From the 9^th to the 11^th of October, the Mockingbird Cinema will host the 2026 Birmingham Anime Film Festival (BAFF).



Organised by the Birmingham-based media collective, Geeky Brummie, the festival will showcase some of the most influential anime films of all time, including the 1995 version of Ghost in the Shell, and Satoshi Kon’s Paprika.

These will be paired with screenings of more modern titles, including last year’s Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX – Beginning.

Ryan Parish, founder of Geeky Brummie, says: “Birmingham is a city full of geek culture. From comic books, board games and video games, to esports, music and film - there are safe and welcoming spaces and communities all over the city. Anime and manga are a big part of this landscape, with the success of Birmingham Comicon and Animecon UK, alongside shops like Tokyo Toys. Birmingham Anime Festival is a celebration of this critically important and influential genre of cinema, while also doing it in a way that is distinctly Brummie.”

Lee Nabbs, director of The Mockingbird Cinema, adds: “We’re happy to be bringing back BAFF for a fourth successive year. As an independent cinema focusing on a wide range of contemporary, classic and cult cinema, we’re happy to bring a range of anime for all our audience.”

Other films in the line up include Gurren Lagann the Movie: Childhood’s End and its follow-up The Lights in the Sky are Stars, The Concierge and Violet Evergarden – The Movie.

The organisers say that the programme will include something for all ages.

Tickets are available through www.baff.uk and the festival will soon launch exclusive new artwork from Sam Johnson (Instagram: samlad_art)