★★★★ – Guardian. Oscar Isaac stars as a card shark with a mysterious past in this tale of guilt and redemption from writer-director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, First Reformed).

"A triumph for Oscar Isaac" – Sight and Sound

"★★★★ – Oscar Isaac shines in this refrigerated, soul-scouring character study" – Telegraph

★★★★ – Guardian

Oscar Isaac stars as a card shark with a mysterious past in this tale of guilt and redemption from writer-director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, First Reformed).

William Tell (Oscar Isaac) just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk (Tye Sheridan), a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel.

Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk. But keeping Cirk on the straight-and-narrow proves impossible, dragging Tell back into the darkness of his past.

★★★★ – Empire. Will Smith is on award-worthy form in this fun, inspirational and uplifting biopic of Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.

 “★★★★ – A towering turn from Will Smith… one of the year’s great screen performances” – The Times

"Will Smith smashes it as Venus and Serena Williams’s headstrong father" – Telegraph

★★★★ – Empire

★★★★ – Metro

Will Smith is on award-worthy form in this fun, inspirational and uplifting biopic of Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.

A tough father who believes passionately in his daughters’ ability, Richard is determined to take them from the broken-down abandoned tennis courts of Compton to the highest level of world tennis. Battling snobbery and racism from the overwhelmingly white tennis community, Richard pushes forward with his unconventional methods, insisting the girls train rain or shine in order to achieve their potential.

Expect Smith to feature prominently in the awards conversation next year: the supporting cast sees Aunjanue Ellis (If Beale Street Could Talk) as the girl’s level-headed mother and Jon Bernthal (Ford vs Ferrari) as their coach dealing with Richard’s exasperating demands, while Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton deliver winning, utterly charming performances as Venus and Serena.

Brian Desmond Hurst’s classic version of Charles Dickens’ essential Christmas tale is back on the big screen to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

For our Winter Warmers screenings this December, all tickets are £5.

Bah! Humbug!

Brian Desmond Hurst's classic version of Charles Dickens' Christmas tale is back on the big screen to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Curmudgeonly businessman Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) has no time for the whimsy and sentimentality of Christmas. But Scrooge’s ways are forever changed when on Christmas Eve he is visited by three spirits - the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Brian Desmond Hurst directs a formidable British cast in one of the best adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, including Alastair Sim (The Belles of St. Trinian’s), Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison and George Cole (Minder).

★★★★★ – Telegraph. Set in post-WWI England, Jane (Young) plans secret meetings to see her already betrothed lover while her employers are away.

"★★★★★ – Exquisite drama reveals a country pervaded by loss" – Telegraph

"★★★★ – an intelligent, affecting British drama with a splash of French sensuality" – Time Out

Based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Graham Swift, Mothering Sunday is set in post-WWI England, and follows a housemaid Jane (Young) planning to meet her upper-class lover - despite him already being betrothed to a rich young woman.

With a script by Lady Macbeth’s Alicia Birch, and a remarkable star-studded cast including Olivia Colman, Colin Firth and Josh O’Connor, Mothering Sunday is a moving, impeccably performed drama.

“★★★★★ – A masterpiece” – Little White Lies. Acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hamaguchi (Happy Hour) directs this adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s (Norwegian Wood) short story of the same name.

“★★★★★ – An engrossing and exalting experience” – Guardian

“★★★★★ – A masterpiece” – Little White Lies

“★★★★★ – Profoundly beautiful” – Telegraph

Acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hamaguchi (Happy Hour) directs this adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s (Norwegian Wood) short story of the same name from his "Men Without Women" collection.

After his wife suddenly dies leaving behind a secret, actor and theatre director Yusuke Kafuku struggles to cope with the loss. Receiving an offer to direct a play in Hiroshima, Kafuku meets a stoic young woman who is assigned to be his driver.

As the two grow closer, Kafuku confides his anguish over his struggle to confront the mystery of his wife.

★★★★★ – Guardian. In Céline Sciamma’s follow-up to her acclaimed romantic drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire, eight-year-old Nelly befriends Marion, a mysterious, yet somehow very familiar, girl her own age after they meet in the woods.

“★★★★★ – A moving jewel of a film about memory, friendship and kin” – Guardian

“★★★★★ – A rich, autumnal gem of a film” – Cinevue

"★★★★ – A magical fairytale with lingering resonance" –  NME

★★★★★ – The Upcoming

Céline Sciamma returns with the follow up to her acclaimed romantic drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire which wowed our audience upon its release in 2019.

Following the death of her maternal grandmother, Nelly accompanies her mother Marion (Nina Meurisse) to her leafy childhood home, where they stay as they sort through her grandmother's belongings.

