We are often asked when A Dairy Story will be available in a particular town, city or country. This page is our answer. It sets out where the film is, where it’s going next, and roughly when, and we’ll keep it up to date as dates are confirmed.
We are releasing A Dairy Story ourselves. That means slowly and carefully, with as much support and marketing behind each screening as we can give it. We know it means the film will take longer to reach everyone than a commercially distributed film would, but we’d rather each screening be a special experience, ideally involving a discussion, than race the film online.
A Dairy Story is a self-funded, independent film. It took us three years to make, and we’re in no hurry to conclude its journey quickly. Cow-with-calf dairy farming is still a new idea, but it’s one that’s gaining ground, and the longer the film can stay in cinemas, the more people will have the chance to see it on a big screen, which is how it was made to be seen.
We’re also releasing it around the farming calendar, because the people in the film are keen to take part in Q&As, but they also have a farm to run.
What we've learned so far
The film has now played festivals, a national cinema chain and independent cinemas from Aberdeenshire to Cornwall, and it’s become clear that this is a film that encourages conversation.
Where there’s been a farmer or one of our partners in the room to answer questions, the discussion has been especially interesting, and where there’s been cheese from the farm, that’s turned a film screening into a community event.
Jonathan from the Alhambra in Keswick put it this way after their screening: “The idea of cow-with-calf captured the imagination and we had a huge turnout to watch A Dairy Story. The buzz in the cinema afterwards discussing the film (and enjoying the cheese from the farm) was great to see.”
Where the film is, and where it's going
Festivals
Completed.
The film’s festival journey ran from IndieCork to Twelve Lions Film Festival in Kentucky, and it was named Best Documentary at the first, the last, and won a few more awards along the way. We are very grateful to all the festival programmers who selected A Dairy Story.
Cinemas
Booking now, and through the winter. The film opened in UK cinemas in August 2026 and has played in independent cinemas across the country. After a short break for the start of autumn calving, we are now booking winter screenings, to coincide with the farm’s tenth anniversary of cow-with-calf dairying. Any cinema can book the film, and we are keen to hear from programmers who want to show it.
Community screenings
Bookings open on 18 October, for dates from November. Village halls, community venues, clubs, churches, cheese shops and farms. You’ll be able to book a licence through our screening partner, Kinema. If you register your interest now, we’ll send you all the details first.
Online watch party
Online preview screening for community hosts in November. If you’re considering a screening, watch with us first. Our watch party is built so people can see how a screening runs, watch the film with the farm team, and ask them anything. It’s also where you can tell us if you’d like to take part in our international screening day.
International
Sunday 7 March 2027, Mother’s Day UK.
Community screenings outside the UK will open on 7 March, and we’d like as many international premieres as possible. If you’d like to host where you live, register your interest and tell us your country.
Streaming and television
Not yet.
We’ll bring the film to streaming once it has had its chance to be seen in cinemas and at community events. We don’t expect that to be before 2028.
Hosting a screening
The Distribution Plan
As our festival run ends, find out how you can bring the film to your own community screenings in the UK and internationally.
A full house and a cheeseboard in Keswick
More than 100 people came to the Alhambra Cinema in Keswick on Sunday 27 September to watch A Dairy Story and put their questions to David, the farmer at the heart of the film.
Best Documentary Award at Twelve Lions Film Festival
A Dairy Story has won Best Documentary at Twelve Lions Film Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, screening in the 800+ seater century-old Kentucky Theatre.