Simple Things Festival

Sat 8 Nov

The Bristol Megascreen returns to Simple Things to host some future-shaping experimental icons.

Featuring the ethereal cyborg-pop of BABii, euphoric club sounds from long-time Drain Gang collaborator Mechatok, maximalist chaos from Iglooghost as well as a boundary-pushing screening of the BICEP scored A/V film on Arctic life & climate, TAKKUK.

This is the venue where sound and vision collide on an epic scale.

Simple Things is a multi venue festival happening all over Bristol. Explore more and get your tickets through the link below.

South West Silents: Joan Crawford Double Bill

Sat 15 Nov 12:00 – 16:00

As part of the BFI’s Too Much Melodrama season, South West Silents and Film Noir UK are proud to present this very special double bill celebrating the Melodrama Queen of the 1940s, Joan Crawford (1904-1977). This event will consist of classic melodrama and film noir Mildred Pierce (1945) directed byMichael Curtiz and Nicholas Ray’s melodrama, noir and western, Johnny Guitar (1954).

Mildred Pierce (1945): Melodrama casts noirish shadows in this portrait of maternal sacrifice from Hollywood master Michael Curtiz. Joan Crawford’s iconic performance as Mildred, a single mother hell-bent on freeing her children from the stigma of economic hardship, solidified Crawford’s career comeback and gave the actor her only Oscar.

But as Mildred pulls herself up by her bootstraps, first as an unflappable waitress and eventually as the well-heeled owner of a successful restaurant chain, the ingratitude of her materialistic firstborn (a diabolical Ann Blyth) becomes a venomous serpent’s tooth, setting in motion an endless cycle of desperate overtures and heartless recriminations. Recasting James M. Cain’s rich psychological novel as a murder mystery, this bitter cocktail of blind parental love and all-American ambition is both unremittingly hard-boiled and sumptuously emotional.

Johnny Guitar (1954): Joan Crawford (Mildred Pierce) plays Vienna, a saloon owner with a sordid past. Persecuted by the townspeople, Vienna must protect her life and her property when a lynch mob led by her sexually repressed rival, Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge; All The King’s Men), attempts to frame her for a string of robberies she did not commit. Enter Johnny Guitar (Sterling Hayden; Dr. Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb ), a guitar-strumming ex-gunfighter who has a history with Vienna.

Mis-understood by US audiences upon release, the film was embraced by European cineastes and is now regarded as one of the greatest western pictures of all time. An intensely stylised masterpiece from the great director Nicholas Ray.

Bristol Beacon presents Johnny Jewel

Sat 21 Nov 7pm

Johnny Jewel is a multi-instrumentalist producer, composer and visual artist.

He is known for using all-analog equipment and for his work with bands including Chromatics and Glass Candy; he has also produced for the likes of The Weeknd and Casisdead. His music has featured in Nicolas Winding Refn’s film Drive, Lost River (Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut), Bronson and Jewel performed his own music in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return.

This show will see Jewel present a rare live performance accompanied by a film screening, bringing together two key strands of his creative world.

Cary Comes Home Presents: Penny Serenade on Bristol Megascreen

Sat 29 Nov

“Take along a couple of blotters and a sponge. In fact, if you are prone to easy weeping, you might even take along a washtub.”

— Bosley Crowther, The New York Times, 1941

Cary Comes Home is thrilled to announce a very special screening of Penny Serenade (dir. George Stevens, 1941) on Saturday 29 November 2025, bringing this deeply moving Hollywood classic to the largest screen in Cary Grant’s hometown of Bristol. This event forms part of Too Much: Melodrama on Film, a UK-wide season supported by BFI National Lottery funding, celebrating the heightened emotions and vivid visual language of cinematic melodrama.

Penny Serenade is a quintessential “weepie,” a genre that dominated Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s, designed to tug at the heartstrings and leave audiences reaching for their handkerchiefs. The film stars Bristol-born Cary Grant in one of his only two Oscar-nominated performances, alongside Irene Dunne. At its core, the story is about love, resilience, and the fragility of happiness. Julie Gardiner Adams (Dunne) is on the brink of leaving her husband, Roger Adams (Grant). As she listens to a cherished record of “Penny Serenade,” the narrative dissolves into poignant flashbacks of their life together: an impulsive marriage, dreams of family, and devastating losses that test the strength of their bond.

