May 31 - June 7, 2026 Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair - Year 5 Festival | This year’s Los Angeles festival features 48 films from 18 countries, including 10 restoration premieres, 10 anniversaries and welcomes more than 18 special guests. Stay tuned throughout the week for this year’s Los Angeles schedule and ticket on-sale announcements.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: The American Cinematheque is proud to announce the fifth edition of ‘Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair.’ This year’s Los Angeles festival features 48 films from 18 countries, including 10 restoration premieres, 10 anniversaries and welcomes more than 18 special guests, among them Isabelle Huppert, Ari Aster, Denis Villeneuve, Werner Herzog, Warwick Thornton, Allen Hughes, Haley Joel Osment, Gregg Araki, Roger Deakins, James Ellis Deakins, Robert Englund, Theresa Russell, Fede Álvarez, Louise Weard, Vera Drew, Mick Jackson, Larry Karaszewski, Xan Cassavetes and more. Additionally, ‘Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair’ is expanding globally to 73 cities and nearly 100 theaters across the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, England, Scotland, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. For more information on venues outside of Los Angeles, visit our ‘Bleak Week: Global Film Festival’ page. Stay tuned throughout the week for this year’s Los Angeles lineup and ticket on-sale announcements.