Date: Friday 19th June 2026

Time: 19:00 – 22:00

Location: Main Auditorium

Come join us on the 19th June to celebrate the launch of Cinewave 2026 with our most prestigious event of the year. We begin the evening with drinks, followed by the exclusive premiere of The Great Ascent. It’s the perfect opportunity to make some friends for the rest of the festival and make small talk with prestigious directors.

Date: Saturday 20th June 2026

Time: 14:00 – 16:30

Location: Screen 2

As part of our commitment to promoting up and coming talent, we will be premiering eight short films made by local directors from the Essex area. With a mix of different genres ranging from comedy to horror, there is bound to be something for everyone. The directors will also be present to introduce their films, answer questions, and share their experiences.

Date: Saturday 20th June 2026

Time: 18:00 – 19:30

Location: Studio A

On the 20th of June, we are hosting a rare opportunity to talk face-to-face with big directors in the industry of film and ask them questions. The directors will be sharing their experiences and hardships throughout their careers, but also their secrets to success. Don’t miss the opportunity.

Date: Sunday 21st June 2026
Time: 10:00 – 13:00
Location: Main Hall

The Film-Making workshop will involve a variety of inclusive tasks including taking on the roles of actors, directors and camera men. The workshop will be a hands-on experience particularly useful to those looking to get an idea of the world of work within the film industry, but also just a fun experience for anyone involved.

Date: Sunday 21st June 2026
Time: 20:00
Location: Main Auditorium

Be one of the first audiences globally to experience this year’s most anticipated film. The Abandonment, produced by Sean Gilman, has sparked up global excitement, climbing the popularity ratings. The premiere will start with a talk from Sean Gilman and will end with a short Q&A.

Date: Monday 22nd June 2026
Time: 18:00 – 23:00
Location: Screen 1

Enjoy a relaxed evening at our first wave of events with a late-night comedy movie marathon, premiering all of the most anticipated comedy movies of the year before they release in cinemas. This exclusive viewing will include unlimited free popcorn and beverages.

Date: June 2024
Location: Main Auditorium

The 2024 Silent Sea preview was one of our most successful premieres in the history of Cinewave, with the main auditorium being sold out, and the night finished with talks of The Silent Sea potentially being nominated for a Film of the Year award, which it won later that same year.

Date: June 2025
Location: Studio B

Last year’s directing workshop was a huge hit, especially with all of the local students who joined us. We spent a weekend creating and filming different scenes around Glasgow. It was a great learning experience for everyone, with most of the students saying it helped them visualize how to piece stories together and non-students saying that it was a great time and they would attend again.

Date: June 2025
Winner: “The Lost Key” by Sam Thompson (Age 17)

Since we introduced the Junior Director Award in 2017, it has been a pleasure every time to give it out. It’s all about celebrating young talent, helping them get the attention and recognition they deserve, typically helping young individuals in the industry to progress in their careers. We were happy to announce that the 2025 award went to Sam Thompson for his work on The Lost Key.

Date: June 2025
Guest: Emily Blunt

This year offered an unusual opportunity for an actor Q&A. Joined by Emily Blunt, the discussion covered a wide range of interesting topics from playing out scenes to character development, helping to give guests an insight into the world of theatre.

Date: June 2025
Films Screened: Hereditary, The Thing, Get Out

The late-night horror movie marathon was a great success; all guests who attended loved it, a night full of scares and thrills. It featured a selection of 3 horror movies that kept the audience on the edge of their seats until the early hours of the morning.

Date: July 2025
Location: Main Auditorium

The 2025 festival ended with an awards ceremony and a final party before everyone parted ways. The guests loved it, and it allowed them to talk to some of their idols and inspirations one last time, marking the end of the 2025 festival.