The fourth annual Activists Without Borders Film Festival (AWBFF) brought filmmakers, activists and community leaders together in Reading on 10-11 October for a weekend of powerful films and discussions on human rights, social justice, climate change and conflict.

Held at The Pavilion and Reading Biscuit Factory Cinema, the festival screened 23 films across six programmes: Changing Perspectives, Memory & Resistance, Climate & Survival, Humanity in Action, Voices for Justice, and Conflict & Survival.

The programme featured short and feature-length documentaries and dramas from filmmakers around the world. Each screening was followed by a discussion, giving audiences the opportunity to hear directly from filmmakers and explore the issues raised by their work.

Films from around the world

This year, the festival received just over 200 submissions from 70 countries around the world. The selected programme brought together stories addressing human rights violations, environmental challenges, conflict, displacement and other urgent social issues.

Filmmakers travelled to Reading from Romania, Ireland, Australia, Spain, Brazil, Canada, Austria and the United States, alongside filmmakers from across the UK. Hundreds of people attended over the weekend, including local residents, activists, filmmakers, students and members of the wider community.

Celebrating filmmakers and social impact

The festival concluded on Sunday with the AWBFF 2026 Awards Ceremony, celebrating filmmakers whose work engages with important social, environmental and human rights issues. Alongside the main competitive categories, the festival presented Social Impact Awards, recognising films that raise awareness and encourage meaningful change. A total of 20 filmmakers received awards in person at this year’s festival.

The Best Documentary Award was presented to Lifeline: The War on UNRWA, a film whose executive producers were also involved in the Academy Award-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab. The documentary examines the work of UNRWA, the United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees, amid funding cuts and politically motivated attacks.

The film was screened alongside Kim: The Long Way Home, a documentary produced by the British Red Cross, follows Kim and her family’s escape from war-torn Vietnam to Britain in the 1980s, exploring how exile and hostility shaped a lifelong commitment to justice and compassion. Together, the films prompted discussions about humanity in action across borders and generations, and the importance of supporting those working to help others.

A Social Impact Award was also presented to Brazilian journalist Dom Phillips’s wife, Alessandra Sampaio, in recognition of the story behind Missing in the Amazon: The Search for Dom and Bruno, directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker James Rogan, who attended the festival. The documentary explores the disappearance of Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon, and the efforts of their loved ones to uncover the truth. Their search for answers helped inspire a global movement for justice and brought renewed attention to the dangers facing those who defend the Amazon and its Indigenous communities.

 The Best Animation Award went to All We Have, by Palestinian filmmakers Mahmoud Ghalwa and Amer Hilehal, while the Best Short Drama Award was presented to Nur, a film from the Democratic Republic of the Congo produced by Bridgeway Foundation.

The programme also featured films exploring homelessness and poverty in the UK, deforestation in the Amazon, the experiences of the Tigrayan community and pressing issues affecting communities around the world.

The awards ceremony was attended by Amjad Tarar, Deputy Mayor of Reading Borough Council; Shweta Ghosh, Lecturer in Screen Practices and Industries at the University of Reading; and local community leaders, activists, filmmakers and members of the film industry.

Supporting film as a catalyst for change

AWBFF 2026 was organised by Activists Without Borders, with support from Film Hub South East and International Youth Council. The festival also received support from the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funds from the National Lottery, helping bring the festival and its films to wider audiences.

Through its screenings, awards and filmmaker discussions, the festival created a space for audiences to engage with issues that are often complex, challenging or overlooked, while encouraging dialogue across communities and borders.

Festival Director Baazir Kaleelur Rahman said:

“Throughout history, films have changed policies, shifted perspectives and inspired action across the world. At Activists Without Borders Film Festival, we believe in the power of cinema to amplify global issues, give a voice to the unheard and turn stories into catalysts for meaningful change.”

The festival continues to provide a platform for filmmakers who use cinema to document injustice, share lived experiences and inspire audiences to engage with the issues shaping our world.

Looking ahead to 2027

Submissions for the 2027 Activists Without Borders Film Festival will open in January 2027. Filmmakers from around the world will be invited to submit work exploring human rights, social justice, environmental issues, conflict and other subjects that can contribute to meaningful public discussion.

For the full list of selected films, award winners and photographs from the 2026 festival, visit: https://activistswithoutborders.org.uk/film-festival-2026/

Wasing Estate, one of the UK’s most picturesque rural estates, is delighted to announce the return of its annual ‘Pumpkins & Woodland Trail’ event this autumn, open on selected dates from 16th-31st October. This charming seasonal experience offers families the perfect opportunity to embrace the beauty of autumn, right on their doorstep, with enchanting woodland trails, delicious seasonal treats and stunning countryside views – so get your wellies ready!