Told through the haunting melodies of their record collection, the film uses music as emotional architecture, weaving together moments of joy and heartbreak. When it premiered in 1941, critics billed it as a “three-hankie” picture, and Bosley Crowther famously warned audiences to bring a washtub for their tears.

Featuring

• Live Music Performance featuring selections from the film’s evocative score
• Expert Panel Discussion exploring the role of music in melodrama and its emotional impact
• Screening on Bristol’s biggest cinema screen for an unforgettable communal experience

This screening is particularly significant for Cary Comes Home. During lockdown, the festival hosted a virtual watch-along of Penny Serenade, sparking a desire to experience its emotional power in a shared space. Now, that dream becomes reality.

Mega Silents: First World War Double Bill

Sat 22 Nov 12 – 4pm

South West Silents is very excited to present this special double bill consisting of classic silent film The Battle of the Somme (1916) with Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, Paths of Glory (1957).

The Battle of the Somme (1916): One of the most successful British films ever made, it is estimated that more than 20 million tickets were sold in Great Britain in the first two months of release of The Battle of the Somme (1916). Soon afterwards, the film was distributed worldwide to prove Britain’s commitment to the First World War.

The Battle of the Somme gave its 1916 audience an unprecedented insight into the realities of trench warfare, controversially including the depiction of dead and wounded soldiers. It shows scenes of the build-up to the infantry offensive, including the massive preliminary bombardment, coverage of the first day of the battle – the bloodiest single day in the British Army’s history – and depictions of the small gains and huge costs of the attack.

As a pioneering battlefield record, the very concept of The Battle of the Somme outraged commentators on its release, inaugurating a debate about the on-screen depiction of combat that continues to this day. Its use of a staged sequence to represent the opening of the assault also set the scene for continuing controversy about the ‘truth’ of a filmic record. If anything however, The Battle of the Somme is a piece of history and the key source of many of the conflict’s most iconic images.

The film with have live musical accompaniment by Stephen Horne. With thanks to Imperial War Museums.

Paths of Glory (1957): Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory is among the most powerful antiwar films ever made. A fiery Kirk Douglas stars as a World War I French colonel who goes head-to-head with the army’s ruthless top brass when his men are accused of cowardice after being unable to carry out an impossible mission.

This haunting, exquisitely photographed dissection of the military machine in all its absurdity and capacity for dehumanization (a theme Kubrick would continue to explore throughout his career) is assembled with its legendary director’s customary precision, from its tense trench warfare sequences to its gripping courtroom climax to its ravaging final scene.

UK Surf Cinema Tour

Tue 2nd Dec 7pm

UK Surf Cinema is a national touring showcase bringing together surfers, ocean lovers and filmmakers to celebrate story-driven films about wave-riding and the sea. We have 3 films with heart and purpose screening not only for the thrill of watching waves, but for the shared love of the ocean, kinship and culture.

• Salt by Alice Ward (12 mins)
  
  A moving short explores the role salt has played throughout filmmaker Alice Ward’s life. From her mother noticing her skin was unusually salty at birth leading to a diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis to Alice becoming the first woman in Ireland to start shooting in the water to capture surfing from a female perspective.
  
• Finding San Nicolas by Martin Dorey & John Cutts (29 mins)
  
  In 1968, John Cutts and Roger Tout set off on a banana boat with surfboards and six rolls of film. What they found was paradise and adventure. Told with new interviews cut against John’s original Super 8 reels, this is surf history and surf exploration at its most alive.
  
• Riptide by Kristian Kane & Lewis Carter (53 mins)
  
  The story of Welsh surfer Mark “Jock” Jones, whose surf-dominated life is upended by a catastrophic Myeloma blood cancer diagnosis. An inspiring reflection on resilience, wellbeing and the healing pull of surfing and the sea.

Each film will be introduced with a short video message from the filmmakers, and the evening will be hosted in person by the UK Surf Cinema team.

