Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews concluded on Sunday [19Apr2026], marking a major milestone with its fifth edition and reaffirming its position as one of the UK’s most distinctive & unique boutique film festivals – where storytelling, in all its forms, sits firmly at the centre.
Opening with Power Ballad, the musical comedy from John Carney starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, the festival began with a celebration of music, creativity and collaboration. The screening was accompanied by a special Q&A with composer Gary Clark, offering audiences insight into the film’s creative process and the integral role of music in shaping narrative.
Across three days in St Andrews, Sands brought together a dynamic mix of filmmakers, artists, students and audiences. Curated by Festival Director Ania Trzebiatowska in collaboration with students from the University of St Andrews, the programme reflected Sands’ ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging talent while fostering meaningful exchange with established voices from across the global industry.
Among the headline events was An Afternoon with Craig Armstrong, where the acclaimed composer joined broadcaster Edith Bowman for an in-depth conversation on his creative process, accompanied by live performances from St Andrews music scholars – a moment that captured the festival’s unique ability to blend disciplines and create immersive, one-off experiences.
The festival also welcomed a series of leading voices from across film and culture, including director and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, who took part in Moving Pictures: The Poetry of Cinema and Vice Versa alongside poet Eva H.D., exploring the intersection of film, poetry and the creative unconscious.
Pioneering film theorist and filmmaker Laura Mulvey introduced a rare screening of her 1982 feature Crystal Gazing, followed by an extended discussion examining the film’s themes and enduring relevance.
Sands co-founder and director, Joe Russo appeared alongside Angela Russo-Otstot for an in-depth conversation on filmmaking, studio development and the evolving landscape of global storytelling, continuing the festival’s close relationship with AGBO and its wider creative community. Joe Russo also teased updates on Avengers: Doomsday and the upcoming Avengers: Endgame re-release on the heels of Marvel’s CinemaCon presentation where the studio debuted the first Doomsday trailer in room with appearances from Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Evans.
The conversation was moderated by Deadline’s editor-at-large Mike Fleming Jr. Fleming has been a champion and partner of Sands for the past five years and was honoured with a special award presentation from AGBO on Saturday night.
Following the conversation, AGBO screened the first episode from global spy series CitadelSeason 2, this was the first audience to see a sneak preview of the new season, starring all-star cast Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Richard Madden, and Stanley Tucci, which will premiere on aPrime Video on May 6th.
The festival’s signature “This Much I Know…” series once again provided audiences with direct access to leading industry expertise, featuring contributors including John Sloss, Marian Koltai-Levine (Chief Marketing Officer at AGBO), and Academy Award-winning production designer James Price, offering insight into contemporary practice and the shifting dynamics of the industry.
Alongside its talks programme, Sands presented a curated selection of international features and documentaries that reflected its commitment to diverse voices and bold storytelling. Titles included André Is an Idiot, Cutting Through Rocksand Laundry (Uhlanjululo), each bringing urgent, personal and globally resonant stories to audiences in St Andrews.
Closing with Cactus Pears, the festival drew to a close on a note that reflected its broader programming ethos: championing distinctive voices and stories that resonate across cultures and borders.
Audience engagement remained strong across the weekend, with attendance holding steady on last year’s levels and box office income increasing by nearly 50%. This growth reflects a deepening relationship between the festival and its audiences, with visitors demonstrating a clear appetite to engage with a broad and ambitious programme. As Sands continues to evolve, this sustained attendance alongside increased investment signals both confidence in the festival and a willingness to explore the full range of storytelling it offers.
Festival Director Ania Trzebiatowska said:“This year feels like a real step forward for Sands. We’ve seen audiences not only return but engage more deeply with the programme – reflected in a significant increase in box office income and a real sense of trust in what we’re building here.
What’s been particularly exciting is the range of work and voices we’ve been able to bring to St Andrews – from international films to conversations with artists and industry leaders working across directing, composing, design and beyond. The number of pre-release titles in the programme also speaks to a growing confidence in Sands as a place where films can meet audiences early and meaningfully.
To see all of this taking place in St Andrews, with such a generous and engaged audience, makes it feel like Sands is not only growing, but finding its true shape.”
Angela Russo-Otstot, Producer/Chief Creative Officer at AGBO, added: It’s been incredibly inspiring to watch Sands International Film Festival grow into a true home for storytelling and a meaningful cultural destination for filmmakers at every stage, where fresh perspectives are championed alongside celebrated voices in such an authentic way.
Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews is produced by the Byre Theatre, University of St Andrews, with the University’s Department of Film Studies as a key partner.
