Cornwall Film Festival runs across November 2026, with the main Preview Week at The Poly in Falmouth from 17 to 23 November. The programme spans around 60 short films across seven competitive categories, plus feature screenings, panel discussions, archive film presentations, and education workshops in schools and community venues. It is Cornwall’s main film festival and has been running since 2004.
The Poly, the festival’s Falmouth hub, is the UK’s oldest working polytechnic institution, founded in 1833. Its auditorium hosts the preview week screenings, Q&As with directors, and the short film awards evening. Other venues across Cornwall host additional screenings throughout November, typically including Truro’s Plaza Cinema, Penzance’s Savoy, and community spaces in St Just, Bude, and Penryn.
What to expect
The Short Film Competition is the festival’s backbone, with around 60 short films selected from hundreds of international submissions. Each screening block focuses on a theme - documentary, animation, Cornish voices, world cinema, and student work. Feature screenings include UK premieres and archive presentations, often with a Cornish or maritime angle given Falmouth’s heritage.
Panel discussions and filmmaker Q&As run alongside the screenings, particularly during the Preview Week in Falmouth. The festival works closely with Falmouth University’s MA Feature Filmmaking programme, so emerging filmmaker showcases are a regular feature.
Tickets
Individual screening tickets run GBP 7 to 10, with festival passes available for multi-day access. The awards evening and some premieres sell out early. The FilmFreeway page and the festival’s own site publish the detailed schedule and booking information in early autumn.
Getting there
The Poly is at 24 Church Street in central Falmouth, a 5-minute walk from Falmouth Town station on the Maritime Line from Truro. The Dell and Quarry car parks are both within 5 minutes. For venues elsewhere in Cornwall, check each individual screening listing for location.
Where to stay
Falmouth is the main base for the festival. 1 Florence Place sleeps 6 near the town centre. 16 Arwenack Street sleeps 8 right in the heart of the historic quarter. 5 Tregenna Court sleeps 4 in a quieter part of town. Browse all places to stay in Falmouth for more options.
Before you go
- The Poly auditorium seats 200 - popular screenings sell out
- Screening blocks typically run 90 minutes with an interval
- The festival bar at The Poly stays open between films
- Dress code is informal, though the awards evening is smart casual
Note: Cornwall Film Festival runs annually through November. The Preview Week at The Poly Falmouth is the main Falmouth-based segment; screenings at other venues happen throughout the month. Full schedule published in early October at the festival’s official site.
