Programme
Four-night festival of Christmas films at the MAC's cinema in Birmingham. Expect festive shorts, workshops and feature films from around the world. Join us on the 26th-29th November 2026.
Festival Passes
Get the most out of the festival with one simple pass.
Master Class & Industry Pass
Access to the Saturday masterclass and industry events, including the networking reception.
VIP All-Access Festival Pass
All-access to every event across the festival — screenings, masterclasses, panels and the closing night.
Pre-festival
Warm up events leading up to the main event.
Saturday 21 Nov 2026
Getting your film ready for the big screen
13:00 – 17:00
Andrew Bala and Anthony Kerr share their expertise on preparing films for cinema screening in this film production workshop.
Main Event
The heart of the festival, a selection of events celebrating the magic of Christmas.
Thursday 26 Nov 2026
Grand Opening Ceremony & Gala
19:00 – 23:00
Red Carpet Reception
Choir Performance
Opening Remarks & Keynote Speech
Opening Night Feature Film
Official Afterparty
Friday 27 Nov 2026
Festival Screenings
19:00 – 23:00
Official Selection Screenings
Settle in for an evening of back-to-back screenings of selected festive movies from our global submissions.
Saturday 28 Nov 2026
Masterclass, Panels & Networking
11:00 – 13:00
Masterclass: From Page to Screen
The Art of Storytelling in Christmas Cinema
14:00 – 16:00
Panel Discussion: The Sound of Christmas
The role of music in festive film, television and digital content
17:00 – 19:00
Industry Panel & Networking
Sponsored by North Finland, followed by an exclusive networking reception
Sunday 29 Nov 2026
Grand Finale & Closing Night
19:00 – 23:00
Live Festive Performance
Official Awards Ceremony
Screening of the Best Christmas Film winner
2027 Festival Announcement
Venue & Travel
MAC Birmingham
Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH, UK.
By Bus
From City Centre: Buses 35, 45, 47, 61, 63 stop on Pershore Road, a short walk from the MAC.
By Train & Tram
Nearby stations: Five Ways, University, Selly Oak. Tram services connect to buses or walking routes toward Cannon Hill Park.
By Air
Birmingham Airport is connected to Birmingham International station via the free AirLink monorail (2 minutes). From there, take a train to Five Ways or University, or connect to a bus toward Cannon Hill Park.
Cycling & Walking
Accessible via National Cycle Route 5 and Rea Valley Cycle Route. The venue is located opposite Edgbaston Cricket Ground inside Cannon Hill Park.
Where to Stay
Visiting from out of town? Book a hotel near MAC Birmingham for the festival dates (26–30 Nov 2026).
Book accommodation