Central Scotland Documentary Festival

Central Scotland Documentary Festival 2026

The Central Scotland Documentary Festival returns from Thursday 5 - Monday 9 November 2026, bringing five days of bold storytelling, powerful conversations and unforgettable non-fiction cinema to audiences across the region.

CSDF celebrates real stories and radical voices - championing filmmakers who challenge perspectives, amplify underrepresented experiences and explore the world with honesty and imagination. From intimate character studies to urgent investigative features, the festival showcases documentary in all its forms, connecting audiences with stories that matter.

Opening and closing films announced

We’re delighted to announce the opening and closing films for CSDF2026, with two powerful documentaries set to bookend this year’s festival.

Opening: Douglas Gordon by Douglas Gordon

The festival will open with Douglas Gordon by Douglas Gordon, an intimate and visually striking portrait of the celebrated Scottish artist, offering a fascinating insight into Gordon’s life and work, blurring the boundaries between documentary, art and personal reflection.

Closing: We, The Hated

Bringing the festival to a close is We, The Hated, a powerful documentary exploring the people behind the Just Stop Oil protest movement.

Going beyond the headlines, the film follows those taking direct action and examines the personal consequences of protest, while asking challenging questions about power, democracy and the right to dissent. It offers an intimate look at the people involved in one of the UK's most controversial protest movements.

Special Screening: 1 IN 2

We’re delighted to welcome David Nicholas Wilkinson’s 1 IN 2 to this year’s festival.

This special screening will raise funds for Maggie’s, with all proceeds donated to the charity to support the vital work they do for people with cancer and their families.

1 IN 2 joins an exciting programme of documentary films exploring the people, stories and issues that shape our world.

The full Central Scotland Documentary Festival 2026 programme will be revealed on Monday 14 September at 10am.