IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE 02-09-2026
World Premiere Announcement: Pendulum Drift to Premiere Autumn 2026 at Thurrock International Film Festival
Scotland - FilmedUP proudly announces that Scottish filmmaker Shehzad Afzal’s debut feature film Pendulum Drift will receive its long‑awaited World Premiere at the Thurrock International Film Festival in October 2026.
Shot in April 2010 during the Icelandic volcanic eruption that grounded much of Europe, Pendulum Drift remained in gestation for many years before finally completing post‑production in late 2025. Its premiere marks the beginning of the film’s public life after a uniquely sovereign, independent journey.
Thurrock International Film Festival is a respected, curated three‑day event showcasing national and international filmmakers across narrative, documentary, and short‑form cinema. The festival’s programming is known for its selectivity and its commitment to diverse, auteur‑driven work.
Thurrock International Film Festival - list of all drama films selected for screening (October 3-4, 2026)Pendulum Drift has already picked up 11+ accolades including:
- 4 Best Feature Film awards
- 2 Best Director awards
- Best Original Score, awarded to Shaahan Afzal, Shehzad’s son
- Multiple craft and technical awards across cinematography, editing, and performance.
Speaking on the announcement, Shehzad Afzal said:
“It’s great news and I am relieved more than anything else. I received an award from Sir Sean Connery in Edinburgh back in 2009, where he encouraged me to go make that film inside me, and Pendulum Drift is that film. It’s been a long journey and I can’t wait to see the response when it finally screens at Thurrock. I made a promise to Sir Sean and it is a promise fulfilled. I am sure he as well as I would have loved for Pendulum Drift to have got a homecoming premiere in Scotland, but at the moment, Thurrock will be the historical home for its debut, and I am overjoyed for my film to screen there, and it will be in very good company. The quality of films at the festival are exceptional, and it is humbling to be part of that ensemble of works this year.”
Pendulum Drift Movie Poster
London Night Film Festival — Best Film Nominee
London Night Film Festival - list of all films nominated for awards (October 22nd 2026)Pendulum Drift is also nominated for Best Film at the London Night Film Festival, with results announced at the awards ceremony on 22 October 2026. Films in competition include::
- EJECT – Tiburce
- THE SIGN OF THE DRAGON – Enrico Saller, Marina Hoeft
- A Year in London (Subs Engl) – Flaminia Graziadei
- ENESCU, skinned alive – Toma Enache
- Beliath – Cristian Parras
- The Great American Broadcast – Matthew Stacey
- Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare – Scott Chambers
- Bambi: The Reckoning – Dan Allen
With a potential additional screening at Samhainbaucogna in Portugal this November, Pendulum Drift enters Autumn 2026 with significant momentum and international recognition.
Samhainbaucogna International Film Festival - list of all winning films (November 25-29, 2026)PRESS RELEASE 02-09-2026
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stay Connected
Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest developments.