One day, Nelly finds that her mother has abruptly departed, leaving her alone with her kind father (Stéphane Varupenne). As Nelly goes exploring in the autumnal landscape that surrounds the house, she comes across a wooden fort built in the forest and meets a curiously familiar girl named Marion.

★★★★ – Telegraph. Paolo Sorrentino's (The Great Beauty, Il Divo) deeply personal, autobiographical coming-of-age story is set in 1980s Naples, and features long-time collaborator Toni Servillo (The Consequences of Love).

"Paolo Sorrentino's most personal movie is also his best" – IndieWire

"★★★★ – A hauntingly personal memoir of grief, growing up and maverick footballers. Golazzo!" – Time Out

"★★★★ – a wistful, winking cinematic scrapbook of growing up in 1980s Naples" – Telegraph

Sorrentino’s latest film is a deeply personal, autobiographical coming-of-age story set in the hometown of his youth – 1980s Naples.

Young Fabietto (Filippo Scotti) experiences the unexpected arrival of football legend Diego Maradona and an equally unexpected tragedy.

The Hand of God presents life as a series of miracles and tragedies, with very little cause and effect; and with Sorrentino – who is at the top of his game – at the helm, the film simply transcends.

★★★★ – The Upcoming. Based on the book by Matt Haig, A Boy Called Christmas follows ordinary young boy Nikolas on an extraordinary adventure.

"★★★★ – beautifully shot and aesthetically charming... a perfect Christmas film" – The Upcoming

Please note, the screening on Sun 12 Dec will start promptly at 11.15am

Based on the hugely popular book of the same name by Matt Haig, A Boy Called Christmas follows ordinary young boy Nikolas who sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father.

Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and his loyal pet mouse Miika, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible.

The incredible ensemble cast includes Toby Jones, Sally Hawkins, Kristen Wiig, Michiel Huisman, Stephen Merchant, Jim Broadbent and Maggie Smith.

The King of the Waltz brings you a festive spectacular from his newly created Winter Palace in his hometown of Maastricht.

The King of the Waltz brings you a festive spectacular from his newly created Winter Palace in his hometown of Maastricht.

Immerse yourself in the spirit of the season while singing and dancing away to lovely Christmas carols, romantic waltzes and beautiful melodies like Jingle Bells, O Holy Night, Hallelujah, a show-stopping performance of Walking in the Air and many more!

Marvel at the magnificent palace decorations including 150 beautiful chandeliers, over 50 Venetian candelabras and huge arched windows revealing a joyous wintery landscape including ice rinks and ice skaters. Christmas with André is guaranteed to warm your hearts and get you in the festive spirit.

Join André for his inaugural Christmas concert all from the comfort of your local cinema. An unforgettable festive treat for the whole family.

“Christmas is my favourite time of the year and nothing could be better than spending it with my friends, family and fans in my hometown. I want to invite my cinema audiences on this beautiful journey to Christmas wonderland” - André Rieu

Exhibition on Screen tells the fascinating story of a visionary Danish collector of Impressionist art, with exclusive access to a sell-out exhibition at London’s Royal Academy, bringing an extraordinary collection to the big-screen in glorious high-definition.

For many years no-one was interested in the art of the Impressionists. Artists like Monet, Degas and Renoir were vilified, attacked, and left penniless as a result.

Then, something remarkable happened. A new breed of collectors emerged and, before long, they were battling to acquire any work by these new, radical artists that they could find. Amongst them was the visionary Danish businessman Wilhelm Hansen. It was an extraordinary moment in art history; full of drama, intrigue and subterfuge.

Some collectors we may recognise and some we may not, but Hansen amassed a remarkable collection housed at his summer home, Ordrupgaard, on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Exhibition on Screen tells his fascinating story and, with exclusive access to a sell-out exhibition at London’s Royal Academy, brings the extraordinary collection to the big-screen in glorious high-definition.

From Hansen’s beautiful house and gardens at Ordrupgaard to the streets of bohemian Paris, this film takes you on a journey to discover some of the best examples of 19th-century French art ever collected.

Chadian director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s stunning drama centres on a single mother and her pregnant teen daughter as they seek an abortion in a country where it is technically legal but impossible to access.

Practicing Muslim Amina lives alone with her only child, fifteen-year-old Maria. When Amina learns Maria is not only pregnant but wishes to abort the child, the two women face an impossible situation in a country where abortion is technically legal but morally condemned.

Director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun explores the depths of the bonds among women, gradually revealing how far they will go to protect themselves and one another in this affecting drama that tackles the realities of abortion within a Muslim culture – a subject rarely broached in cinema.

