Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews has, earlier this week, revealed details of the line-up for the fifth edition of the festival, taking place April 17 – 19 2026.
Produced by the Byre Theatre at the University of St Andrews and founded in partnership with the Russo Brothers’ independent studio AGBO, the boutique festival has quickly established itself as a distinctive meeting point for filmmakers, artists and audiences.
Sands 26 celebrates storytelling as a tool for reflection, connection, and conversation. Across three days, the festival showcases films from around the world, alongside intimate talks and masterclasses with acclaimed filmmakers, composers, producers, and writers.
A major highlight of this year’s programme is An Afternoon with Craig Armstrong, a special live conversation and music event, hosted by Edith Bowman, with the celebrated composer behind iconic scores for Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, and The Great Gatsby. The event will offer audiences a rare opportunity to hear Armstrong reflect on his creative process and the role of music in cinematic storytelling. The event will also feature live music performed on stage by St Andrews music scholars and associate teachers, offering a unique chance to hear elements of his work brought to life in the theatre.
This year’s film programme brings together a diverse group of international filmmakers. Highlights include Tony Benna’s poignant, award-winning documentary André Is an Idiot, a moving and often humorous reflection on life and mortality; Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni’s Academy Award-nominated Cutting Through Rocks, an intimate portrait of a woman quietly challenging tradition in a conservative Iranian village; and Zamo Mkhwanazi’s Laundry (Uhlanjululo), a striking portrait of family life in apartheid-era Johannesburg noted for its evocative visual style.
Also screening is Bart Schrijver’s reflective drama The North, tracing a decade-long friendship against the landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, and Chloé Robichaud’s Two Women (Deux femmes en or), an intimate,candid and hilarious exploration of friendship, motherhood and personal freedom in contemporary Montreal.
The festival will close with Rohan Kanawade’s Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda), a quiet and tender exploration of love, grief and expectation in rural India.
The festival’s signature “This Much I Know…” series returns, offering audiences the opportunity to hear directly from leading figures in the film industry. This year’s guests include independent producer John Sloss, founder and CEO of Cinetic, known for championing groundbreaking cinema; AGBO Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot, who will share insights into developing global film projects and championing emerging voices; and Oscar and BAFTA-winning production designer James Price, discussing the craft behind some of contemporary cinema’s most visually distinctive films. Price’s remarkable work includes the fantastical Victorian landscapes of Poor Things, which earned him both an Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Production Design, as well as acclaimed projects such as Bugonia, The Iron Claw, Speak No Evil and The Ipcress File.
Pioneering feminist scholar and filmmaker Laura Mulvey will introduce a screening of the rarely seen British independent classic Crystal Gazing,followed by an extended Q&A with Professor Glyn Davis.
Sands founder, Joe Russo, will also return to the stage alongside Angela Russo-Otstot for Telling Stories, a wide-ranging conversation about filmmaking, studio development and the evolving landscape of global storytelling.
Another major conversation will see acclaimed screenwriter Charlie Kaufman join poet Eva H.D. for Moving Pictures: The Poetry of Cinema and Vice Versa, exploring the relationship between film, poetry and the creative unconscious.
The festival opens on Friday morning withConversations on Creativity in the Digital Age, a curated programme of talks exploring how artificial intelligence, social media and emerging technologies are reshaping creative practice. The event will bring together students and industry professionals for a free programme of debate and exchange.
Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, Sands continues to build on the remarkable roster of artists who have appeared at the festival since its launch, including Stanley Tucci, composer Alan Silvestri, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, Dame Joanna Lumley and AGBO partner, Donald Mustard, alongside many other influential voices from across film, music and interactive storytelling. This year, festival screenings are expanding to T2 Social – the historic St. Andrews cinema space and new venture from Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods.
Festival Director Ania Trzebiatowska said: “Sands is a celebration of storytelling and its power to bring people into shared emotional and imaginative spaces… creating moments of connection where films become catalysts for conversation, understanding, and inspiration.”
Angela Russo-Otstot, Producer/Chief Creative Officer at AGBO, added: “Being part of Sands has been a privilege. What began as an idea has grown into a distinctive festival in a remarkable place – St Andrews – where artists, musicians, and thinkers come together to explore what’s next.”
Joe Russo said: “As we reach our fifth edition, I’m struck by the sense of intention, the care in programming, and the generosity of the artists. I’m excited to see where the conversations lead from here.”