Every film you see is properly licensed, with filmmakers paid fairly for each screening. The tour is also building a fund to support mentoring, networking and new creative projects, ensuring emerging talent has the backing it needs. On top of that, £1 from every ticket goes directly to The Wave Project, whose surf therapy programmes help young people across the UK.

Doors Open: 6:30pm

Screening Starts: 7pm

Screening Ends: 9pm

South West Silents: Gloria Swanson Double Bill

Sat 6th Dec 12pm

UK Surf Cinema is a national touring showcase bringing together surfers, As part of the BFI’s Too Much Melodrama season, South West Silents and Film Noir UK are proud to present this very special double bill celebrating the Melodrama Queen herself, Gloria Swanson (1899-1983). This event will consist of Allan Dwan’s silent comedy classic Stage Struck (1925), which will be screened with live music, and Billy Wilder’s noir masterpiece, Sunset Boulevard (1950).

Stage Struck (1925): Daydreaming waitress Jennie Hagen fantasizes about becoming a famous actress, while in reality she and her cook boyfriend, Orme Wilson, hope to one day own their own diner. Although Orme loves Jennie, he also has a weakness for stage stars – so when a riverboat theatrical crew comes to their town, he is smitten by lead actress Lillian Lyons. Desperate to keep Orme, Jennie insists on going onstage to best Lillian, but is soon out of her depth.

The film will be accompanied with live music.

Sunset Boulevard (1950) Intense, enthralling, and unforgettable, Sunset Boulevard stars Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, a faded silent-movie star, and William Holden as Joe Gillis, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter whom she enlists to help her make her triumphant “return to the screen”. Directed and co-written by acclaimed filmmaker Billy Wilder, this mesmerising Hollywood classic won three Academy Awards®.

South West Silents: Wild West Double Bill

Sat 17th Jan 12pm

Marking the 40th anniversary of the classic comedy western ¡Three Amigos! (1986) South West Silents is very excited to present a special double bill connecting two classic comedies from two classic Hollywood eras; both of which play we the concepts of reality and illusion of cinema and the Wild West.

From the silent era, and starring one of the all-time greats, Douglas Fairbanks; Wild and Woolly (1917) is one of the best action-packed comedies ever to be produced from the golden age of Hollywood. Fairbanks plays Jeff Hillington, a millionaire who is obsessed with the folklore of the ‘Wild West’, so much so he would love to ‘live in it’. Taking advantage of his passion, Jeff is invited to a town out West, but unbeknown to him, the town’s “wild” days are long over. The townspeople are all after Jeff for his money, so they humour his taste for the “West”.

But reality catches up with the townsfolk when a real bunch of “Wild” bandits role into town. In classic Fairbanks style, the films plays out with some of the best stunts and funniest moments on film.

From the silent era we jump to the height of the 1980s with comedy classic ¡Three Amigos! (1986). Starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short and directed by John Landis. Lucky Day (Martin), Dusty Bottoms (Chase) and Ned Nederlander (Short) are a trio of silent film stars, known as the ‘Three Amigos’, who have been dropped by their studio.

When they receive a telegram inviting them to put on a show in a remote Mexican village, they are forced to accept. However, there is one problem; the villagers mistake them for real daring caballeros, and the banditos they are being paid to take on fire real bullets. Will the Amigos save the day, or have they bitten off more than they can chew?

With thanks to FPA Classics France, Park Circus and MGM Studios.

DJ Cheeba Presents: The Warriors (Live Re-Score)

Sat 20 Sep 7pm

The Warriors is more than a cult classic. Its influence on urban culture, music and style is well documented and has inspired this dynamic and technical live re-score project. Bespoke remixes by longtime collaborator Indeed, era-defining hip hop and a selection of the countless tracks that have sampled the famous dialogue are all cut up with Cheeba’s unique style and turntable flare. CAN YOU DIG IT?”

