five-day celebration of Black, African and diaspora film, extended realities and more. 

This year’s programme theme is Rebellion, which manifests across both cinematic forms and narratives told, as well as who audiences will be introduced to both on and off screen. Our programme probes what it can mean to do things differently; to create work that is unexpected, to journey through lives that do not fit into long established cinematic gazes, and to carefully hold the multiplicities of Black, African and diaspora experiences. 

Rebellion runs through our expansive screen programme, spanning narrative, documentary, animation, experimental and short film, and continues through filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, gatherings and workshops, as well as our Extended Realities (XR) Exhibition of virtual and expanded reality works.

Jali Film Weekender 2026 is supported by the Screen Scotland National Lottery Film Festival & Screening Programme Fund and by Film Hub Scotland (part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery), and other partners.

Check out the full 2026 programme schedule below.