Bath Film Festival runs for ten days in October, usually in the 16-25 window, and yes, it's worth going if you like discovering films you wouldn't otherwise find. Now in its 36th year, it brings together previews, award-winning international cinema, documentaries and filmmaker Q&As across venues throughout the city, plus the IMDb Awards for emerging talent.
When is it
The festival runs for ten days each October. In 2026 it ran from 16 to 25 October. Exact dates shift slightly year to year, so check FilmBath's own site closer to the time rather than assuming the same dates repeat exactly, though mid-to-late October is a safe bet to pencil in.
What you actually get
This isn't just a week of screenings in one cinema. Bath Film Festival pairs film with the city itself: major previews and international cinema alongside documentaries, special events, filmmaker Q&As, industry talks, and the IMDb Awards, which have run since 2012 and offer up to £7,000 in prizes for emerging filmmakers, with winning shorts and scripts showcased at the festival itself. Screenings happen across Bath's cinemas as well as in heritage venues around the city, often paired with live music, food or talks rather than a straight sit-down screening.
Who runs it
The festival is organised by FilmBath, a Bath-based organisation that also runs year-round monthly film nights outside of festival week. If you become a FilmBath supporter, the perks include a free ticket to the first film night of the year, 25% off monthly film night tickets, priority booking for the festival itself, and invitations to launch parties and the awards evening.
Is it worth going to
If you want blockbuster-only cinema, this isn't that. It's built for people who like discovering independent voices, international perspectives and South West talent, and who don't mind that a chunk of the programme is documentaries and shorts rather than big studio previews. The venue variety is the real draw: watching a film paired with live music or in a heritage space you wouldn't otherwise get into is a genuinely different night out from a normal trip to the cinema. For a broader sense of what else is on in the city that month, see our what's on in Bath guide.
Booking tickets
Tickets are booked through the Bath Box Office rather than directly from FilmBath, and individual screenings and events are priced separately rather than as one festival pass, so expect a programme of bookable sessions rather than a single all-access ticket. Popular Q&A events and preview screenings can sell out, so if there's a specific filmmaker or title you want to see, book as soon as the programme goes live rather than waiting.
Where to stay and eat around it
Festival venues are spread around the city centre, so staying centrally makes hopping between screenings easier; our where to stay in Bath guide covers the best areas for a short stay. If you're building an evening around a screening, our restaurants in Bath guide has options near the main venues.