Keele-led film festival highlighting the climate crisis returns to Stoke-on-Trent

An international film festival founded by Keele students to highlight the climate crisis is returning to Stoke-on-Trent with a suite of new films from around the world. 

The Earth Stories Film Festival was created by Keele students and staff in 2022 to give a voice to filmmakers from around the world, sharing their experiences of and feelings about the impact of climate change. 

The festival is designed to ignite conversation, inspire action, and highlight the interconnectedness of ecological and social justice issues through the art of filmmaking, with a range of categories including animation, documentary, and fiction to name a few. 

Featuring submissions from filmmakers from around the world, including a special category for local filmmakers in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire, the winning works will be showcased at the Wade Conference Centre on 26th March 2026, with prizes for the winning films in each category.  

Katherine Chapman, this year’s Director of the Earth Stories Film Festival, said: “In our fourth year, we have encouraged young filmmakers across the world to submit their entries on our environmental themes; building a voice for a global community. ‘Earth Stories’ is a catalyst for change, using the power of film to move audiences from awareness to action. Expressing these narratives are essential for our present and future.” 

“Our planet’s story is still being written,” added Anushka Kabboor, Assistant Director of the festival. “The films in this year’s submissions won’t just document the challenges; we want them to spotlight the innovators, the communities, and the grassroots heroes who are drafting a more hopeful, sustainable, and equitable chapter for us all.” 

Tickets for the festival are free and available but tickets must be booked online. Doors open at 5pm before screenings begin at 6pm. You can also watch the live stream of the event on YouTube.