Central Scotland Documentary Festival

Central Scotland Documentary Festival 2025

Central Scotland Documentary Festival (CSDF) returns from 30 October to 3 November 2025 with its most ambitious programme yet.

This year’s five-day celebration of real stories and radical voices opens with the provocative and timely The Marbles, diving into the ongoing debate surrounding the Parthenon Marbles. The festival wraps on a nostalgic high with Still Pushing Pineapples, a heartwarming deep-dive into the life of 80s pop icon Dene Michael of Agadoo fame.

From personal journeys to global reckonings, CSDF 2025 presents a rich international selection of films that challenge, entertain and enlighten. Highlights include two standout works by award-winning British filmmaker Jeanie Finlay, who will host an exclusive masterclass and be honoured with the Stirling 900 Award at the festival’s signature gala event, A Doc, A Dinner and A Drink. Her acclaimed documentaries Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth and The Great Hip Hop Hoax will also screen as part of a special retrospective.

For the first time, CSDF introduces a dedicated Sessions and Events Programme, curated by filmmaker and curator Oliver Guy-Watkins. This new strand features Filmmaker Roundtables and an intimate Fireside Chat with a guest director, offering emerging and established creatives unique spaces to connect, collaborate and spark new ideas.