This very special Bristol event will also bring a host of extras:

Original theatrical release version
DJ Powercut – 1979 themed DJ set in the foyer
Additional projections and SFX
Craft beer bar by New `Bristol Brewery
Popcorn and general treats kiosk
Panasonic laser projection filling the full 19m wide IMAX screen
Huge IMAX sound
Merch stall with strictly limited edition prints and tees from NewAnalog

Entry requirements: 18+

Sunset Seas: Jaws 50th Anniversary

With Forbidden Worlds Film Festival

Sat 29 Aug 6pm

Welcome to Sunset Seas at Bristol Aquarium – JAWS Edition! Celebrating 50 years since the iconic film’s release with Forbidden Worlds. 

Join us on Friday 29th August, from 6.00pm to 10.00pm, for Sunset Seas: JAWS Edition – an adults-only (18+) evening at Bristol Aquarium, blending after-hours exploration with cinematic thrills.

As the sun sets on Bristol, wander through the aquarium’s winding pathways and see our marine world in a whole new light. Experience the tranquillity of our sun-drenched botanical houses in full bloom, then head below the surface to witness our nocturnal sharks stir into life.

Enjoy our themed event cocktails and mocktails, get hands-on with real shark artefacts, and uncover the fascinating truths behind shark behaviour. 

Then, after exploring the aquarium we will be screening Jaws for it’s 50th anniversary celebration on the Bristol Megascreen — the biggest cinema screen in the city – with a special introduction about how Jaws has impacted shark conservation.

Whether you’re here for the science, the spectacle, or just a night with bite — Sunset Seas: JAWS Edition is a unique evening to be enjoyed by cinephiles and marine enthusiasts alike! 

Doors Open: 6.00PM

Aquarium Displays Open 6.00PM to 7.30PM

Cinema Doors Open: 7.15PM

Introduction and Film: 7.30PM

Event End: 10.00PM

SOLD OUT

Cinema Rediscovered: Diva

18

Sat 26 Jul 3:20pm

Two tapes, two Parisian mob killers, one corrupt policeman, an opera fan, a teenage thief, and the coolest philosopher ever filmed.

Director Jean-Jacques Beineix, most well-known for his sensual erotic romance Betty Blue (1986), launched the “Cinéma du look” movement with Diva, a stylish cult thriller that remains as visually striking today as when it premiered in 1981.

Jules (Frédéric Andréi), a young postal carrier, illegally tapes a concert of a reclusive opera singer (American soprano Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez). Jules’ attempts to woo the diva are interrupted when Taiwanese bootleggers come after the recording. His problems worsen when a prostitute slips another tape, one that incriminates a police chief, into his bag. Now, Jules must escape the police chief, the cop’s henchmen and the bootleggers to keep both precious tapes safe—and to stay alive.

Featuring a celebrated – and much imitated – chase through the Paris Metro and an early appearance by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen 1991, Amélie 2001) favourite actor Dominique Pinon, Diva earned César Awards for Beineix, Vladimir Cosma’s (Le Bal 1983) sumptuous music and Philippe Rousselot’s (Henry & June 1990) visceral cinematography.

With an introduction by film historian, repertory programmer and video essayist Jonathan Bygraves.

Queer Vision: Brokeback Mountain

Sat 5 Jul 8pm

Why can’t I quit you? 

In honour of its 20th anniversary, we are thrilled to present queer cowboy classic, Brokeback Mountain.

A film with such an extraordinary, yet complicated legacy – but nonetheless, wholly synonymous with LGBT+ cinema for bridging the gap with the mainstream.Taking place at the Bristol Megascreen (the former IMAX) on Saturday 5 July this is your chance to see this iconic film and breath taking cinematography and the largest cinema screen in Bristol!

Ang Lee’s beautiful, epic western tells the story of Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal); two ranch hands hired to herd sheep on the pastures of Brokeback Mountain during the summer of 1963. Whilst the pair are initially standoffish with each other, the solitude of their environment brings them together, culminating – one night during a storm – in a highly-charged sexual encounter. This relationship becomes complicated when they return to their former lives, where they must learn to either embrace or deny their true feelings against the traditional societal views of masculinity.