★★★★★ – The Times. Wes Anderson's (The Grand Budapest Hotel) blissfully funny love letter to journalism, set in the final days of a magazine based in a fictional French town, returns to our screens by popular demand.

"★★★★★ – one of Anderson’s very best" – The Times

"★★★★★ – Brilliant... a brakeless freewheel through a teeming bazaar" – Telegraph

"★★★★ – Amazing visuals, lots of laughs and an A-list cast... sheer moment-by-moment pleasure" – Guardian

Back by popular demand! Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel) returns with his tenth film, assembling a cast of his usual suspects and a few new faces in this portmanteau love letter to journalism, set in the final days of a magazine based in a fictional French town.

As the staff of 'The French Dispatch' – the foreign bureau of American newspaper the Kansas Evening Sun – convene to deliver their final issue, different stories are brought to life: a travelogue of the seediest sections of the city itself from The Cycling Reporter; “The Concrete Masterpiece,” about a criminally insane painter, his guard and muse; a chronicle of love and death on the barricades at the height of student revolt; and “The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner", a suspenseful tale of drugs, kidnapping and fine dining!

A very rare screening of the first film in Kenji Misumi’s cult classic Lone Wolf and Cub film series.

Based on the manga of Kazuo Koike, in this first film Sword of Vengeance legendary shogun executioner Ogami Ittō (a serene, scowling Tomisaburo Wakayama) is framed for treason by the shadowy Yagyū clan.

Forced to flee, Ittō takes his infant son Daigoro with him, and begins life as a wandering assassin for hire. Expect extreme violence and blood-letting galore!

**Unfortunately we had to cancel our intended screening at LCB Depot in October, this new screening will be taking place at Phoenix.

Screening as part of Japan 2021: Over 100 years of Japanese Cinema, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. bfijapan.co.uk

★★★★ –  Guardian. Often overlooked in favour of 'It's a Wonderful Life', James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan star in this delightful festive comedy about a couple of ambitious sales staff who are unwittingly in an anonymous romantic relationship.

All tickets £5 (+ 50p admin fee) for our Winter Warmers screenings this December.

"★★★★ – Nostalgic and charming" – Empire

★★★★ –  Guardian

In the busy run-up to Christmas, a couple of ambitious sales staff are in competition with each other. But they’re also unwittingly in an anonymous romantic relationship, which until now has been conducted purely by letter.

This delightful festive comedy is often overlooked due to James Stewart’s popularity in It’s a Wonderful Life, but it's as funny, subtle and joyous as you'd expect from director Ernst Lubitsch.

This stunning animated film recounts the life of the Catalan republican cartoonist and exile Josep Bartolí, who was detained by the Gestapo and sent to various concentration camps after crossing the border into France to flee the Spanish Civil War.

French illustrator Aurel investigates the life of the Catalan republican cartoonist and exile Josep Bartolí, who was detained by the Gestapo and sent to various concentration camps after crossing the border into France to flee the Spanish Civil War.

Told through the memories of a dying elderly gendarme who encountered him in the French concentration camp, it follows Bartolí’s arrival in Mexico after jumping from a train transporting him to another camp, where he met Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, before living and working in the United States.

With the voices of Sergi López and Sílvia Pérez Cruz, it won prizes at the Tokyo Anime Awards, Anima and the European Film Awards, a best animated film César and was a Cannes official selection last year.

Directed by Oscar winner Steven Spielberg, West Side Story tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City.

Steven Spielberg’s dazzling new reimagining of the beloved 1957 Broadway show tells the classic story of fierce rivalries and young love in ‘50s New York.

Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and singing-sensation Rachel Zegler play the star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria, who fall head-over-heels for each other against the backdrop of the rivalry between two warring gangs – the Jets and the Sharks.

Adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway production, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim.

★★★★★ – Empire. In his wildly popular Broadway music show ‘American Utopia’, legendary musician and founding member of Talking Heads David Byrne reflects on human connections, life and how on earth we work through it.

"★★★★★ – A much-needed source of comfort and joy" – Empire

"★★★★★ – David Byrne’s concert film is for anyone who misses human connection" – Independent

"One of the best concert docs since Stop Making Sense" – IndieWire

★★★★★ – NME

★★★★ – Guardian

In his wildly popular Broadway music show ‘American Utopia’, legendary musician and founding member of Talking Heads David Byrne reflects on human connections, life and how on earth we work through it. He joins the dots with his music and it all starts making sense...

Spike Lee transforms the production into immersive, dynamic cinema that radiates with astounding performances, inventive contemporary dance and political urgency.

