Black and white image of a group of people in a pub. A man sitting close to us is drinking a pint of beer.

UNESCO City of Film

Celebrate cinema in Bradford, the world’s first UNESCO City of Film.

UNESCO City of FilmIn developmentUpcoming film screenings

In 2009 Bradford was named the world's first ever UNESCO City of Film, recognising Bradford's rich film heritage. Find out how we're celebrating Bradford's cinema history in 2025 – and learn we’re developing new talent across the district.

Bradford District is steeped in cinematic history. From the sweeping vistas of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, backdrop to countless films and TV dramas, to the Gothic architecture of Undercliffe Cemetery in Billy Liar and the streets of Holme Wood in Ali & Ava, our district has played a key role in cinema history – and in 2009, Bradford became the first ever UNESCO City of Film.

We’re building on Bradford’s treasured movie heritage by supporting a wealth of new productions in 2025. Find out more about the projects we’re helping bring to life – and look out for updates on screenings near you.

 

UNESCO City of Film

Famous for its rich film heritage, inspirational filming locations and many celebrations of the moving image, Bradford became the first UNESCO City of Film in 2009.

Find out more about what this title means for Bradford.

Find out more
A logo that reads Bradford City of Film, a UNESCO creative city

Plan a visit

Thinking of visiting Bradford, the first ever UNESCO City of Film?

Head to our Visit page to get insider tips for your trip to Bradford District, including food and drink, days out, and places to stay.

There’s never been a better time to visit Bradford.

Visit Bradford

In development

Discover these new homegrown productions – all supported by Bradford 2025.

Black and white image of a group of people in a pub. A man sitting close to us is drinking a pint of beer.

The Local (working title)

Kim Hopkins

Jacobs Well is a Bradford landmark, but it’s not one you’ll find in any guidebook. Fast approaching its 200th birthday, this storied city-centre pub has watched Bradford change and grow around it. But time stands still in the Well, as it does in all the best pubs, and the regulars aren’t in any hurry to face the future…

A Bunch of Amateurs, Kim Hopkins’ previous film, followed the members of Bradford Movie Makers as they fought to keep their cherished club from collapse. Now, Hopkins is turning her lens to another band of Bradfordians outside the mainstream in a film that pays affectionate tribute to community, humanity and the great British pub.

The Local is supported by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. The film is currently in development – check back next year for news of screenings in Bradford and beyond.

A black and white image of a man in a car. He wears a determined expression.

The Ceremony

Jack King

Bradford 2025 is hugely proud to have supported the debut feature by Bradford-born writer–director Jack King. The Ceremony is a powerfully atmospheric road drama that received its world premiere in August 2024 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival – where it won the inaugural Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence.

When young asylum-seeker Nassar (Mo’min Swaitat) commits suicide on car wash grounds, two migrant workers (Tudor Cucu-Dumitrescu and Erdal Yıldız) agree to bury his body in the nearby hills. Conflicted by their different opinions on the man’s death, the two men head out on a journey like no other – a spiritual reckoning with their lives, with each other and with the mystery of the landscape.

Beautifully shot in black-and-white, The Ceremony is set for screenings in Bradford and beyond during 2025. Check back for more details – and visit ceremonyfilm.co.uk.

A person wearing a large powdered wig covered in pearls. They wear white make up and hold a fan, giving us a sultry look.

Flesh and Flamingos (working title)

Dominic Leclerc

Bradford 2025 is supporting the first feature film by Dominic Leclerc, the Bradford-born and Bradford-based director of Sex Education, Skins, The Teacher and other acclaimed TV dramas. Flesh and Flamingos reveals the hidden history of northern queer culture through the photographers who bravely caught it on camera – particularly the pioneering work of Yorkshire photographer Stuart Linden Rhodes, who celebrated northern queer life in all its glory.

Persecuted, demonised, criminalised – the ’80s and ’90s was a turbulent era for the UK’s gay community. Homophobia was not only prevalent across society: it was also legitimised by Section 28, government legislation to outlaw the so-called ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local councils. The queer community faced constant discrimination – but they also faced it down with defiance, solidarity and pride.

Flesh and Flamingos sees director Dominic Leclerc explore this world, which shaped him as a young queer man: the prejudice he faced, the community he found, and the photographers whose work documented and celebrated the thrilling northern queer culture that thrived against the odds.

Produced by the BAFTA-nominated, BIFA-winning Ameenah Ayub Allen (Rocks, Ali & Ava, The Arbor), Flesh and Flamingos is scheduled to go into production during 2025 – and we’ll bring you updates as the work progresses.

Writer–Director: Dominic Leclerc
Producer: Ameenah Ayub Allen

Forge Shorts

FORGE Shorts is a collection of new short films created for Bradford 2025 by local filmmakers – selected via an open call and due to premiere in 2025.

Learn more
A photograph of a film set. A person with a camera faces a person with a film clapper board. Two people sit behind them ready to be filmed.

Upcoming film screenings

There are lots of special film events coming up in 2025 – with more to be announced soon.

Part of FILM4 Presents at Pictureville Cinema

BULK [With Ben Wheatley Q&A] (Cert TBC)

Experience the chaos, mystery, and genius of Ben Wheatley’s BULK - one night only at Pictureville

A black and white image of a man in a car. He wears a determined expression.
Part of Epic Yorkshire

The Ceremony [Gala Screening and Q&A]

Jack King

An award-winning debut feature set in Bradford.

Part of Open-Air Cinema

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (12A)

Jamie’s got big dreams, but they aren’t like those of other boys. Part of Open-Air Cinema at Ilkley Lido with Wild Rumpus.

Part of Open-Air Cinema

Sexy Beast (18)

One of the finest British films of the 21st century - part of Open-Air Cinema at Ilkley Lido with Wild Rumpus.

Part of Open-Air Cinema

The Grand Budapest Hotel (15)

Wes Anderson's madcap caper. Part of Open-Air Cinema at Thornton Viaduct with Wild Rumpus.

A behind the scenes image of a film shoot. The camera is in the foreground focussed on two people walking up some stairs.

FORGE Shorts

New films from Bradford writers and directors.

Black and white image of a group of people in a pub. A man sitting close to us is drinking a pint of beer.
Part of UNESCO City of Film

The Local (working title)

Kim Hopkins

Step inside a Bradford landmark…