Film Picks This Week
Dont' miss our fantastic online event with special guest speaker Michael Brooke and picks to keep you going until we reopen!
The only way to start this week is with the exciting news that I’ve confirmed one of the first films we’ll reopen with: from Friday 7 August, we’ll be screening Summerland, a terrific new British film starring Gemma Arterton and Penelope Wilton. Next week, we’ll be letting you know the full line up, as well as all the Covid-secure measures we’re taking like social distancing in the cinema, cleaning between screenings and much more.
Another little bit of exciting news is that, while we were closed, we progressed with a plan that was in the pipeline anyway to refurbish our cinema seats. So you should find them not only far comfier, but far more attractive to look at!
Meanwhile a few new tasty online festivals that are here now, or coming later in the year. First is the London Korean Film Festival’s special event Korean Film Nights 2020. Details on the link here Korean Film
Next up is Who We Are from the BFI, an online takeover exploring the artistry behind Black British Film Who We Are | BFI
Finally, something for the future but one for filmmakers to take note of: the Aesthetica Short Film Festival is in November, but perhaps you have a short but perfect film that you would like to get festival exposure. Well, here’s how. Aesthetica Short Film Festival
Finally, a couple of films that I can recommend this week plus our continuing short season of guest speakers at No Ticket Required.
IDA & COLD WAR WITH GUEST SPEAKER MICHAEL BROOKE
MON 27 JULY, 8PM ON ZOOM. 60MINS. FREE.
Michael Brooke joins Jon Davies for the second in a special season of guest speakers at our fortnightly online cinema club, No Ticket Required. Michael Brooke is a freelance writer specialising in central/Eastern European cinema and contributor to the book Polish Cinema Now! (2010). Michael also regularly leads talks for the Polish Cultural Institute and will be discussing how Polish cinema has confronted the twentieth century history of that country, with a particular focus on two films by director Pawel Pawlikowski.
The Warrior with Guest Speaker Asif Kapadia
Mon 3 August, 8pm on Zoom. 60mins. Free.
Asif Kapadia joins Jon Davies for the last in a special season of guest speakers at our fortnightly cinema club, No Ticket Required. Asif Kapadia, is the director of award-winning documentaries Amy, Senna and, most recently, Diego Maradona.
World-renowned director Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna, Diego Maradona) will look back to his 2002 feature film The Warrior, with special reference to its leading man Irfan Khan (Life Of Pi, The Lunchbox, Slumdog Millionaire), who sadly passed away earlier this year. The period drama is set in India at the time of the feudal lords and the power they wielded. Jon Davis will ask Asif about the film and how it might have relevance to the modern world.
This was director’s Steve Queen’s first debut into mainstream cinema with a highly charged drama about a sex addict and and his troubled sister. Starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, it is not for the fainted-hearted but it rewards its audience with raw power and intelligent acting.
This week’s vintage film is the first of the Harry Palmer trilogy that established Michael Caine’s position as one of the finest British actors of his generation. A polar opposite to James Bond, this is the English secret service at its most parochial.