"★★★★★ – Kristen Stewart is subtle and uncannily precise as the people’s princess" – Evening Standard. Director Pablo Larraín, (Jackie) returns with this intimate, immaculate and moving film about Princess Diana.

"★★★★★ – Kristen Stewart is subtle and uncannily precise as the people’s princess" – Evening Standard

"★★★★ – A bold, compassionate, poetic riposte to standard royal biopics" – Empire

"★★★★★ – Kristen Stewart is masterful as Diana" – Telegraph

★★★★★ – Guardian

★★★★★ – Culture Whisper

Director Pablo Larraín, (Jackie) returns with this intimate, immaculate and moving film about Princess Diana.

Set around the time she decided to leave her marriage to Prince Charles, Spencer follows the Christmas Festivities at Sandringham Estate, and imagines what was going on behind the perfectly decorated halls, exploring the quiet moments that history often overlooks.

Now the Oscar favourite, Kristen Stewart is on astonishing form as Diana - supported by a host of home-grown acting talent including Timothy Spall, Jack Farthing and Sean Harris.

The annual Christmas screening of local history at Phoenix returns with Rob Foxon of the Leicestershire Film Archive.

The annual Christmas screening of local history returns for 2021 with Rob Foxon of the Leicestershire Film Archive.

Travel back in time with this specially-curated treasure trove of glorious archive material... all on real film!

The Leicestershire Film Archive extends Season's Greetings to all and welcomes your donations of old film footage for safe keeping.

This new documentary follows 65-year-old London piano maker Desmond O’Keeffe as he endeavours to deliver a piano to a mountain village school high up in the Indian Himalayas.

Facing his future in retirement, “sitting in deck chairs and eating lemon drizzle cake”, 65 year-old piano tuner Desmond O’Keeffe decides instead to take on the most challenging delivery of his four decade long career: transporting a 100 year-old Broadwood and Sons upright piano from bustling London to a primary school in the remote heart of the Indian Himalayas.

Aided by local Sherpas, the team’s convictions are tested as they cross sheer mountain passes of breathtaking beauty, coming in direct contact with a different way of living - a world on a brink of change, filled with equal measure serenity and hardship.

If successful, the expedition will be the highest piano delivery in history, but more importantly, it could become the ultimate gesture of music’s universal power: bridging cultures, inspiring strength and bringing joy.

★★★★★ – Guardian. Visionary director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) adapts Frank Herbert’s seminal, bestselling sci-fi novel into a Hollywood epic for the 21st century.

"★★★★★ – Denis Villeneuve’s awe-inspiring epic is a moment of triumph" – Guardian

"★★★★★ – science-fiction at its most majestic, unsettling and enveloping" – Telegraph

"★★★★★ – this generation’s Lord of the Rings trilogy" – Independent

Visionary director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) adapts Frank Herbert’s seminal, bestselling sci-fi novel into a Hollywood epic for the 21st century.

Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny, who must accompany his father the Duke Leto Atreides (Isaac) to the desert world Arrakis - the most dangerous planet in the universe.

As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of “Spice” the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Featuring an all-star cast, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Rampling and Josh Brolin, Dune is an epic fable that demands the scale and immersion of the cinema.

Showcasing the incredible talents of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, Michael Curtiz’s (Casablanca) 1954 musical is a genuine yuletide classic, featuring the timeless music of Irving Berlin.

For our Winter Warmers screenings this December, all tickets are £5.

After World War II, former soldiers and talented song-and-dance men Bob and Phil (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) become the hottest act in show business.

Pairing up on-stage and off with another double act, the beautiful Haynes sisters, the gang take up the challenge to save the failing Vermont Inn, as a favour to the inn's owner – Bob and Phil's former commanding officer, General Waverly.

Featuring such classic numbers as “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing”, “Count Your Blessings” and, of course, “White Christmas”, no festive holiday season is complete without this glorious musical from Hollywood's golden age.

Ridley Scott's true crime epic set in the decadent world of fashion stars Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, a woman whose ambition led her into a plot to murder her husband, Maurizio Gucci.

"★★★★ – a titillating, ridiculous and utterly engrossing soap opera" – Independent

"A tragi-comic triumph" – Sight and Sound

Lady Gaga follows up her Oscar-nominated acting debut in A Star is Born with the pivotal role in this true tale of murder and deceit among the fashion elite.

Patrizia Reggiani (Gaga) is an outsider who marries into the Gucci family, fashion royalty the world over.

