Festival
Leiden Essay Film Festival
- Date
- Saturday 19 September 2026 - Tuesday 22 September 2026
- Location
- Museum de Lakenhal and Kijkhuis
On 19 September, the second edition of the Leiden Essay Film Festival will open. Following the successful first edition in 2025, which was marked by a vibrant atmosphere and packed cinemas, the fes val has been extended by one day, with screenings featuring live music and film performances added to the programme. The festival will take place through 22 September at Cinema Kijkhuis and Museum De Lakenhal. A total of 44 essay films – features and shorts – from more than 20 countries around the world will be screened. The programme includes recent produc ons by young and emerging filmmakers, as well as prominent classics such as Far from Vietnam, a collective project by Chris Marker, Jean-Luc Godard and others; Thom Andersen’s acclaimed Los Angeles Plays Itself; and A.K.A. Serial Killer by radical Japanese filmmaker Masao Adachi.
Complete programme and tickets
The complete leff programme can be found on leidenessayfilmfes val.com. Tickets can be purchased there and on the website of Cinema Kijkhuis.
What is an essay film?
The essay film is an adventurous genre practised by both arists and scholars. Filmmakers follow their personal curiosity as they ques on phenomena and events, reflecting on them in a thoughtful and idiosyncratic way.