Storytelling & the silver screen | Brighton Book Festival & Brighton Rocks Film Festival
Brighton’s literary scene comes into its own this summer with the return of the Brighton Book Festival, running from 17–21 June. Now in its fifth year, the grassroots festival has built a strong reputation for championing underrepresented voices and creating a space where diverse stories take centre stage.
With a programme spanning author talks, panel discussions, workshops and live performances, the event brings together writers, poets and creatives from across the UK and beyond. Expect everything from discussions on social justice and identity to genre-focused sessions covering horror, romance and crime fiction.
High-profile names such as Zadie Smith feature alongside emerging talent, while dedicated sessions like Writers’ Day offer support and inspiration for those looking to develop their craft. Events take place across central Brighton venues including the Brighthelm Centre and Jubilee Library, reinforcing the festival’s community-driven ethos.
At its core, the festival is about making literature accessible and inclusive, creating a vibrant meeting point for readers and writers alike, and celebrating storytelling in all its forms.
www.brightonbookfestival.co.uk
Alongside the city’s literary celebrations, Brighton’s film culture also plays a key role in the summer festival landscape, most notably through the Brighton Rocks International Film Festival (BRIFF), which takes place from 15–21 June.
As the city’s leading platform for independent cinema, BRIFF showcases a wide range of international and UK films, from emerging filmmakers to more established voices, with screenings and awards across multiple categories.
The festival is part of a broader,
year-round film culture in Brighton that includes events like the Oska Bright Film Festival – a globally recognised platform for films made by or featuring people with learning disabilities; and the wider Brighton Festival, which incorporates film alongside theatre, music and literature each May.
Films will be shown at Dukes at Komedia Picturehouse Cinema, Daltons and The Actors in Kemptown.
Prepare yourselves for a season that celebrates creativity on screen as much as on the page, reinforcing Brighton’s reputation as one of the UK’s most vibrant cultural hubs.
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