Event will unveil the biggest and most ambitious Mansfield Town Film Festival yet

Taking place on Friday, July 31, at the Old Town Hall on Mansfield Market Place, the free event will give residents, businesses and supporters an exclusive first look at the festival’s biggest programme yet ahead of its return to Mansfield Palace Theatre from September 25 to 27.

Earlier this year, MTFF became an official British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Qualifying Festival for British Short Films - placing Mansfield alongside some of the UK’s most respected film festivals and firmly on the national map for independent cinema.

The programme launch has been designed as an opportunity for everyone to discover what goes on behind the scenes of Nottinghamshire’s largest film festival and why it has become such an important part of the town’s future.

Guests attending the launch will be the very first to discover the official MTFF26 programme before its wider public release later that evening.

The evening will feature the world premiere of the official MTFF26 festival trailer, exclusive programme announcements, a drinks reception, networking opportunities, and the chance to meet the filmmakers, actors and creatives whose work will be screening in Mansfield this September.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet the volunteers, trustees and leadership team behind the festival, hear directly from some of MTFF’s biggest supporters about why the festival has become such an important cultural asset for Mansfield, and learn how local people can become involved.

For local businesses, the evening will also include details of new opportunities to collaborate with the festival and benefit from the increased footfall it brings into Mansfield town centre throughout festival weekend.

Since launching in 2023, Mansfield Town Film Festival has grown from a grassroots community initiative into Nottinghamshire’s largest film festival, welcoming hundreds of filmmakers, screening more than 350 films and attracting audiences from across the UK while championing working-class, underrepresented and emerging voices.

Behind the scenes, the festival is delivered by a dedicated team of volunteers, trustees and industry professionals who collectively believe that ambitious cultural events can thrive outside major cities.

Jay Martin, Festival Director and chair of Trustees, said: “Three years ago, people asked why Mansfield needed a film festival.

“Today, people are asking how Mansfield became home to one of the country’s newest BIFA-qualifying festivals. That’s an incredible shift, not just for us as an organisation, but for the town itself.

“MTFF isn’t simply about bringing great films to Mansfield. It’s about proving that towns like ours deserve nationally recognised cultural events, creative careers and opportunities every bit as much as our major cities.

“Every filmmaker who visits, every audience member who buys a ticket and every local organisation that gets behind us helps change perceptions of what Mansfield can be.”

“The Programme Launch is our opportunity to open the doors and invite the community behind the curtain. Whether you’ve attended every edition of MTFF or you’ve simply been curious about what all the excitement is about, we’d love you to come along, meet the team, meet the filmmakers, discover this year’s programme and celebrate what has become one of the East Midlands’ fastest-growing cultural success stories.”

“This festival belongs to Mansfield. It’s only here because of the incredible support we’ve received from local people, businesses, volunteers, sponsors and partners over the last three years. As we enter this exciting new chapter, we want the whole community to be part of it.”

The MTFF26 Programme Launch takes place at the Old Town Hall, Market Place, on Friday, July 31, with doors opening from 5.30pm.

Admission is free, but tickets should be reserved in advance.

To book your place, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/mtff26-official-programme-launch-event-tickets-1992388360219.