Films in London today: LOVE & BASKETBALL, part of 20TH BIRTHDAY at Genesis Cinema (05 MAY).
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NOW BOOKING: Films in London this month [MAY 2019]

RADIANT CIRCUS is your handcrafted guide to London’s DIY, indie & alternative movie nights, film events & gallery screenings. Our latest SCREEN GUIDE helps you find repertory seasons & film festivals in London this month.

Find films in London this month by: REPERTORY SEASONS // FILM FESTIVALS

Welcome to our monthly roundup.

Each month we look ahead to what we call London’s MUSEUM SHOWS, the places where you can find several attractions under one roof. Our listings are divided into repertory seasons and film festivals. We’ll update when we discover something new.

We keep you updated on all London’s one-off screenings including film clubs, meet the talent Q&As and other special events in our weekly digests and daily updates.

FEATURED ATTRACTION

Our featured attraction of the month not only celebrates the (re)birth of a historic East End venue but also the important role independently owned and operated cinemas play in our shared screen culture. Get to Genesis Cinema’s 20TH BIRTHDAY (03 to 12 MAY) by grabbing yourself a ticket for the party price of £2.50 (which comes with a free pint of something Trumans!).

Our special mention this month goes to BFI for their thorough exploration of Weimar era cinema, BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS (MAY to JUN).

NEW AT RADIANT CIRCUS

Screen25 Spring / Summer Season 2019: SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (21 JUN 19:45).
  • We are delighted to be partnering with Screen25 to celebrate their new Spring / Summer programme with a juicy discount for all our subscribers, friends and followers.
  • Chinese Visual Festival starts the month at BFI Southbank & King’s College London (02 to 09 MAY).
  • Lexi Film School continues to 24 JUN.

FILMS IN LONDON THIS MONTH

REPERTORY SEASONS (A–Z)

Films in London this month: FLATLINERS 70mm at The Prince Charles (21 MAY).
Films in London this month: FLATLINERS 70mm at The Prince Charles (21 MAY).

70mm PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):

  • Bringing regular 70mm presentations back to the West End with: FLATLINERS 70mm d. Joel Schumacher, 1990 (21 MAY 20:45); and, DUNE 70mm d. David Lynch, 1984 (26 MAY 14:40 / 28 MAY 20:45).

A FOCUS ON NICK BROOMFIELD at BFI Southbank (31 MAY to 01 JUN):

AGNÈS VARDA: GLEANING TRUTHS at The Prince Charles (until 03 JUN):

  • Eight feature-length fiction and documentary films. Includes: THE GLEANERS AND I d. Agnès Varda, 2000 (07 MAY 18:30); and, VAGABOND d. Agnès Varda, 1985 (21 MAY 18:20).

ALL NIGHT / DAY / MINI MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):

ANG LEE’S CHINESE CLASSICS at Deptford Cinema (26 APR to 14 JUN):

BEBOP NEW YORK: BIRTH OF AMERICAN INDIE CINEMA at Barbican (23 MAY to 25 JUN):

  • “Late-50s New York. In Greenwich Village bars and Times Square burger joints painters, writers, critics, musicians were making a new world. Filmmakers were right there too.” Includes: SHADOWS 35mm d. John Cassavetes, 1959 (23 MAY 19:00); and, Stan Brakhage: An Adventure in Perception 16mm (28 MAY 19:00).
Films in London this month: THE CHRONICLES OF THE GREY HOUSE, part of BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS at BFI (13 & 26 MAY).
Films in London this month: THE CHRONICLES OF THE GREY HOUSE, part of BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS at BFI (13 & 26 MAY).

BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS: WEIMAR CINEMA 1919-1933 at BFI Southbank (MAY to JUN):

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: THE MEANINGS OF LIFE at BFI Southbank (MAY):

CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF THE BATMAN! at The Prince Charles (06 to 27 MAY):

  • “In celebration of 80 Years of the Caped Crusader, we’ll be bringing back some of his best big screen adventures to our building!” Includes: BATMAN: THE MOVIE d. Leslie H. Martinson, 1966 (06 MAY 15:45); BATMAN d. Tim Burton, 1989 (17 to 27 MAY); BATMAN RETURNS d. Tim Burton, 1992 (19 MAY 21:00 / 27 MAY 15:25); BATMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE ANTHOLOGY (27 MAY 12:35 – Day Passes SOLD OUT!); BATMAN FOREVER d. Joel Schumacher, 1995 (27 MAY 18:10); and, BATMAN & ROBIN d. Joel Schumacher, 1997 (27 MAY 20:45);

CELEBRATING PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN at The Prince Charles (06 JAN to 15 JUL):

CLOSE-UP ON ANDREI TARKOVSKY at Close-Up (MAY):

  • “Tarkovsky belongs to that handful of filmmakers who, with a small, concentrated body of work, created a universe.” Includes: STALKER d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1979 (08 MAY 15:00 / 27 MAY 15:00); MIRROR d. d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1974 (13 MAY 15:30 / 29 MAY 15:30); SOLARIS d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972 (15 MAY 15:30); and, NOSTALGHIA d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1983 (20 MAY 15:30).
Films in London this month: DIAMONDS OF THE NIGHT, part of CZECH NEW WAVE at Close-Up (04 MAY).
Films in London this month: DIAMONDS OF THE NIGHT, part of CZECH NEW WAVE at Close-Up (04 MAY).

CLOSE-UP ON THE CZECHOSLOVAK NEW WAVE at Close-Up (23 APR to 15 MAY):

  • “Coinciding with the UK premiere of Shivendra Singh Dungarpur’s epic documentary CZECHMATE: IN SEARCH OF JIRÍ MENZEL at Close-Up, we’re thrilled to present a programme of masterpieces from the Czech and Slovak New Wave.” Includes: Take Two: DIAMONDS OF THE NIGHT d. Jan Němec, 1964 + JOSEF KILIAN d. Pavel Jurácek & Jan Schmidt, 1965 (04 MAY 20:00); THE SHOP ON THE HIGH STREET d. Ján Kadár & Elmar Klos, 1965 (07 MAY 20:15); VALERIE & HER WEEK OF WONDERS d. Jaromil Jires, 1970 (10 MAY 20:15); BIRDS ORPHANS & FOOLS d. Juraj Jakubisko, 1969 (13 MAY 20:15); THE CREMATOR d. Juraj Herz, 1968 (15 MAY 20:15).

CLOSE-UP ON SCOTT WALKER at Close-Up (24 APR to 31 MAY):

  • “In memory of the late great Scott Walker, Close-Up is honoured to present three films featuring of his original scores alongside a selection of cinematic masterpieces originally selected by Scott for his edition of Meltdown Festival in 2000.” Includes: TAKE CARE OF YOUR SCARF, TATIANA d. Aki Kaurismäki, 1994 (04 MAY 18:30); THE LEOPARD d. Luchino Visconti, 1963 (05 MAY 18:30 / 26 MAY 18:30); THE ROUND-UP d. Miklós Jancsó, 1965 (06 MAY 20:15); HUNGER d. Henning Carlsen, 1966 (11 MAY 18:00); A MAN ESCAPED d. Robert Bresson, 1956 (11 MAY 20:15 / 30 MAY 20:15); POLA X 35mm d. Leos Carax, 1999 (12 MAY 17:00 / 25 MAY 20:15); GERTRUD d. Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1964 (19 MAY 17:30); CHINESE ROULETTE d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1976 (27 MAY 20:15); DRIFTING CLOUDS d. Aki Kaurismäki, 1996 (28 MAY 20:15); A MAN ESCAPED d. Robert Bresson, 1956 (30 MAY 20:15); and, VOX LUX d. Brady Corbet, 2019 (31 MAY 20:15).

