Gurinder Chadha to headline SikhLens Arts & Film Festival in Leicester
Leicester will host the SikhLens Arts & Film Festival UK 2026 later this month, with filmmaker Gurinder Chadha OBE confirmed as one of the event’s headline guests.
The festival, scheduled for 27th June at Judgemeadow College, will feature a full day of films, performances, and discussions centred on South Asian and Sikh culture. Organisers state the event is free to attend and is expected to draw more than 1,000 visitors.
Chadha, a BAFTA-winning director known for films including ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ and ‘Bhaji on the Beach’, will attend a screening of her documentary ‘Queen Victoria & Maharaja Duleep Singh’. The film examines the historical relationship between Queen Victoria and the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, exploring themes of empire and power through a contemporary lens.
Following the screening, Chadha is expected to take part in a live question-and-answer session alongside historian Peter Bance, whose research contributed to the documentary.
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Festival organisers describe Chadha’s participation as part of a wider programme featuring filmmakers, artists, and speakers from a range of disciplines. The schedule includes screenings of documentary and narrative films, as well as panel discussions and live performances.
The SikhLens festival aims to showcase cultural storytelling and provide a platform for diverse voices. Organisers say the event is designed to bring together audiences from different backgrounds through film and conversation.
Alongside Chadha’s documentary, the programme includes films addressing themes such as identity, heritage, and community experiences, with several filmmakers scheduled to participate in post-screening discussions.