We are presenting this as double bill with The Wedding Banquet with a special discounted combination ticket available

We’re encouraging everyone to don their rootinest tootinest rodeo and brilliant bridal looks to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes! There is a bar onsite as well as a special pop up cocktail bar with specially themed cocktails for the event.

Festival of Nature: Behind-the-scenes talk: Ocean with Silverback Films

Sun 15 Jun 1:45pm

Join Silverback Films for a behind-the-scenes talk about their new feature length documentary ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’

David Attenborough explores the planet’s undersea habitats, revealing the greatest age of ocean discovery and emphasizing the ocean’s vital importance while exposing its problems and highlighting opportunities for marine life recovery.

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival 2025

Wed 28th May – Sun 1st Jun

Ahead of the 50th anniversary re-release of Jaws this August, Forbidden Worlds invites audiences to dive into new depths of fear and excitement with FORBIDDEN WORLDS OF THE DEEP, featuring a line-up of classic and cult films set on, around and under the water.

Events include a special 30th anniversary screening of Waterworld (1995), which will see the extended European ‘Ulysses Cut’ shown theatrically for the first time in the UK; The Whale God (1962), a rarely screened Japanese-take on Moby Dick with stunning life-size practical effects; cult horror Blood Tide (1980) featuring the late, great James Earl Jones as a secretive treasure hunter; an in-depth look at the world of Jawsploitation films with screenings of the new 4K restorations of Orca (1977) and Alligator (1980); and Below (2002) –  a WWII-horror film featuring supernatural occurrences onboard a submarine from David Twohy, director of Pitch Black (2000) – screened theatrically for the first time in the UK!

The festival will also honour and celebrate the career of Gale Anne Hurd by naming her as this year’s FORBIDDEN WORLDS LEGEND. Hurd has had unprecedented success as both a film and television producer on some of the biggest films and TV shows of all time including The Walking Dead universe. Initially hired as an executive assistant to the legendary Roger Corman, Hurd rapidly rose through the ranks to become head of marketing at his independent film company, New World Pictures. 

After launching her own production company in 1982, Hurd produced her first film, the science fiction classic The Terminator, setting the stage for her meteoric rise in the entertainment industry. Forbidden Worlds will be hosting special in-person Q&A screenings with Hurd for three of her most iconic and influential films – Aliens (1986), Tremors (1990) and Battle Beyond The Stars (1980).

Pulled FROM THE VIDEO SHOP ARCHIVES of Bristol institution 20th Century Flicks also comes special screenings of French fantasy The City of Lost Children, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Amblin Studios adventure Young Sherlock Holmes that marks its 40th anniversary.

The festival will once again be celebrating the GENRE FILMMAKERS OF THE FUTURE with the return of its short film showcase where attendees can enjoy new action, horror, sci-fi and fantasy shorts from filmmakers both local and international.

The festival will also be hosting the WORLD PREMIERE of Bristolian film-maker Arthur Cauty’s new documentary The Big Picture which tells the story of how the Bristol IMAX, a state of the art cinema, was left forgotten for over a decade in the middle of the city, and how it came to find a new lease of life as a new community space – Bristol Megascreen.

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival is Bristol’s leading genre film festival dedicated to screening repertory fantasy, action, science-fiction and horror films from around the world, and celebrating the people who made them.

Mega Silents: City Montage Season

Double Bill

Battleship Potemkin (1925)/The Battle of Algiers (1966)

Sat 29 Mar 12pm

Over the course of three weekends, South West Silents, in collaboration with Future City Film Festival, will showcase the use of montage and cutting in silent film and its impact on future films in the history of cinema. These specially curated events will include introductions, screenings notes and live musical accompaniment to some of the silent films presented.

Battleship Potemkin (1925) Director: Sergei Eisenstein Starring: Aleksandr Antonov, Vladimir Barksy, Grigori Aleksandrov Music: Live Musical Accompaniment by John Sweeney USSR / 72mins / PG

Declared the greatest film of all time at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and one of only two films to have appeared on all of Sight & Sound’s critics’ polls (1952–2022), Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin is one of the true masterpieces in the history of cinema.