THE FILMS OF JEAN-MARIE STRAUB AND DANIÈLE HUILLET Goethe-Institut & partners’ epic season continues at Birkbeck Cinema, Ciné Lumière, Close-Up, Goethe-Institut, ICA & Whitechapel Gallery (MAR to JUN):

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles (until 08 JUL):

  • Includes: MAGNOLIA 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999 (02 MAY 20:00).

GENESIS 20TH BIRTHDAY at Genesis Cinema (03 to 12 MAY – Tickets £2.50 + FREE PINT!!):

Films in London this month: AMOUR FOU, part of HISTORICAL PERIOD DRAMAS at Austrian Cultural Forum London (30 MAY).
Films in London this month: AMOUR FOU, part of HISTORICAL PERIOD DRAMAS at Austrian Cultural Forum London (30 MAY).

HISTORICAL PERIOD DRAMAS at Austrian Cultural Forum (02 APR to 30 MAY – FREE!):

  • “In 2019 our CineClub investigates the relationship of Austrian cinema and genre. We continue in the spring with a closer look at Austrian historical period dramas from the silent era to current festival highlights.” Includes: LICHT aka Mademoiselle Paradis d. Barbara Albert, 2017 (16 MAY 19:00); MOZART aka The Life & Loves of Mozart d. Karl Hartl, 1955 (23 MAY 19:00); and, AMOUR FOU d. Jessica Hausner, 2014 (30 MAY 19:00).

HAL ASHBY DOUBLE BILLS at Regent Street Cinema (05 to 19 MAY):

  • “Hal Ashby (1929-1988) was one of the great filmmakers of the American New Wave, alongside contemporaries such as Coppola, Spielberg and Scorsese, but despite a string of masterpieces in the ‘70s, his work remains under-appreciated.” Includes: BEING THERE/HAROLD & MAUDE d. Hal Ashby, 1980/1971 (05 MAY 15:00 + 17:30); THE LAST DETAIL/COMING HOME d. Hal Ashby, 1973/1978 (19 MAY 18:00 + 20:10).

INGMAR BERGMAN SEASON at Deptford Cinema (until 02 MAY):

INGMAR BERGMAN SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles (20 MAY to 22 JUL):

JAMES BOND SUNDAYS at Regent Street Cinema (12 MAY to 16 JUN):

  • “James Bond’s greatest outings, back on the big screen and followed by Q&As and autograph signings with some of the films’ female stars.” Includes: THUNDERBALL d. Terence Young, 1965 + Q&A with Martine Beswick (12 MAY 14:00); and, LIVE AND LET DIE d. Guy Hamilton, 1973 + Q&A with Madeline Smith (19 MAY 15:00).

JOHN CARPENTER RETROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles (until 31 JUL):

JOHN WATERS SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles  (04 MAR to 26 JUN 2019):

Films in London this month: AN AFFAIR, part of KOREAN FILM NIGHTS at KCC (09 MAY).
Films in London this month: AN AFFAIR, part of KOREAN FILM NIGHTS at KCC (09 MAY).

KOREAN FILM NIGHTS: HOME TRUTHS at Korean Cultural Centre (02 MAY to 20 JUN):

  • “Ventures into various on-screen Korean homes to explore how Korean domestic space shapes on-screen identities, and how its architectural structure can reflect the social mores of a time.” Includes: THE WORLD OF US d. Yoon Ga-eun, 2016 (02 MAY 19:00); AN AFFAIR d. E J-Yong, 1998 (09 MAY 19:00); and, THE ROOM NEARBY d. Ko Tae-Jeong, 2009 (30 MAY 19:00).

KORE-EDA RETROSPECTIVE at Phoenix Cinema (28 APR to 19 MAY):

  • “After the resounding success of SHOPLIFTERS last year, we are revisiting the past works of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda.” Includes: AFTER LIFE d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 1998 (05 MAY 14:00); NOBODY KNOWS d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2004 (12 MAY 18:00); and, STILL WALKING d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2008 (19 MAY 13:45).

