TV & Showbiz

A new documentary about football ultras is coming to a Manchester city centre cinema

If you're a footy fanatic, this one should be right up you street.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 20th March 2026

A new documentary about football ultras and the world surrounding the sport’s most avid and sometimes controversial fans is coming to a cinema right here in Manchester.

I mean, obviously – it’s the spiritual home of football, after all.

Seriously though, whether you bit or not, Greater Manchester has, is and always will be a region obsessed with the beautiful game, so what better place to screen such a film?

Covering the often crazy and all-consuming nature of ultra culture, the aptly-titled feature-length doc will be shown here in the city centre next month as part of this year’s Manchester Film Festival.

It was previewed last year, but is now set for theatrical release.

ULTRAS is the work of Swedish filmmaker Ragnhild Ekner, who has travelled all over the world in search of understanding these super passionate footy fans.

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Herself a die-hard IFK Göteborg supporter, Ekner looks at it not just artistically but as one of their own; she’s another football-obsessive like so many of us all around the globe, making her an ideal person to get across the lifestyle.

Covering matchgoers and punters from the likes of Argentina and Indonesia to Morocco, Italy and more, she covers a total of eight different countries across four continents.

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The director and her producers have put things plain and simple for those curious: “This isn’t a critical review, it’s a tribute.”

As mentioned, it also happens to form part of the wider Manchester Film Festival 2026, which is kicking off this week and ends on 29 March.

You can find out what else is on the MFF programme this month down below.

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So, if you’re a football fan, a cinephile, or just fancy going along to learn more, ULTRAS will be showing at the Odeon cinema inside Great Northern Warehouse exclusively on Sunday, 22 March from 5:30pm.

You can grab your tickets right HERE.

It’s also happening on the same day as the Carabao Cup Final between Man City and Newcastle, so if you’re a Red or just not a blue, it’s a very viable bit of alternative football-based entertainment.

Now, speaking of wider football culture, another fervently followed aspect of the people’s game is fashion, especially on the vintage side of things…

The Premier League and EFL should follow La Liga’s lead and bring Retro Matchdays to the UK
We think you could make a whole docuseries about this, too.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Joel Viksten Abrahamssonn/Fabian Sigurd/Anna Winiarska (supplied)

TV & Showbiz

A tribute festival in memory of Mani from The Stone have been announced

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mani-chester tribute music festival tickets 2026

After plenty of talk and rumours ever since his passing, a tribute festival in memory of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield will honour the late great Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player later this year.

Despite various organisations and regional residents having observed their own memorial services following his death on 20 November 2025, the city and Greater Manchester as a whole made it clear that they wanted to carry out a more dedicated form of remembrance.

And we couldn’t agree more.

Deciding to remember him in the past best way possible – by celebrating one of his greatest loves and legacies: music – ‘Manichester’ festival will be held this spring.

Hosted in partnership with Madchester.com and simply dubbed as “a tribute to a true Manc legend”, names both new, old and current will be joining the inaugural Manichester lineup.

Organised by the website and iconic Manchester streetwear brand GIOGOI, not to mention being “blessed by Mani’s family” directly, artists playing will range from those who were lucky enough to have played with him or, like us all, were simply left inspired by his unforgettable basslines.

As well as a ‘AAA headliner’ still yet to be confirmed, there are some serious legendary names on here, both local and beyond; at the minute, the roster of acts is looking like this:

Manichester 2026 lineup

  • Cast
  • Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order)
  • The Kowloons
  • A “specially assembled core band” featuring Aziz Ibrahim (The Stone Roses), Rowetta, Simone Butler (formerly Primal Scream) and Mick Rossi (Slaughter and The Dogs)
  • Dave McCabe (The Zutons)
  • Baz Fratelli (The Fratellis)
  • Zak Starkey (Mantra of the Cosmos)
  • Steve White (ex-Oasis drummer)
  • Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers)

However, as they have teased in the announcement, “that’s just the start”, and with more names incoming, many are already trying to guess who the headliner could be. Some have even suggested Ian Brown himself might get up on the stage…

As per an official statement, key artwork for the event comes from the one and only and equally influential Stone Roses guitarist, John Squire, whose new designs will feature on flyers, limited-edition physical tickets and other promotional materials.

Most importantly, all the proceeds from the special one-off in memoriam show will go towards Mani’s and Imelda’s twin boys, Gene and George – and who knows? This could be the start of a brand-new annual festival spawned in the name of a very special Mancunian.

GIOGOI added: “Manchester is the best city in the world, and we do things differently here. This is Manchester showing up. This is Madchester showing love. This is ‘Manichester’.“

Taking place on Saturday, 30 May and held at Diecast on Ducie Street in Manchester city centre from 2pm, it’s sure to be a momentous ocassions with thoughts of Mani and his family looming large in everyone’s minds.

You can sign up for presale tickets right HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)

TV & Showbiz

Public vote opens for ‘most memorable’ TV moment of the year at 2026 BAFTAs

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Adolescence

What was the most memorable TV moment of this past year? It’s time to have your say.

The BAFTA TV Awards for 2026 are merely months away, with the ceremony set to take place on Sunday 10 May, and now, the shortlist for the Memorable Moment Award have been announced and the public is being called on to vote for their favourite.

Each year, the Memorable Moment Award – which is currently sponsored by P&O Cruises – honours the impact of television in the UK and its power to ‘entertain, inform, and bring the nation together’.

The nominations were compiled by an ‘esteemed’ independent jury of influential TV critics, as well as TV presenter, Josie Gibson, showcasing key moments from 2025 that reflect the power of TV.

So, what are the nominees for this year then? Which TV moments does the UK public get to pick from as the winner of the coveted award?

Nominations include moments from smash-hit TV shows like Netflix’s one-shot miniseries Adolescence, BBC’s iconic reality competition show Celebrity Traitors, and Prime Video’s side-splitting comedy show Last One Laughing.

The nominations are:

  • Adolescence (Netflix) – Jamie snaps at the psychologist
  • Big Boys (Channel 4) – “I didn’t make it, did I?”
  • Blue Lights (BBC) – The police are warned of an ambush plot to silence a key witness
  • The Celebrity Traitors (BBC) – Alan Carr wins The Celebrity Traitors
  • Last One Laughing (Prime Video) – Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade’s speed date
  • What It Feels Like For A Girl (BBC) – Byron leaves for Brighton to start uni, where she introduces herself as Paris.

The moment chosen to represent Adolescence is where main character Jamie becomes frustrated and then flies into a rage during his assessment by child psychologist Briony, while comedians Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade’s ‘speed date’ has been chosen to represent Last One Laughing, and of course, the moment where Alan Carr was revealed as the winner has been selected for Celebrity Traitors.

“It’s been a huge pleasure to chair this year’s jury and share in the thoughtful, passionate conversations about the standout television moments of 2025,” commented Hilary Rosen, chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee, as the shortlist was unveiled.

“From powerful drama to unmissable entertainment and brilliantly sharp comedy, the nominees reflect the creative breadth and cultural impact of best-in-class television.

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“I look forward to seeing which memorable moments resonate with the public, and the conversations they’ll spark well beyond the final vote.”

Voting is open until 9pm on Wednesday 22 April, and you can cast your vote on the BAFTA website online here.

Featured Image –

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