Over the next two decades betrayals, decadence and Patrizia’s unbridled ambition combine to trigger an irreversible spiral leading to the darkest of desires – revenge – as Patrizia conceives a plot to murder the grandson of renowned fashion mogul Guccio Gucci and her own husband, Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver).

★★★★★ – Empire. Journey back to 1946 with our annual screenings of Frank Capra's classic ode to family, community and the power of redemption.

"★★★★★ – The kind of experience movies were invented for" – Empire

★★★★★ – Guardian

Journey back to 1946 with our annual screenings of Frank Capra's classic ode to family, community and the power of redemption.

James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a frustrated businessman who, over the course of one night, discovers the true meaning of Christmas.

Widely regarded as the best Christmas film of all time, this joyful and life-affirming film is unmissable.

★★★★★ – Guardian. Muppet magic gets sprinkled over Charles Dickens' Christmas tale of miser Ebenezer Scrooge, starring Michael Caine alongside our Muppet favourites.

"★★★★★ – One of the greatest literary adaptations of all time" – Empire

"★★★★★ – Michael Caine shows spirit in magical extravaganza" – Guardian

★★★★ – The Times

Some Muppet magic gets sprinkled over Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale of miser Ebenezer Scrooge.

With unforgettable songs and pitch perfect casting – Michael Caine as Scrooge, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit and the Great Gonzo as Dickens – The Muppet Christmas Carol is a festive family tradition.

A family favourite that needs no introduction! Will Ferrell stars in this fish-out-of-water story as the tallest elf in the toy factory, who travels to New York in search of his real father.

Jon Favreau's (Iron Man, The Lion King) Elf is a fish-out-of-water story with a festive twist, starring Will Ferrell (The Lego Movie, Daddy's Home) as the tallest elf at the toy factory.

Raised by Santa's little helpers after being transported to the North Pole, Buddy (Ferrell) heads to Manhattan in search for his real father, a cynical businessman.

This timeless story accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s magical score is a true Christmas institution, beloved by all ages.

On Christmas Eve, Marie and her whole family are gathered around the tree in celebration of the holiday. She receives a magical gift from her godfather Drosselmeyer and soon enough this Christmas Eve will take an unexpected turn for her. Marie's new doll comes alive and carries her into a whirlwind adventure.

The exceptional score by Tchaikovsky, brought to life by the Bolshoi Ballet dancers in The Nutcracker, delights the hearts and ears of all generations of music lovers.

Experience this festive classic with the whole family through the eyes of Marie and her Nutcracker Prince on the big screen.

Based on the much loved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, this gorgeously ethereal animation tells the story of a young boy’s Christmas Eve journey aboard the Polar Express, a magical train that’s bound for the North Pole.

"A trainful of sugar" – Guardian

"A runaway thrill" – Hollywood Reporter

Starring Tom Hanks– who voices seven different characters – Robert Zemeckis’ (Back to the Future) gorgeously ethereal animation tells the story of a young boy’s Christmas Eve journey aboard the Polar Express, a magical train that’s bound for the North Pole.

Blissful festive escapism, based on the much loved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, and a landmark in animation technology at the time of its release in 2003.

Maggie Gyllenhaal makes her directorial debut with this dark drama about a woman who becomes obsessed with a young mother she meets on holiday. Featuring a stellar cast, headed by Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter is a mesmeric watch.

“A daring psychological drama and a remarkable directorial debut from Maggie Gyllenhaal” – Variety

“Leaves you haunted, shaken, and crushingly scarred like only the best of films are capable of doing” – The Playlist

"★★★★ – Gyllenhaal's directorial debut is electric" – IndieWire

"★★★★ – Olivia Colman lights up Elena Ferrante psychodrama" – Guardian

Olivia Colman gives a stunning performance as the mysterious Leda, a woman whose seaside holiday takes a dark turn when she begins to obsess over a young mother she meets, leading ultimately to a confrontation with long-kept secrets from her own past.

Winner of Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival, this masterful adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s novel signals a promising future for Maggie Gyllenhaal behind the camera as well as in front of it, and puts Olivia Colman once more into the Oscar conversation.

A wonderful double bill of these animated films on Christmas Eve, guaranteed to get anyone in the festive spirit!

A double-bill of these wonderful animated films on Christmas Eve, guaranteed to get anyone in the festive spirit!

Adapted from Raymond Briggs' beloved children's book about a young boy's magical overnight adventure, the original Oscar-nomination animation The Snowman with its iconic score was aired in 1982.

30 years after the original film, producer John Coates felt that the time was right to create a second film and the charming The Snowman and The Snowdog was born!

