鈥楧ream Differently鈥�: 91直播 International Festival 2025 takes over the city with diverse programme across Greater 91直播
Throughout July the Festival transforms 91直播 with events featuring world premieres and showcases from local artists.
From Thursday, 3 July, to Sunday, 20 July, invites us to 鈥楧ream Differently鈥� at this year鈥檚 edition of the bi-annual (MIF).
The Festival, which takes place in spaces and partner venues throughout the city, including Factory International鈥檚 home Aviva Studios, is for the first time venturing further with events in locations across Greater 91直播, including Rochdale and Wigan. Festival attendees are invited to 鈥榚xperience art that pushes boundaries, addresses the big questions of our time and creates hope for the future鈥� with a varied programme of free, low-cost and ticketed events.
The University of Manchester is proud to be a long-standing Senior Supporter of the Festival and its organiser Factory International, who are continuing to build on the MIF legacy with a varied programme of groundbreaking world premieres and local events, co-created with local communities, students and partners. The Festival celebrates 91直播 as a global hub of creative innovation and features homegrown artists returning to the region with many of the artists programmed originally coming from the North West.
The Whitworth, one of The University鈥檚 four cultural institutions, is also part of the MIF25 programme. From 4 July 2025 to 4 January 2026, Santiago Yahuarcani鈥檚 鈥楾he Beginning of Knowledge鈥� will be on show at the gallery and is the result of a project by the artist, Indigenous activist, and leader of the Aimeni (White Heron) clan of the Uitoto people. In his first international solo exhibition Yahuarcani showcases large-scale, narrative-rich paintings exploring the relationship between the Uitoto people and the natural world.
Throughout July MIF25 is looking to inspire fresh perspectives, challenge conventional thought and invite audiences to 鈥榙ream differently鈥� - envisioning new possibilities, brighter futures and utopian spaces. Presenting some of the most exciting creative minds of our generation, the programme champions indigenous artists and creators from the Global South, expanding the Festival鈥檚 renowned international impact as well as fostering deep connections with local artists and communities in the North West of England.
Creative Director at Factory International and member of the Research Platform Advisory Board, Low Kee Hong says:
It has been an incredible journey building the MIF25 programme with such a diverse range of artists from around the world whose voices are ever more critical in these challenging times. They encourage us to lean into visions of other possible futures, encounter cosmologies unfamiliar to our own, and enter into worlds that propose a re-enchantment of dreaming to rediscover our ability for joy, hope and belief in each other and our communities to build these tomorrows we want to be part of.
On the opening weekend hundreds of participants, including students and staff from The University of Manchester, joined puppeteers in for a public artwork on an unprecedented scale. This monumental migration of life-sized puppets, some of which have been made in 91直播, took over the streets of Greater 91直播 to open the Festival and raise awareness of the climate crisis and the collective effort needed to fight it.
Across Greater 91直播鈥檚 boroughs residents will also be able to enjoy local community showcases featuring cabaret, performance and comedy on each Festival weekend, or join the free programme of events at MIF鈥檚 outside Aviva Studios.
Across Greater 91直播鈥檚 boroughs residents will also be able to enjoy local community showcases featuring cabaret, performance and comedy on each Festival weekend, or join the free programme of events at MIF鈥檚 outside Aviva Studios.