In essence, it tells a five-part story of a naval mutiny leading to full-blown revolution, but while this material could be crudely propagandist in other hands, Eisenstein uses images of such dynamic compositional strength and editing of such frame-perfect precision that it’s hard not to be swept along, regardless of personal politics.

Widely censored as much out of fear of the perceived influence of its ideas as for any contentious material on screen the film would later be banned outright in Britain until 1954 and X-rated until 1987.

For ten decades Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece has remained the most influential silent film of all time. South West Silents presents one of the true classics of cinema on the big screen with live music by John Sweeney for its 100th anniversary.

The Battle of Algiers (1966) Director: Gillo Pontecorvo Starring: Jean Martin, Saadi Yacef, Brahim Haggiag, Tommaso Neri ITA, ALG / 121mins / 15

One of the most influential political films in history, The Battle of Algiers, by Gillo Pontecorvo, vividly re-creates a key year in the tumultuous Algerian struggle for independence from the occupying French in the 1950s. As violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at point-blank range, women plant bombs in cafés, and French soldiers resort to torture to break the will of the insurgents.

Shot on the streets of Algiers in documentary style, the film is a case study in modern warfare, with its terrorist attacks and the brutal techniques used to combat them. Pontecorvo’s tour de force has astonishing relevance today.

Bristol Megascreen presents: Ghost in the Shell

Sun 9 Mar 7pm

Doors open 6:30pm

Ages 15+

Celebrate three decades of cyberpunk brilliance with a rare cinematic experience of Ghost in the Shell (1995), brought to life on the largest screen in Bristol! Join us on Sunday, 9th March, at the Bristol Megascreen for an unmissable evening that pays tribute to one of anime’s most iconic masterpieces.

As a special treat, attendees of the Bristol Anime and Gaming Convention enjoy an exclusive discount on tickets—because we know true anime fans won’t want to miss this! (This discount only applied to those with purchased tickets to the convention which needs to be shown as proof on entry to the Bristol Megascreen).

One Last Farm, One Last Chance

Free entry!

2 Film Screenings & Panel Discussion

Friday, 28th Feb 6pm

THE FILMS

One Last Farm: A poignant documentary about Bristol’s last working farm and its fight to protect a unique wildlife habitat from development. Produced by Nikki Dodd.

Save Our Wild Isles: Hungry for Change: An award-winning film from Nick Gates and Silverback Films that brought together experts from three of the UK’s largest conservation organisations. The National Trust, the RSPB and WWF reveal the impact of the food system on UK nature and crucially what could be done to reduce its impact. 

THE CONVERSATION

How can we feed the nation and farm sustainably? At this event, the filmmakers will speak with leading voices at the intersection of food production and nature conservation. They’ll discuss how farming can be a crucial ally to combat the ecological crisis and climate change. Speakers include Nikki Dodd (director of One Last Farm), Nick Gates (Silverback Films), Patrick Holden (Sustainable Food Trust), Sumita Hutchison (West of England Nature Partnership), Guy Poultney (Bristol City councillor), and Catherine Withers (Yew Tree Farm).

The evening concludes with a drinks reception, an invaluable opportunity for attendees to connect with one another. 

We hope you can join us for this very special evening.

Slapstick Festival: The Great Dictator (1940) with Alasdair Beckett-King & Robin Ince

Thu 13 Feb 2025 8pm

Alasdair and Robin introduce this special big screen outing of Chaplin’s masterful and timely satire.  They will explore how Chaplin masterfully used comedy to take aim at authoritarianism, racism, and war. Released before the USA entered WWII, The Great Dictator was Chaplin’s first talking picture, and he didn’t hold back. His brilliant lampooning of Adolf Hitler made the film both a courageous act of defiance and a masterclass in using humour as a political weapon.

Despite being banned in Nazi-occupied territories and doubts about its success elsewhere the film became Chaplin’s highest grossing film. The film’s closing speech—a moving appeal for peace and humanity—remains strikingly relevant in today’s turbulent world. One of cinema’s most daring and significant works on the big screen.

