SCENE: Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival, is produced and delivered by CityCo on behalf of Manchester Accommodation BID.
The festival presents a diverse and acclaimed programme of film screenings, industry panels and showcases. SCENE has already built a strong reputation for championing emerging voices in cinema and celebrating Manchester’s on-screen talent. It attracts audiences from across the city, the region, and the UK.
The festival plays an important role in supporting Manchester’s accommodation sector, cultural economy, and creative industries.
Throughout the festival, venues host a vibrant mix of screenings, live events and interactive sessions.
Manchester’s accommodation providers offer exclusive packages, featuring discounts, gifts, cocktails, lobby DJs and special events.
Taking place in August ahead of Manchester Pride, SCENE is promoted through an integrated campaign spanning branding, digital, social media, influencer partnerships, print, outdoor and transport advertising, and PR.
The festival and its promotional campaign are delivered in partnership with a wide network, including Marketing Manchester, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Along with media and industry partners.
2026 Programme Highlights
60 events | 12 venues. Featuring:
- The Traitors
- Russell T Davies
- Caroline Aherne celebration
- Disney+ Rivals
- Heartstopper Forever with creator Alice Oseman
- Stop! That! Train! screening of Ru Paul’s latest comedy
- Kiss & Tell: The I Kissed a Boy/Girl Story
- Ab-Fab-AThon
- Moonlight: 10th Anniversary Screening
- Gillian Anderson in Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma
- Almodovar’s new picture Bitter Christmas
- Tip Toe and It’s A Sin panel conversations and screenings
- TITE showcase
- Iris Prize shorts awards
Full festival calendar
Image Galleries
C. Carl Sudnonik | The Vain Photography
With thank to the host venues: Campfield, COLONY, Cruz 101, CULTPLEX, Factory International, First Street, HOME, KAMPUS, New Century, Treehouse Hotels, Vada Vada.
SCENE is an official partner Fringe event of Manchester Village Pride, raising money for local LGBTQ+ charities.
2025 Programme Highlights
- Channel 4 Presents: An Altogether Different Comedy Night with fresh-from Edinburgh Festival comedians
- 10 Years of Cucumber panel event with Russell T Davies & cast
- In Conversation with World of Wonder (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Party Monster film screening
- In Conversation with Jonathan Harvey and Beautiful Thing film screening
- Waterloo Road: Everyone Welcome panel event
- What It Feels Like For A Girl panel and screening
- A Victoria Wood-A-Thon
2025 Success Stats
- Doubling of attendance v inaugural 2024 event
- 80 pieces of press coverage = 1.87 million reach including pieces in Pink News, Big Issue, Metro
- SCENE paid digital campaign: drove 826,114 Meta impressions
- 7000 festival programmes circulated
- 99% of attendees rated the festival ‘Excellent’.
Instagram.com
C. Chloe Waterhouse | This is Appollo
C. Carl Sudnonik | The Vain Photography
