The International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist films are here
The Booker Prizes
Toby Jones, Indira Varma, Toheeb Jimoh, Jehnny Beth, Xelia Mendes-Jones and Kae Alexander star in our new films, showcasing this year’s shortlisted books
It’s that time again! We’re delighted to bring you our brand new set of films, showcasing the six books shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026, supported by Bukhman Philanthropies.
Since 2022, we have commissioned a range of talented directors to create sets of films to celebrate the shortlists for our annual prizes. The films, released in spring (for the International Booker Prize) and autumn (for the Booker Prize), have become highlights of our prize seasons, with the 2025 films viewed more than 100 million times across our social media channels.
The new films feature a line-up of critically acclaimed artists from film, television, stage and music, each performing an extract from the shortlisted books. They are:
- Actor Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Industry, The Power), who reads from The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from German by Ruth Martin;
- Musician and actor Jehnny Beth (An Impossible Love, Anatomy of a Fall, Hostage), who reads from She Who Remains byRene Karabash, translated from Bulgarian by Izidora Angel;
- BAFTA- and Olivier Award-winning actor Toby Jones (Infamous, Alan Bates vs the Post Office, Detectorists), who reads from The Director byDaniel Kehlmann, translated from German by Ross Benjamin;
- Actor Xelia Mendes-Jones (Fallout, Havoc, The Wheel of Time), who reads from On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated from Portuguese by Padma Viswanathan;
- Olivier Award-winning actor Indira Varma (The Other Bennet Sister, The Night Manager, Game of Thrones), who reads from The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated from French by Jordan Stump;
- Actor Kae Alexander (Black Bag, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Fleabag), who reads from Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from Mandarin Chinese by Lin King.
The films are directed by Holly Blakey, whose work as a director and choreographer has included collaborations with fashion houses and music artists such as Burberry, Dior, Gucci, and Florence and the Machine. The actors are dressed in a mixture of vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood costumes, and the films feature original music composed by Gwilym Gold, as well as elements of dance, choreographed by Blakey.
The films were shot in architecturally striking locations across London’s iconic Southbank Centre, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
Be among the first to watch the films here – and don’t forget to let us know your favourites in the comments below. If the films inspire you to pick up this year’s shortlisted books, you can discover more about them over on our website, including extracts, exclusive interviews and reading guides.
