Cinelab Film & Digital Presents: straight 8 2026

STRAIGHT 8 brings 25 new Super 8 short films from 11 countries to BFI IMAX - May 23 2026, with Top 8 preview in Cannes May 16 2026

This marks the third year of collaboration between BFI IMAX and Straight 8 exhibiting the smallest film format on the UK’s biggest screen!

The 90-minute show is an array of bold and ambitious cinematic shorts created entirely in camera – each on a single roll of Super 8 film, with no opportunity to edit or undertake any

post-production.

Despite the technical restrictions the global community of Straight 8 entrants have once again achieved a high bar of creativity, with films ranging in genre from comedy to horror, to heartfelt documentary. Expect to see diverse films featuring in-camera visual effects, ambitious one-shotters, hand-crafted set designs and more. A refreshing break from the worlds of digital polish, and AI.

Processed and scanned at world renowned London-based film laboratory, Cinelab Film & Digital (Sentimental Value, Bugonia, Wuthering Heights), and projected in 4K digital the films are

presented to the filmmakers – who will not yet have seen them – in all their glory on a screen 5 times higher than a London bus.

https://vimeo.com/1191885063

This year’s jury comprised an impressive list of filmmakers and industry professionals who were tasked with finalising the Top 25.

Hedda Archbold - Producer (MK3D, Girls On Film)

Joanna Duncombe - Senior Film Programme Consultant: New

Talent Lead, British Council, Freelance curator.

John MacLean - Director (Tornado, Slow West)

Justine Wright - Editor (Locke, Last King of Scotland)

Madeleine Mullett - BFI IMAX Programme Manager

Mark Jenkin - Director (Bait, Rose of Nevada)

Rachel Clark - Director of Photography (I Am Ruth, Finding Emily)

Stuart Brown - BFI Director of Programme and Distribution

“This is one of the purest forms of cinematic expression you can experience today, either participating or simply watching these films, and I’m thrilled to get to be part of the process in some small way.“ Madeleine Mullett - BFI IMAX Programme Manager, and Straight 8 2026 Jury Member

After intense deliberation the jury elevated a selection to the joint top prize: the Top 8 films preview one week earlier on Saturday 16th May at Cinema Olympia in Cannes during the film festival.

The top 8 are:

Aryk! by Ilya Wray - UK / Kazakhstan

Blackbirds by Joey Kaushik - India

Born To Die by Jean Louis & Nya Jonele - USA

Descendant by Lily Blunsom - UK

Flow State by Tristan Copeland, Richard Forsdyke, Daniel

Johnston, Sam Mitchell, Rupert Waring - UK

Kurogo by Yugo Suzuki - Japan

La Salu by Pau Colomina - Spain

Overlooked by Lola Blanc – USA

Be there with the filmmakers when they see their work for the very first time:

Top 8 Preview at Cinema Olympia, 20:30h, Saturday 16 May

RSVP essential at www.straight8.net/2026

The Top 25 at BFI IMAX 11pm on Saturday 23 May

Buy tickets while they last here: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/imax/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=straight-8-2026

Since 2003, Straight 8 has screened the best films from their Super 8 filmmaking competition in Cannes, during the film festival. 2026 marks the 19th time. Straight 8 has held sold out

Top 25 premieres at either BFI Southbank or BFI IMAX for four years in a row.

STRAIGHT 8 2026 is presented by Cinelab Film & Digital, with additional support from Kodak.