Central Scotland Documentary Festival
Volunteer with us!
We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to help bring this year’s Central Scotland Documentary Festival to life. As part of the CSDF volunteer team, you’ll be right at the heart of the festival - meeting audiences, supporting screenings and events, and helping us create a brilliant atmosphere across the weekend. No previous experience is needed - just enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in.
Applications are open until Wed 14 Oct, 12 Noon.
Screenings and Events
#CSDF26 takes place from Thu 5 - Mon 9 Nov. Book your tickets and discover screenings, special events, Doc | Dinner | Drink and more here.
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Festival Passes
Want to take in as much of #CSDF26 as possible? Why not purchase one of our festival passes and see as many films across the festival as you like.
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Industry Sessions and Events
We invite visiting filmmakers and industry professionals to join us for a series of events designed to help you meet, connect and share experiences with others attending the festival.
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Our Awards
Every year, the Central Scotland Documentary Festival celebrates the filmmakers and films that make documentaries so powerful, surprising and important.
More informationCentral 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.