Leeds International Film Festival Celebrates Global Cinema with Dazzling Line-up

The 39th Leeds International Film Festival has unveiled a striking and eclectic line-up for its 2025 edition, promising an 18-day celebration of world cinema that bridges arthouse prestige, bold new voices, and cult appeal. Running from 30 October to 16 November, this year’s festival will open with Blue Moon from acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater and close with Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason’s The Love That Remains.

Linklater’s Blue Moon brings together a stellar cast led by Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott in an evocative portrayal of lyricist Lorenz Hart. Described as a reflective exploration of art, friendship and fading fame, the film will launch the festival with a blend of humour, melancholy and musical charm. The closing film, The Love That Remains, marks Pálmason’s follow-up to Godland and offers a tender portrait of a family in transition, told with his signature warmth and visual lyricism.

The festival’s central strand, Constellation, presents a powerful international showcase that includes Jafar Panahi’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident, Lynne Ramsay’s Die, My Love, Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, and Mary Bronstein’s dark comedy If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Linklater also returns with a second film, Nouvelle Vague, further cementing his presence as one of the event’s key creative figures.

British cinema will be strongly represented, with three debut features making an impression: Harry Lighton’s Pillion, Imran Perretta’s Ish, and Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s Dreamers. Local audiences will also see two West Yorkshire-made features, Paul Andrew Williams’s Dragonfly, starring Andrea Riseborough, and Nicholas Hytner’s The Choral with Ralph Fiennes.

Genre enthusiasts can look forward to the Fanomenon section, a cornerstone of LIFF, which will host seven UK premieres in its feature competition and a horror-fuelled all-nighter at Hyde Park Picture House. Highlights include Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia, Paolo Strippoli’s The Holy Boy, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s A Useful Ghost, and Tina Romero’s queer zombie musical Queens of the Dead, which headlines the festival’s legendary Night of the Dead marathon.

Documentary strand Cinema Versa offers a deeply human and environmentally conscious slate, including Werner Herzog’s latest Ghost Elephants, The Shepherd and the Bear from the French Pyrenees, and Celtic Utopia, exploring Ireland’s new generation of folk musicians. Films like Yalla Parkour, about youth resistance in Gaza, and Lowland Kids, documenting American climate refugees, highlight the festival’s continued engagement with global issues.

LIFF Spotlights takes audiences from newly restored gems to thematic retrospectives. T’ang Shushuen’s The Arch and Zeinabu Irene Davis’s Compensation bookend this strand, both presented in 4K restorations. Other highlights include Brazilian cinema showcase Deslocamentos and We Gotta Get Outta This Place, featuring classics like Roman Holiday and Barbara Loden’s Wanda.

Short films remain at the heart of LIFF, with eight competitions offering £8000 in prizes. Yorkshire filmmakers take centre stage through works like Lewis Pashley’s The Caged and The Long Away Game, exploring themes of resilience, community and renewal.

Festival Director Chris Fell described this year’s programme as LIFF’s “most extensive yet”, combining international prestige with local storytelling. With more accessible screenings, community events and free or low-cost ticket options, the festival aims to expand its reach while maintaining its reputation as one of the UK’s most dynamic and inclusive film events.

The Leeds International Film Festival runs from 30 October to 16 November across venues including Hyde Park Picture House, Everyman, Cottage Road Cinema and Vue in The Light. Full programme details and passes are available at leedsfilm.com.