Image: ©Snowdog Enterprises Ltd, 2021

©Snowman Enterprises Limited

“The Snowman” by Raymond Briggs is published by Puffin

www.thesnowman.com

★★★★★ – The Playlist. Joaquin Phoenix gives a career-best performance in this touching drama about a journalist who brings his young nephew on a cross-country work trip.

“★★★★★ – Poetic and bittersweet, C’mon C’mon is a special film” – The Playlist

"★★★★★ – Mills truly has made the most beautiful film of the year" – The Upcoming

"★★★★★ – Joaquin Phoenix is brilliantly sympathetic in this sensational chamber piece" – Telegrah

Joaquin Phoenix stars in this touching drama from Mike Mills (Beginners, 20th Century Women) about a journalist who brings his young nephew on a cross-country work trip after the boy’s father falls ill. Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) and his young nephew (Woody Norman) are unexpectedly thrown together when the boy’s father, who struggles with bipolar disorder, suffers a manic episode.

What emerges is a lasting and unbreakable bond between man and boy. A wonderfully observed drama about the richly rewarding nature of inter-generational bonding, C’mon C’mon cements Mike Mills as one of Hollywood’s finest independent voices.

"★★★★★ – Stands the test of time“ – Guardian. Powell and Pressburger’s utterly transcendent tale of a ballerina torn between her passion for dance and the man she loves is simply one of the greatest films ever made.

“The movie that plays in my heart“ – Martin Scorsese

“A dizzying blend of dazzling dance and daring darkness“ – Mark Kermode

"★★★★★ – Stands the test of time“ – Guardian

Powell and Pressburger’s utterly transcendent tale of a ballerina torn between her passion for dance and the man she loves is simply one of the greatest films ever made.

Having fallen for the charms of an idealistic young composer, rising ballet star Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) faces an impossible choice when her instructor insists she must dedicate herself completely to dance. Looking deep into her soul, Victoria deliberates on a decision that will change her life forever.

Featuring beautiful Technicolor cinematography by Jack Cardiff, Oscar-winning art direction and sets, mesmeric choreography and a sumptuous, award-winning score, The Red Shoes showcases the many crafts that make up filmmaking better than any film that has come before or since and does what cinema was made to do best: it transports you into another world entirely.

When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are carried away to the magical land of Oz, where they meet a wicked witch, a scarecrow, a tin man, a cowardly lion and a wizard...

★★★★ – Empire

MGM’s 1939 musical, starring screen legend Judy Garland, is a timeless classic.

When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are carried away to the magical land of Oz, where they meet a wicked witch, a scarecrow, a tin man, a cowardly lion and the Wizard himself.

All tickets £5.

★★★★★ – Guardian. Based on the hugely popular children’s books by Michael Bond, a young Peruvian bear with a passion for all things British travels to London in search of a home.

"★★★★★ – a warm, witty and wondrously inventive great big bear-hug of a movie" – Empire

★★★★★ – Guardian

Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, a young Peruvian bear begins to realise that city life is not all he had imagined – until he meets the kind Brown family, who read the label around his neck ("Please look after this bear. Thank you") and offer him a temporary haven. It looks as though his luck has changed until this rarest of bears catches the eye of a rare-bear collector.

All tickets £5.

Share your love of film with this 10-week course of group discussions, led by tutor Alan Seaman. The price includes a cup of tea/coffee and a ticket to the weekday daytime screening of your choice.

Join like-minded film enthusiasts for this 10-week course of tutor-led group discussions that put the cinema week into focus and help you get more from your cinema experience. Tutor Alan Seaman will share film clips and talk about forthcoming movies and film industry news.

Included in the price of the course is a cup of tea/coffee and a ticket to the weekday daytime screening of your choice, to be used in the same week as your session.

The course will run in Screen 2, and there are 30 places available. If you have access requirements, please book via Box Office as so we can ensure that your specific needs can be accommodated.

PLEASE NOTE: The course will run from 10.30am – 12pm as usual, though as Phoenix does not open to the general public until 12 o’clock there will be no Café Bar facilities available before the session starts. You will, however, be able to obtain your drinks which are included in the course fee.

Share your love of film with this 10-week course of group discussions, led by tutor Alan Seaman. The price includes a cup of tea/coffee and a ticket to the weekday daytime screening of your choice.

Join like-minded film enthusiasts for this 10-week course of tutor-led group discussions that put the cinema week into focus and help you get more from your cinema experience. Tutor Alan Seaman will share film clips and talk about forthcoming movies and film industry news.

Included in the price of the course is a cup of tea/coffee and a ticket to the weekday daytime screening of your choice, to be used in the same week as your session.

