A FREE, Full-Day Celebration of South Asian Culture, Cinema & Inspiration
(Asian independent) Leicester is set to play host to one of the UK’s most anticipated free cultural events of the year supported by Leicester City Council Ward Funding, Humberston & Hamilton, Castle & Stoneygate Ward Councillors.
SikhLens Arts & Film Festival UK 2026 returns on Saturday 27 June with a compelling programme of award-winning films, live performances, panel discussions, and inspirational speakers, all drawing on the rich heritage and contemporary achievements of the South Asian and Sikh communities. Admission is completely free, and organisers expect well over 1,000 visitors to pass through the doors of Judge Meadow College throughout the day.
From a BAFTA-winning director to a King’s Award-winning engineer, from pioneering mountaineers to celebrated visual artists, SikhLens 2026 presents an extraordinary roster of guests whose stories span continents, centuries, and cultures united by a spirit of resilience, creativity, and community.
HEADLINE GUESTS
Gurinder Chadha OBE – BAFTA-winning director of Bend It Like Beckham and Bhaji on the Beach, one of Britain’s most celebrated filmmakers, will join Sikhlens in person for the UK screening of her documentary Queen Victoria & Maharaja Duleep Singh. The film sheds extraordinary new light on the intimate relationship between Queen Victoria and the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, a story of power, loss, and empire largely hidden from mainstream history. Chadha will take part in a live Q&A following the screening alongside her collaborator on the project.
Peter Bance – leading Sikh historian and authority on Maharaja Duleep Singh, Peter Bance has dedicated decades to uncovering the overlooked legacies of the Sikh royal family. A key contributor to the research underpinning Gurinder Chadha’s documentary, Bance will join Chadha on stage for what promises to be one of the most historically significant Q&A sessions at any UK community festival this year.
The Singh Twins – Internationally renowned British artists Amrit and Rabindra KD Kaur Singh will appear on stage at SikhLens 2026 to present and discuss their landmark artwork, which forms the basis of the film Jallianwala: Repression and Retribution. Designed as a powerful triptych, the work explores the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre with unflinching artistic depth and historical rigour. The Singh Twins will narrate the film and take questions from the audience in an unmissable session on art, memory, and justice.
Bal Choda – A Southall-born design engineer whose extraordinary career took him to the very pinnacle of British automotive excellence, Bal Choda’s story is brought to life in the documentary Crafting Legacy. His pioneering work as a lead engineer at Aston Martin contributed directly to the company earning the prestigious King’s Award for Innovation, one of the highest honours in British enterprise. He will appear on stage alongside the documentary’s filmmaker and two of his mentees, offering an inspiring insight into the journey from childhood doodler to award-winning innovator.
FILM PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Mother Kili – The feature length opening film follows the first all South Asian female team to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, a breathtaking physical and emotional journey in which altitude strips away silence and reveals stories of identity, resilience, and healing long held within the community. Filmmaker Rupinder and members of the team who made the climb will appear on stage for a Q&A.
Mitti – A deeply moving documentary following Jasleen Pannu and her family as they journey to their ancestral village in Pakistan, reconnecting with roots, memories, and the land their forefathers once called home. Jasleen will be present for a live Q&A.
Perfectly Seasoned – A warm-hearted mockumentary comedy in which a Sikh restaurant owner’s niece convinces him to host a speed dating night, with delightfully chaotic results. A crowd-pleasing highlight of the afternoon.
Robe of Honour – The remarkable true story of Harbans Singh, who went on to become Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court after narrowly missing entry to the British Civil Service, a story of fate, quiet greatness, and extraordinary legal brilliance.
Gift of Light – A documentary highlighting the selfless work of Dr. Gurpal Bhullar and fellow former CMC Ludhiana students who run free eye camps in rural Punjab, restoring sight and transforming lives through voluntary seva.
A FULL DAY OF CULTURE, LEARNING & JOY
The festival opens at 11:00am with a morning of live Kirtan, children’s performances from Falcon School, a live martial arts demonstration by East Park Combat Academy, and two stunning 3D animations rooted in the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The afternoon programme brings the films, conversations, and guest appearances, before a dinner break at 8:00pm gives way to the grand finale, a Musical Fusion Dhamaka featuring acclaimed vocalist Priti Kaur alongside musicians from multiple traditions in an unforgettable celebration of the oneness of humanity.
Dr. Simranjeet Singh, a SikhLens Scholar completing his doctorate at the University of Oxford for groundbreaking research on the effect of wind on aircraft performance, will also present his work, a powerful symbol of Sikh academic excellence on the world stage.
Nishkam Health Centre Birmingham will also be recognised at the festival, having been awarded the King’s Award 2026 for Voluntary Service, one of only a handful of organisations across the UK to receive this honour.
Bicky Singh, Global Head of SikhLens shared, “SikhLens exists to celebrate what our community has achieved, inspire the generation coming through, and bring everyone together through the universal languages of art and film. This year’s line-up is truly exceptional, I hope people from all walks of life will come and join us.”
EVENT DETAILS
Event Name: SikhLens Arts & Film Festival UK 2026
Date: Saturday 27 June 2026, 11:00am – 10:00pm
Venue: Judgemeadow College, Marydene Drive, Evington, Leicester, LE5 6HP
Admission: FREE – all sessions are open to the public
For more information and to book: https://sikhlens.uk/events
Expected Attendance: 1,000+ visitors throughout the day
Website: www.sikhlens.co.uk
Press enquiries: [email protected]
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