From the 26–29 March, Ramsgate once again becomes more than just a seaside town. It turns into a place where stories collide — on screen, in conversation, and somewhere in between the two. As the Ramsgate International Film & TV Festival returns, I’ve been looking through the programme not just as a marketer, but as someone who genuinely loves getting lost in films.
What always stands out about this festival — as with any great film festival — is the sense of discovery: the knowledge that many of the films you see here you might never have seen anywhere else. You stumble across something unexpected, sit down out of curiosity, and walk away thinking about it for days. This year, there are a handful of films I already know I’ll be making time for — some for their ideas, some for their visuals, and some simply because I can’t quite figure them out yet.
Here are a few I’ll definitely be watching.
1. Cinema Kawakeb — A Love Letter to Film Itself
There’s something immediately compelling about Cinema Kawakeb. Maybe it’s the setting—a crumbling cinema with stories etched into its walls—or maybe it’s the unexpected thread of Bollywood running through the Middle East.
As someone who already has a soft spot for Bollywood, I’m fascinated by how that love travels across cultures and borders. This feels like more than a documentary; it feels like a reflection on cinema as a shared language.
The idea of a fading theatre, paired with a trailer filled with stunning cinematography, gives it a slightly haunting edge too. One of those films I expect to linger long after the credits roll.
2. Tell the Wind Too — Poetry on Screen
Sometimes a title alone is enough to stop you in your tracks, and Tell the Wind Too did exactly that.
There’s a kind of beauty that comes from translation—when something isn’t perfectly literal, but instead carries a deeper, more poetic meaning. That’s exactly what this feels like.
Described as a meditation on dealing with death, I’m expecting something quiet, reflective, and emotionally resonant. The kind of film where you don’t just watch—you sit with it, and maybe even leave thinking a little differently than when you walked in.
3. L.A. Jesus & AI Jesus — A Bit of Chaos (In a Good Way)
On the complete other end of the spectrum, L.A. Jesus and AI Jesus sound like an absolute ride.
A stressed executive crosses paths with a homeless man claiming to be Jesus—already a great setup—but it’s the question underneath that really hooks me: what could they possibly have in common, and what could they learn from each other?
It feels like one of those films that balances humour with something a bit more thoughtful. And honestly, in a packed festival schedule, you need a few that promise to be a “right hoot.”
4. Riverbero — The One I’m Most Curious About
Some films draw you in because you understand them immediately. Others do the opposite—and Riverbero firmly sits in that second category.
The synopsis alone is enough to make you pause:
“Riverbero tries to embody the deepest sense of the noun ‘experiment.’ The attempt to decline into images the narrative of the unspeakable… the off-screen acts as the protagonist… allowing the viewer to weave the threads of a present, precise yet hidden plot based on their own inner ‘reverberations.’”
It’s dense. It’s philosophical. And it’s exactly the kind of challenge I love stumbling into at festivals.
I’m genuinely curious to see whether the film lives up to the ambition of its description—and how successfully it translates such a complex idea into something visual and cinematic.
5. UK Narrative Shorts — Where I Always Find Something Special
I’ll admit it—I have a bias towards short films.
Partly because I make them myself, but mostly because I genuinely believe shorts aren’t a stepping stone to features—they’re their own art form. A completely different discipline, with its own rhythm, constraints, and possibilities.
There’s something incredibly powerful about telling a story in a limited timeframe. When it works, it can hit just as hard—if not harder—than a full-length feature.
That’s why the UK Narrative Shorts strand is always high on my list. And this year, one in particular stands out: Recall Me Maybe.
Directed by David Baddiel and starring Stephen Fry, it asks a question that feels especially relevant right now: is AI going to change who we really are?
Timely, thought-provoking, and exactly the kind of concept short films excel at exploring.
A Festival Built on Discovery
What I love most about putting a list like this together is knowing it’ll probably change.
There will be films I haven’t planned for that people start talking about. Screenings I wander into on a whim. Moments where I take a chance on something I know nothing about—and it ends up being the highlight of the weekend.
That’s the magic of a film festival.
So yes, these are the films I’ll be watching—or at least trying to—but the real joy is in everything I don’t see coming.
Take a look at the full schedule, trust your instincts, and pick a few films that spark your curiosity. Then leave room for the unexpected.
That’s where the best discoveries usually are.
Take a look at the full festival schedule, pick your screenings, and book your tickets today. Whether you’re planning to catch one film or spend the whole weekend immersed in cinema, now’s the time to secure your seat.