Slapstick Festival: Hundreds of Beavers – with Ryland Brickson Cole Tews

Wed 12 Feb 2025 8:30pm

Made on a lowly $100,000 budget, this surprise independent hit about a trapper (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) battling malevolent beavers is already heading towards cult classic status, having picked up scores of awards from festivals worldwide, earning glowing reviews from top critics & audiences and getting a 97% score on the Rotten Tomatoes’ tomatometer. It is also such a masterful homage to slapstick hits of the silent era that its makers are being awarded the Slapstick Legacy Medal.

With introduction and post show conversation hosted by Robin Ince awith co-writer/ lead actor Ryland Brickson Cole Tews Plus Q&A

“Genuinely bananas and genuinely funny” – Mark Kermode. 

Cary Comes Home Festival 2024

Fri 29 Nov – Sun 1 Dec 2024

Celebrate one of Bristol’s biggest icons on Bristol’s biggest screen with 8 classic films across 3 days.

Cary Grant Festival celebrates their 10th anniversary this year! This year the festival explores Cary’s acrobatic prowess and his lasting impact on action cinema.

Under the Sea Technicolor Double Bill

1–5pm, November 10th, 2024

A Technicolor underwater masterpiece featuring BBC TV’s nature film icons, Dr. Hans and Lotte Hass, UNDER THE CARRIBEAN / UNTERNEHMEN XARIFA (1954) offers the opportunity to explore the underwater realm with Hass and his team in an especially immersive fashion in this new subtitled digitisation from a vintage Technicolor print by Filmarchiv Austria, screened with kind support from Dr Michael Jung.

Furthermore, thanks to the Royal Film Archive of Belgium – CINEMATEK, we explore THE GREAT BARRIER REEF in Pierre Levie’s 1969 film that has been likened to Cousteau’s best works, features footage by shark experts Ron and Valerie Taylor (JAWS) and remarkably reflects some of the ecological issues sadly threatening the ocean realm in the present.

Wildscreen

13 – 18 Oct

Wildscreen Festival is the world’s leading wildlife and environmental film festival. Immerse yourself in our Official Selection of unique and original productions about the natural world, created by storytellers from across the globe.

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival: The Big Scream

11th – 12th Oct

Forbidden Worlds looks at the perils of stranger danger with six selections from around the globe: the cult British folk horror of The Shout; a brand-new 4K restoration of VHS favourite The Hitcher, starring the much-missed Rutger Hauer; Dario Argento’s audacious Opera, also presented in a brand-new 4K restoration; the creepy and influential Cure from Japan; teen horror fave I Know What You Did Last Summer; and the quintessential ‘stranger danger’ horror, When a Stranger Calls.

South West Silents: Witchcraft Double Bill

Sat 28 Sep, 2pm

South West Silents are teaming up with Hellebore magazine to bring you this double bill of classic tales of witchcraft and folklore. Häxan (1922) followed by The City of the Dead (1960).

Deep Blue Sea – 25th Anniversary

Sat 21 Sep, 7.30pm

A team of scientists at a remote underwater facility conduct genetic research on Mako sharks in hopes of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, their experiments take a terrifying turn when the sharks become smarter, faster, and far more deadly.

Cinema Rediscovered: The Conversation

Sat 27 Jul. 6:15pm

From legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, Gene Hackman stars as Harry Caul, a reticent surveillance expert, gets into trouble when he suspects the couple he secretly recorded is going to be murdered by his client. With intro by Adrian Utley.

Cinema Rediscovered: Paris, Texas

Sat 27 Jul, 2pm

One of the most iconic films of the 1980s, Harry Dean Stanton stars as a man wandering out of the desert and in to the ghosts of the past.

Tucker & Dale Vs The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 1974

Sun 21 Jul, 3pm

Horror Without End and 20th Century Flicks, the team that brought you ThreadGames, invite you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the greatest horror film ever made… followed by one of the funniest.

Queer Vision: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Sat 6 July 2024

Showing as part of Bristol Pride’s Queer Vision film festival, this classic comedy celebrated it’s 30th anniversary at Bristol Megascreen with a performance from the Bristol Show Choir and Bristol’s very own drag icon, Tess Drive.