Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival is back later this year, and it’s set to be bigger and better than its summer debut.
SCENE, the LGBTQ+ film festival, is making its grand return to Manchester and is taking over some of the city centre’s most notable and popular locations.
Anyone attending can expect lots of fun – including screenings, panels, celebrations, parties, and above all, more pride than ever before.
Last year saw lots of familiar queer stars from TV and showbiz hosting events in iconic venues across Manchester city centre.
New Century Hall held a Queer As Folk screening, Q&A, and afterparty with original cast members such as Antony Cotton, alongside Owain Wyn Evans and Russell T Davies, while Davina DeCampo made an appearance at Fairfield Social Club to host a cabaret night named ‘Dragged to the Movies’, inspired by this queer film-centric festival.
SCENE Festival is returning to Manchester later this year / Credit: Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
First Street Manchester got involved too, with a ‘Camp Cult Classics’ movie-marathon, screening films such as The Wiz, Grease 2, and Xanadu.
Even after its inaugural year, this LGBTQ+ film festival has rooted itself into Manchester’s cultural calendar, becoming a must-see event for the city… and this year’s edition will be no different.
Usual venues such as HOME, Aviva Studios,Gay Village, and of course the First Street Outdoor cinema, will all be making a fabulous return for the festival’s second year celebrations.
This year, the festival is also partnering with The Queer Filmmakers Network for a short film submission programme titled ‘Out of MCR: SCENE Queer Shorts Showcase’, where creatives can make a short film connected to Greater Manchester that can be broadcast throughout the event, if selected by the panel.
Alongside this, a curated selection of submitted films will be screened during SCENE Festival, and audiences have the opportunity to vote their favourite – with the winner announced on 20 August.
Gary Williams, Head of Events at CityCo, who are the producers of SCENE Festival, commented: “We were blown away by the response to the first SCENE Festival – the audiences, the energy, and the love for queer storytelling in all its forms.
“We’re thrilled to bring it back for 2025 as part of Manchester’s iconic Pride celebrations”.
Isobel Stainsbury, Senior Engagement Manager at Manchester Pride, added: “As we continue to grow and evolve, we welcome more events that spotlight the diversity of our communities while fundraising for Manchester Pride to ensure we can continue to celebrate, promote the rights, equality and visibility of LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester.”
SCENE, the LGBTQ+ Film Festival, is coming to Manchester city centre as part of Manchester Pride from 15 to 19 August – with a full lineup and tickets to be released HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
What's On
Aussie punk rockers and cult favourites Amyl and the Sniffers announced biggest Manchester gig yet
Danny Jones
Australian pub rockers and punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers have announced their biggest Manchester headline show to date, and we CANNOT wait.
In case you hadn’t guessed, we’re pretty big fans here at The Manc Group.
The cult favourites have made a big splash on the music scene over the past couple of years, playing big festival slots at the likes of Glastonbury and R&L Fest 2025, winning over new fans in the process. We had a feeling they were bringing some big to our shores…
I mean, you could argue they made it fairly obvious where it was going to be held, but it was still a cool little teaser campaign, nevertheless.
That’s right, Amyl and the Sniffers have booked the O2 Victoria Warehouse – an ideal venue for any heavy gig – later this year, following the big poster going up outside the venue in Trafford Park last week.
Fronted by frenetic frontwoman Amy Taylor, they’ve grown a strong following outside of their home country of late, not only winning multiple Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards but picking up gongs from the NME, Kerrang and more since 2022.
They received plenty of accolades for their sophomore record, Comfort To Me, and collected even more for their latest album, Cartoon Darkness, which they’ve been touring pretty much ever since.
It’s that same project that they’re bringing to Victoria Warehouse this autumn, with the punchy ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ performers almost nailed on to sell out the 3,500 capacity venue.
Tipped as a ‘one-night only’ experience, with support from Floodlights and The Menstrual Cramps, this should be a tasty one.
Aussie rock and indie really is having a moment right now, with the likes of Spacey Jane and Royel Otis both set for big Manc gigs this year too.
The early access window opens from 10am this Wednesday, 3 September, with general admission tickets live from the same time the following Friday (5 Sep). Besides the sold-out Ally Pall show, this is their very LAST headline gig of the year, don’t miss it.
You can get ready to grab yours for 22 October right HERE.
In the meantime, why not watch the moment Amy joined Fred Again in the flesh for a live set over in Sheffield last month?
Featured Images — Press shots/Audio North/Jamie Nelson via Paradis Agency (supplied)
What's On
Def Leppard announce HUGE arena gig in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
English Glam Rock band Def Leppard have announced a brand new UK tour which features a stop in one of Manchester’s big arenas next year.
Known for hits like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’, ‘Love Bites’ and more, Def Leppard are back on the road and they’re heading out on a UK tour.
The band has achieved worldwide acclaim since entering the rock scene with their first-ever single, ‘Wasted’, back in 1979, and their success resulted in getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2023, Def Leppard teamed up with fellow metalheads Motley Crüe for the ultimate ‘Rock of Ages’, playing a spell-bounding gig at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people.
The rock legends are continuing their career-highlight streak as now they’re about to play one of Manchester’s largest arenas, Co-op Live, sending 23,500 fans into ‘Hysteria’.
This upcoming Def Leppard UK tour sees the band making their way to Glasgow, Sheffield, London and Birmingham before visiting the music capital of the North.
The love for these rockers isn’t slowing down either, as their latest album ‘Drastic Symphonies’, a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, scored Def Leppard their highest charting record in 32 years, debuting at number 4.
Fans will be over the moon to know that the five-piece visiting Co-op Live next year includes the same band lineup since 1992, with Joe Elliot, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell playing out on the night.
The Rock Brigade will always make sure to remember Steve Clark, founding member and adorned- ‘Riffmaster’, and although the guitarist won’t be playing this innovative live music venue, fans will still give it their all for the current ‘Gods of War’.
These Sheffield-formed musicians have sold more than 110 million albums worldwide, so there will be no ‘Foolin’ around when it comes to screaming their lyrics at the top of your lungs next summer.
Def Leppard are coming to Co-op Live in Manchester on Monday 5 July, with tickets going on sale from 10am on Friday 5 September
Thomas Melia -
22nd May 2025 