The course will run in Screen 2, and there are 30 places available. If you have access requirements, please book via Box Office as so we can ensure that your specific needs can be accommodated.

PLEASE NOTE: The course will run from 10.30am – 12pm as usual, though as Phoenix does not open to the general public until 12 o’clock there will be no Café Bar facilities available before the session starts. You will, however, be able to obtain your drinks which are included in the course fee.

★★★★★ – Guardian. David Wilkinson's new documentary asks the question - after the holocaust, why were so many of the people involved allowed to get away with their crimes?

"★★★★★ – an epic documentary investigation from director David Nicholas Wilkinson... a sombre, valuable film" – Guardian

"★★★★ – an understandably gruelling yet thought-provoking film" – Total Film

"★★★★ – A strikingly ambitious work" – Film Review Daily

★★★★ – The Times

Director David Wilkinson joins us for a Q&A after the film hosted by Dr Svenja Bethke of the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at University of Leicester.

During the Holocaust almost 1 million people in 22 countries carried out the unprovoked murder of 11 million innocent men, women and children. 99% of those responsible were never prosecuted; most were never even questioned.

The Allies knew what their crime was, and where these people could be found - Germany, Austria, Italy, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and numerous countries in South America. However, after the late 1940s, almost nothing was done.

Released to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the sentencing of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg.

This film picks up where the IMT trial left off and director David Wilkinson asks the question - why were so many people actively permitted to get away with their crimes?  Wilkinson’s journey takes him all over the UK, to Ireland, the USA, the killing fields of Lithuania, Latvia and the Czech Republic, to the infamous death camp Auschwitz - Birkenau in Poland, to Austria, France and, of course, Germany.

Running order:

2.45pm - Doors open

3pm - Introduction

3.05pm - Part 1 (1hr 33mins)

4.38pm - 15 min interval

4.53pm - Part 2 (1hr 22mins)

6.15pm - Q&A start (45mins)

A whistle-stop tour of six of the world's most iconic film locations, looking at the changes in these fascinating metropolises over the past century through the medium of cinema.

Join tutor Alan Seaman for a whistle-stop tour of some of the world's most iconic film locations, looking at the changes in these fascinating metropolises over the past century through the medium of cinema.

City symphonies and love-letters to urban existence, we'll be travelling to six great places that are teeming with life.

Course breakdown:

Week 1:  Berlin

Week 2:  Rome

Week 3:  Paris

Week 4:  New York

Week 5:  Tokyo

Week 6:  London

This course will take place in our Screen Room. Capacity is limited to 9 to enable social distancing.

Regarded as ‘Britain’s greatest living playwright’ (Times), Academy and Tony Award-winner Tom Stoppard’s critically acclaimed new play Leopoldstadt is a passionate drama of love, family and endurance.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Leopoldstadt was the old, crowded Jewish quarter of Vienna, Austria. But Hermann Merz, a factory owner and baptised Jew now married to Catholic Gretl, has moved up in the world.

We follow his family’s story across half a century, passing through the convulsions of war, revolution, impoverishment, annexation by Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. A company of 40 actors represent each generation of the family in this epic, but intimate play.

Filmed live on stage in London’s West End, ‘Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece is magnificent’ (Independent) and should not be missed.

On a glorious Greek evening, screen legend Bill Murray and world renowned cellist Jan Vogler rock the Acropolis with a timeless mix of music, literature and poetry.

On a glorious Greek evening, screen legend Bill Murray and world renowned cellist Jan Vogler rock the Acropolis with a timeless mix of music, literature and poetry. Captured on film by director Andrew Muscato, Murray and Vogler are joined by the dazzling Mira Wang (violin) and dynamic Vanessa Perez (piano).

The international quartet enchants the Athenian audience from the 2,000 year old stage of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus with musical reflections on love, hope and heartbreak. Spanning from Bach to Van Morrison, Whitman to West Side Story, the wildly entertaining, humorous and deeply touching program is infused with the one-of-a-kind charm of Bill Murray.

The ‘New Worlds’ project emerged from a chance encounter between Murray and Vogler, who met on a flight from Berlin to New York in 2013, with Murray amused that Vogler’s cello was taking up the window seat. The pair forged a strong friendship founded upon a deep curiosity for each other’s artistic worlds.

A practical, skills-based guide to screenwriting, taking you from your initial idea to a finished, short film script over the course of eight weeks.

The Art of Screenwriting will provide a practical, skills-based guide to screenwriting, taking you from your initial idea to a finished short film script over the course of eight weeks.

Experienced writer Kenton Hall will cover all aspects of screenwriting and working in the film industry, enabling you to take part in the full script-to-screen process. Writers of all levels of experience will be encouraged to develop, pitch and refine a short film script, while developing both their craft and industry knowledge.

