We are excited and proud to invite you to experience our 2026 film festival.

Every year we call upon UK and international filmmakers to submit their latest shorts, micro shorts and features across a range of genres, including drama, experimental film, comedy, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, animation, dance, music video and documentary. The festival programme is based on films we have selected and curated from this year’s submissions.

The in-person festival takes place in High Wycombe in the UK from Thursday 16th April until Saturday 25th April. Here are details of where you can see the films.

Now is a good time to explore the programme and get your tickets!

Most of the short films will also be available online along with a few extra feature films from 16th April to 2nd May. As before, we are pleased to be partnering with eoFlix this year to deliver our virtual festival.

Click on the brochure below for more information and the buttons to secure your tickets. We cannot wait to share this year’s wonderful selection of films with you!

SUBMIT NOW via Film Freeway.

    • Films must have been completed after 1st January 2025.
    • Entries will be accepted until 2nd January 2026.

coming soon!

fisheye international film festival 2026 will run from 16th to 25th April in person and until 2nd May online. Save the dates!

16th April: Opening night – Futures Forum celebration. Festival launch and film screening
17th April: Open Mic film night at the Wycombe Arts Centre. Bring your films to share
18th April: Show Off Your Shorts! Fisheye Fusion (the ‘mixology’ of arts and film)
19th April: Documentary films
22nd April: Online filmmakers forum
23rd April: Feature film night
24th April: Friday night films / Social evening / Welcome event
25th April: Finale screenings and Gala Awards night

The festival calendar will be live shortly, but for now find out more details using the button below:

fisheye film festival 2026

Fisheye is an independently run film festival based in High Wycombe, a town halfway between London and Oxford in the UK.

Named after the ‘fisheye’ lens, designed to capture an all-round view, it is a serious UK platform for independent filmmakers – built on rigorous curation, international reach and meaningful industry connection – while remaining deeply rooted in its local community. Our outlook has been both UK and international from the start but from now on Fisheye is adding ‘International’ to its title, acknowledging the central role the competition films play in the festival programme.

Show Off Your Shorts! – Filmmakers Q&A with Mark and Jamie
Courtesy of Neil Marshment Photography

The festival, held annually in April, is not exclusive to industry or film creatives and welcomes everyone. That said, some films have mature content, and the programme is aimed largely at an audience aged over 18 years. Each year we invite our local audience to “experience the bigger picture” and discover a world of new films.

We also encourage as many filmmakers as possible to experience our festival, taking part in online discussions as well as attending in-person events. Meeting the creators and hearing their stories and aspirations is as important to us as celebrating the films.

The films we select for screening meet a high standard and the best ones are put forward to an independent jury to decide which films are to win the coveted Fisheye International Film Awards each year.

Festival Diary

april, 2026

16apr(apr 16)12:00 am02may(may 2)11:59 pmFEATURE FILMS EXCLUSIVEOnline Film Screening: FEATURE FILMS EXCLUSIVE

16apr7:00 pmFISHEYE 2026 OPENING NIGHTALL THAT WE ARE – the journey to acceptance

17apr5:00 pmA LIGHT IN THE DARKNESSFilm Screening: WWII documentary

17apr7:00 pm9:30 pmSocial 'OPEN MIC' Film ScreeningCome and share your films at Wycombe Arts Centre (HP11 2PU)

17apr7:30 pm9:30 pmTHE WILL TO SUCCEEDFilm screening: Two tales of talent and determination

18apr11:30 am1:30 pmShow Off Your Shorts!Filmmakers share their films and stories; a fun Q&A with Mark and Jamie.

18apr2:30 pm9:30 pmFISHEYE FUSIONA creative fusion of arts and film

19apr10:30 am12:00 pmCONTEMPORARY ANACHRONISMFilm screening: Highlighting traditional ways of life preserved in our modern age.

19apr12:30 pm4:00 pmFAMILY HISTORYFilm screening: Family members trying to understand more about deceased relatives from the WWII era

19apr4:30 pm6:30 pmCOMMUNICATION SUPERPOWERFilm screening: Exploring the spoken and the unspoken.