Nestled in the heart of Berkshire, Wasing Estate invites visitors to explore its magical woodland trail, thoughtfully designed for little ones and filled with plenty of picture-perfect moments for the whole family. Spot woodland creatures inspired by those found on the estate, visit the peaceful area of reflection to make a wish at the wishing well and light a candle for a loved one, before exploring the mysterious Witch’s Apothecary.

Leafy pathways lead to Wasing’s rustic pumpkin patch, where a charming fairytale pumpkin carriage awaits. After enjoying the scenic trail with plenty to spot along the way, guests can make their way to the pumpkin field – wheelbarrow in hand! – to pick their perfect pumpkin.

Once the pumpkin-picking is done, visitors can head to the cosy stretch tent to choose from a wide selection of specialty pumpkins to complement their Jack O’Lantern, before tucking into delicious seasonal treats. From Wasing organic beef pasties and sausage rolls to warming pumpkin soup, the menu showcases the very best of Wasing’s estate-to-plate ethos, using organic beef reared on the estate. Crêpes, doughnuts and pizzas will also be on offer – the perfect way to round off an autumnal day out before heading home to carve their perfect pumpkin.

Faith Knight, Head of Communications at Wasing, says:

“We’re delighted to welcome visitors back to Wasing this October for the sixth year of our Pumpkin event. It’s become a much-loved autumn tradition for local families, and we love seeing visitors return each year to enjoy the beauty of the estate, pick their perfect pumpkin and create special memories in nature”

Rooted in Wasing’s ethos of Deep Connection – to self, to one another and to the natural world – this much–loved event invites families to slow down, reconnect and create lasting memories in the heart of nature. Fresh from being named the UK’s Most Desirable Venue by Bridebook, Wasing has become the destination for meaningful experiences in nature, offering memorable moments that celebrate the beauty of the estate throughout the seasons.

Tickets are available to purchase via: http://www.wasing.co.uk/pumpkins

2026 Ticket prices:

£6.50 for ages 2+ on weekdays and £7.50 for ages 2+ on weekends. Under 2s free but still require a ticket.

Opening Dates:

16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th & 31st October 2026. Please select your chosen arrival time when booking tickets.

Further information:

Located @ Wasing Pick Your Own Pumpkins, Wasing Lane, Aldermaston, RG7 4LZ

More information @ www.wasing.co.uk/pumpkins

Follow Wasing Estate on Facebook & Instagram @Wasing1759

There is something about Reading Festival that you simply cannot replicate elsewhere. Every year, thousands of music fans descend on Richfield Avenue knowing that they are in for a weekend of huge performances, packed crowds, new discoveries and, almost certainly, some questionable weather. Reading 2026 was no different.

Across the weekend, the festival once again offered a huge variety of music, from rock and indie to rap, pop and electronic music. With major names including Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., Dave, RAYE, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status, there was plenty to keep the crowds moving from the opening acts through to the headline performances.

For us, one of the standout moments came from Charli XCX. Following the enormous cultural impact of her Brat era, it would have been easy to simply recreate that formula, but she chose to do something very different. Her performance was darker, more theatrical and heavily influenced by the sound and aesthetic of her latest work. A live band and army of dancers gave the set a completely different feel, while tracks such as 360, Von Dutch and Guess ensured that the Brat faithful still had plenty to scream along to.

There was also a reminder that Reading is a festival where you can stumble across something completely unexpected. Royal Blood surprised fans with a secret set at The Gallery, turning the tent into one of the liveliest places on site. Moments like this are part of what makes a festival special — you can plan your entire weekend around a timetable and still end up talking about something you never expected to see.

The weather, naturally, had its own plans. Rain arrived during the weekend and quickly transformed sections of the site into the familiar mixture of mud and wellies that British festival-goers know all too well. Rather than killing the atmosphere, it became part of the experience. Fans carried on dancing, artists played through the conditions and the festival carried on regardless.

Away from the biggest stages, there was plenty to discover. Geese, Declan McKenna, James Marriott, Skye Newman and Villanelle were among the artists providing some of the alternative sounds across the site, while the festival continued to give younger and emerging performers an opportunity to play to a much larger audience.

And that is ultimately what keeps Reading relevant. It isn’t simply about the headline acts. It’s about discovering an artist you hadn’t heard before, arriving at a stage because you have heard a great song from somewhere, bumping into friends in the crowd, getting completely soaked and still refusing to leave, or finding yourself watching a surprise performance that wasn’t even on your original plan.

Reading Festival 2026 delivered all of that. It was big, loud, unpredictable and occasionally very muddy — but above all, it was fun. And isn’t that exactly what a summer festival should be?