If you walk past the Rio Cinema in Dalston between 4 and 6 September 2026, you will find a crowd gathering for high-kicking cinema. The Fighting Spirit Film Festival takes over the historic East London venue for an entire weekend of premieres, documentaries, industry talks, and classic martial arts blockbusters.
The three-day schedule brings independent cinema from around the globe to the big screen, matching fresh stunt choreography with classic retro cinema.
A hard-hitting opening night
The festival kicks off on Friday, 4 September at 6.15 pm with Mexicali, the directorial debut of veteran stunt coordinator Luke LaFontaine.
Written and produced by Jesse Johnson, the film stars Bren Foster as Joe, an underground tournament fighter who steps back into combat to protect an avocado farm run by his partner, Estrella, played by Tania Raymonde. Kris Van Damme, son of Jean-Claude Van Damme, joins the cast as the lead villain.
The organisers note that the opening fight contains clear nods to vintage action cinema, offering “gritty hand-to-hand action, and Foster displays some great moves that are worthy of a rewind if you have the setup to do so.” The short film Night Shift screens before the feature.
Global shorts and community projects
Saturday, 5 September begins at 10.00 am with the first round of the festival’s international short film competition, presenting 16 shorts from global filmmakers across fiction and documentary formats.
At 2.00 pm, director Wayne Wong hosts Project Sifu Part 2. Wong joins young workshop participants to discuss how practical stunt training and screen-action workshops open doors into the creative industries.
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A charity screening follows at 4.00 pm with EJ’s Warriors Part 3, alongside the short PEN. The documentary tracks young karate students from Columbus, Ohio, as they travel to tournaments in Brazil, Greece, and Paraguay. All ticket sales from this session go to charity.
At 8.15 pm, director Carmen Torner presents Valkyries, followed by an in-person discussion. Filmed over four years, the documentary follows Catalan newcomer Mariona and seasoned Brazilian professional Emily as they navigate the physical demands and personal stakes of professional mixed martial arts.
Classic kung fu and the Hong Kong scene
Sunday, 6 September starts at 10.00 am with the second round of short films in competition, featuring 15 titles including Dragon Tiger and Nak Muay.
At 2.00 pm, the festival hosts a free panel titled Late Night At The Rio – The Kung Fu Years. Panel guests include actor and martial artist Silvio Simac, stunt performer Rochelle Ashana, kickboxing trainer Esmond Francis, director Matt Routledge, author Mike Fury, and distributor Rick Baker. The group will look back at the venue’s rich history as an East London hub for martial arts releases during the genre boom of the 1970s and 1980s.
At 3.30 pm, Italian director Dino Argentiero presents Princess Khulan with an introduction and Q&A. The film documents ten-year-old Mongolian wrestler Khulan as she trains near Ulaanbaatar with dreams of winning Olympic gold. The short documentary Lutadora opens the slot.
The evening shifts into high gear at 6.00 pm with a screening of the 1988 classic Bloodsport, introduced by the short film Jisu Han. The organisers highlight its enduring standing: “Originally marketed as the true story of co-writer Frank Dux’s life, Bloodsport stars JCVD as Dux, an elite fighter who has been recruited by the American Defence Agency as a special operative.” The annual Short Films Award Ceremony follows immediately after the screening.
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The weekend closes at 8.50 pm with Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Sui Cheang’s massive hit that won multiple Hong Kong Film Awards. Starring Raymond Lam, Louis Koo, and Sammo Hung, the film showcases choreography by action director Kenji Tanigaki within a recreated Kowloon Walled City. The short Through The Vast World precedes the film.
How to get tickets
Individual screening tickets and full weekend event passes are available now. You can view the full programme and book your tickets directly at from the Fighting Spirit Festival website.
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