Cheltenham International Film Festival – Unplugged
Reimagining the film festival experience
Cheltenham International Film Festival celebrated its seventh edition in 2025 with a bold new strand — Unplugged — taking the magic of cinema directly to audiences in diverse community spaces in and around Cheltenham and neighbouring film-loving towns.
From cinemas and theatres to pubs, church halls, schools, colleges, universities, and even restaurants, Unplugged transformed the festival experience by bringing film to both traditional and unexpected venues. Screenings were enriched by Q&As and live events, creating intimate, shared moments that spark conversation and connection wherever the screen is set.
“Unplugged is about meeting audiences where they are and making film part of the everyday fabric of our communities,” says Festival Director Leslie Sheldon. “It’s a reminder of the joy of watching films together.”
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