All participants will write a script at the end of the course which will be edited to professional standards.

"Kenton showed a great deal of passion about the subject and this transmitted to the participants. We were all impressed with his depth of knowledge and effective methodology in kick-starting our creativity. High recommendation from me for course and tutors." – The Art of Screenwriting course participant

Course Breakdown:

Week 1:   An introduction to screenwriting

Week 2:   The 'light bulb' moment: is your idea any good? – ideas and pitching

Week 3:   Structure and why it matters – structuring your script

Week 4:   A bunch of authors in search of some characters – writing convincing characters

Week 5:   The plot thickens – plot construction

Week 6:   Your first draft and how much it sucks! – writing your script

Week 7:   How I learned to stop worrying and love my script editor – editing and refining your script

Week 8:   Giving up your baby: what happens next? – how a script is developed into a film

This course will take place in our Screen Room. There are 9 places available to allow for social distancing.

Join us for our first Mystery Film screening for families! No one knows what the film will be until the lights go down and the credits roll, so tuck into your popcorn and enjoy.

Join us for our first Mystery Film screening for families!

Putting the adventure and excitement back into watching films, our very popular Mystery Film night has run for several years, and now in partnership with The Spark Festival we can’t wait to open it up to families.

No one knows what the film will be until the lights go down and the credits roll, so all you need to do is sit back, relax (maybe take turns guessing what it will be), and enjoy the film.

Doors open 2.15pm.

There will be no ads or trailers and the film will start promptly at 2.30pm.

Screening finishes: 4.15pm

All tickets £4.

Set twelve years before the epic His Dark Materials trilogy, this gripping adaptation revisits Philip Pullman’s fantastical world in which waters are rising and storms are brewing.

Eighteen years after his ground breaking production of His Dark Materials at the National Theatre, director Nicholas Hytner returns to Pullman’s parallel universe.

Two young people and their dæmons, with everything at stake, find themselves at the centre of a terrifying manhunt. In their care is a tiny child called Lyra Belacqua, and in that child lies the fate of the future. As the waters rise around them, powerful adversaries conspire for mastery of Dust: salvation to some, the source of infinite corruption to others.

Broadcast live from London’s Bridge Theatre.

This highly engaging film takes us on a journey through the life of one of most iconic female artists, to seek a deeper understanding of the real Frida Kahlo.

“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.”

Released to coincide with International Women’s Day, Exhibition on Screen is delighted to bring Frida Kahlo back to cinema for the attention it deserves after last year’s Covid restrictions.

Who was Frida Kahlo? Everyone knows her, but who was the woman behind the bright colours, the big brows, and the floral crowns? Take a journey through the life of a true icon, discover her art, and uncover the truth behind her often turbulent life.

Making use of the latest technology, we take an in-depth look at key works throughout her career. Using letters Kahlo wrote to guide us, this definitive film reveals her deepest emotions and unlocks the secrets and symbolism contained within her art.

Exhibition on Screen’s trademark combination of interviews, commentary and a detailed exploration of her art delivers a treasure trove of colour and a feast of vibrancy. This personal and intimate film offers privileged access to her works, and highlights the source of her feverish creativity, her resilience, and her unmatched lust for life, politics, men and women.

Rosalie Craig stars in this vividly original retelling of Sleeping Beauty: a mythic, big-hearted new musical that goes beyond the waking kiss.

A vividly original retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Rufus Norris directs Rosalie Craig (The Ferryman, Company) in this mythic, big-hearted new musical that goes beyond the waking kiss.

Deep in the wood, a lonely fairy longs for someone to bless. When she is summoned to the palace to help the princess sleep, her dream turns into a nightmare and her blessing becomes a curse. Soon, she is plunged into a frantic, hundred-year quest to somehow make everything right.

Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre and based on the book by Tanya Ronder, with music by Jim Fortune.

This beautifully crafted film explores the Easter story as depicted in art, from the time of the early Christians to the present day.

The story of Christ’s death and resurrection has dominated Western culture for the past 2000 years. It is perhaps the most significant historical event of all time, as recounted by the gospels but, equally, as depicted by the greatest artists in history.

From the triumphant to the savage, the ethereal to the tactile, some of Western civilisation’s greatest artworks focus on this pivotal moment. This beautifully crafted film explores the Easter story as depicted in art, from the time of the early Christians to the present day.

Shot on location in Jerusalem, United States and throughout Europe, the film explores the different ways artists have depicted the Easter story through the ages, and thus depicts the history of us all.