19apr7:30 pm9:30 pmABSURD PERSON SINGULARFilm screening: Are things as they seem in life and art?

23apr7:00 pm9:45 pmfisheye FUTURESFilm screening: Emerging filmmakers gather to screen and discuss their work

24apr7:30 pmON LIFE'S JOURNEYFilm screening: The challenges we humans face.

25apr10:30 am12:30 pmDREAMS FULFILLED?Film screening: Choice or destiny? Finding ourselves in the chaos before it's too late.

25apr1:30 pm3:30 pmPIVOTAL MOMENTSFilm screening: When events hang in the balance.

25apr4:30 pm6:30 pmTHE LENGTHS WE GO TOFilm screening: A medley of light and dark stories; insights and commentary on life in our time.

25apr8:00 pm10:30 pmFESTIVAL FINALEFilm screening and GALA AWARDS NIGHT.

frequently asked questions

We are an independently run film festival showcasing the latest creative exploits of local, UK and international filmmakers, their films ranging from 30 seconds to feature length, and spanning a variety of genres. See our about page more information on the festival.

Whatever style of film takes your fancy – there is bound to be something for you.

Each year our submissions are specially selected and curated from competition entries and must meet a high standard to qualify for our screenings and awards. The best ones are put forward to an independent jury of experts, who decide which films are to win the coveted Fisheye International Film Awards this year.

For more information on the film competition, click here.

We welcome everyone to come and enjoy the festival. It is not exclusive to industry or film creatives. (That said, please note that many of the films, unless advertised otherwise, are not for younger family members.)

So, are you an avid movie watcher? Do you and your friends like to go out to the cinema? Does a day out watching new short films on the big screen sound good to you? Have you ever wanted to learn more about the creation of films behind the scenes? Or maybe you’d like to dress up and have your picture snapped on our iconic hot pink “red carpet” at our Gala Awards night?

Then, the Fisheye International Film Festival might be just what you’re looking for.

We would love to welcome you to High Wycombe to see films and meet us in person. You can also check out the films online. Why not do both?

Visit us in High Wycombe

High Wycombe is an historic market town roughly half-way between London and Oxford. It is surrounded by the picturesque Chiltern Hills and is not far from the River Thames.

Both High Wycombe and Buckinghamshire are recognised for their contributions to the creative industries. We have world renowned film studios, wide-ranging educational opportunities across different disciplines, local theatres and cinemas, and an incredibly culturally diverse community – not to mention notable public figures that have come from our neck of the woods.

Watch High Wycombe in Film for a taster below.

Access to the venues

Brunell Engine Shed

Station Approach, Crendon St, High Wycombe, HP13 6NE.
Opposite High Wycombe station. Car parks nearby.

Wycombe Arts Centre

Desborough Road, HP11 2PU.
Few parking spaces on site. Eden Shopping Centre car park – 6 mins walk.

BNU High Wycombe

Queen Alexandra Road, HP11 2JZ.
Eden Shopping Centre, Wycombe Swan and Riverside car parks – 6 mins walk.

Studio One: use the Gateway Building (big blue block) entrance.

Winter Garden: use the University Main Reception entrance.

Watch the films online

We understand that not everyone is able to attend in person, so we are continuing our partnership with eoFlix to provide a user-friendly online platform for movie fans and industry professionals.

During the festival the film catalogue can be accessed from the comfort of your own home. All you need to do is sign up with your email address for a ticket or pass, then explore at your leisure!

stay in touch…

Get festival updates sent straight to your inbox by subscribing to our mailing list. Simply send us your name and email below and we’ll do the rest!

Alternatively if you have any questions, would like any further info, or would just like to say “hi”, then send us a message using our contact form.

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sponsors

We would like to thank all our sponsors for their support of the Fisheye Film Festival:

fisheye 2026 sponsors

fisheye founder sponsors

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