Women Without Borders Film Festival returns to London for its 2026 edition with a landmark short films day at Castle Cinema, Hackney. Across two separately ticketed blocks, we present nine extraordinary short films by female and female-identifying filmmakers from around the world — spanning documentary, fiction, animation and everything in between. The day closes with a panel discussion bringing the filmmakers together for a broader conversation about female storytelling and what it means to have your work seen. A celebration of cinema, community and the voices that deserve to be heard.
This first block features five short films exploring identity, memory, transition and the worlds we build to make sense of ourselves. Screening: You Can Call Me Lou · Super Afghan Gym · Scope · The Removed Running time approximately 60 minutes, followed by a Q&A with the directors.

Women Without Borders Film Festival returns to London for its 2026 edition with a landmark short films day at Castle Cinema, Hackney. Across two separately ticketed blocks, we present nine extraordinary short films by female and female-identifying filmmakers from around the world — spanning documentary, fiction, animation and everything in between. The day closes with a panel discussion bringing the filmmakers together for a broader conversation about female storytelling and what it means to have your work seen. A celebration of cinema, community and the voices that deserve to be heard.
This second block brings together four short films united by their extraordinary visual language and emotional depth — stories of girlhood, grief, sisterhood and the strength found in water. Screening: Beauty Sleep · In the Clouds · Beyond Silence · Swim Sistas. Running time approximately 55 minutes, followed by a Q&A with the directors.