KUBRICK at BFI Southbank (APR to MAY):

  • “A two-month exploration of the groundbreaking, boundary-pushing cinema of a directorial genius.” Includes: THE KILLING d. Stanley Kubrick, 1956 (02 MAY 20:50 35mm / 10 MAY 18:30 35mm / 22 MAY 20:45); BARRY LYNDON d. Stanley Kubrick, 1975 (03 MAY 14:00 / 06 MAY 14:00); THE SHINING (Extended Version) d. Stanley Kubrick, 1980 (03 MAY 17:45 / 04 MAY 20:15 / 06 MAY 20:15 / 07 MAY 14:30); PATHS OF GLORY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1957 (04 MAY 14:50 35mm / 06 MAY 17:50 / 25 MAY 15:50 35mm); SPARTACUS d. Stanley Kubrick, 1960 (04 MAY 16:50 35mm / 19 MAY 13:30 35mm / 27 MAY 16:40); FULL METAL JACKET (04 MAY 20:40 35mm / 15 MAY 20:30 / 24 MAY 18:20 35mm); 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70mm d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 (05 MAY 17:45 SOLD OUT! / 07 MAY 20:15 SOLD OUT! / 26 MAY 17:10 / 29 MAY 18:00); A CLOCKWORK ORANGE d. Stanley Kubrick, 1971 (05 MAY 20:20 / 06 MAY 17:30 / 08 MAY 14:30 / 08 MAY 20:35); and, Kubrick on Masculinity panel discussion (15 MAY 18:10).
  • DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB d. Stanley Kubrick, 1963 enjoys a grind show run (18 to 30 MAY).
  • “Inspired by Kubrick”: ENTER THE VOID d. Gaspar Noé, 2009 (05 MAY 19:10 / 27 MAY 19:20); DUNKIRK 70mm d. Christopher Nolan, 2017 (06 MAY 20:00 / 26 MAY 20:15 / 29 MAY 21:00); UNDER THE SKIN d. Jonathan Glazer, 2013 (08 MAY 20:30 / 24 MAY 20:20 / 31 MAY 18:10); A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 35mm d. Steven Spielberg, 2001 (12 MAY 16:50 / 25 MAY 17:50); HER d. Spike Jonze, 2013 (12 MAY 19:50 / 18 MAY 20:30); and, EX MACHINA d. Alex Garland, 2014 (19 MAY 20:10 / 25 MAY 20:50).

LEXI FILM SCHOOL at The Lexi (29 APR to 24 JUN):

  • “Join us at your neighbourhood film school, where we bring you a programme of lost gems, under-rated masterpieces and world cinema classics. All are welcome!” Includes: FRIDA d. Julie Taymor, 2002 Speaker: Kat Lister (13 MAY 18:30); and, SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING d. Karel Reisz, 1960 Speaker: Samuel West (20 MAY 18:30).

LILIANA CAVANI: 1966-1970 at Deptford Cinema (13 to 27 MAY):

  • “Best known for her 1974 film THE NIGHT PORTER, Italian writer-director Liliana Cavani is a filmmaker actively and provocatively rethinking what is assumed, accepted and agreed-upon.” Includes: FRANCIS OF ASSISI d. Liliana Cavani, 1966 (13 MAY 20:00); GALILEO d. Liliana Cavani, 1968 (20 MAY 20:00 – FREE!); and, THE YEAR OF THE CANNIBALS d. Liliana Cavani, 1970 (27 MAY 20:00).

MARTIN SCORSESE SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles (until 18 JUL):

OF FLESH AND BLOOD: THE CINEMA OF HIROKAZU KORE-EDA at BFI Southbank (APR to MAY):

  • “We celebrate a master of contemporary Japanese cinema with a two-month season of diverse, beautiful and human stories.” Includes: I WISH d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2011 (01 MAY 18:10 / 26 MAY 17:50); SHOPLIFTERS d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2018 (04 MAY 15:20 / 09 MAY 14:30 / 25 MAY 20:40 / 27 MAY 14:20 / 29 MAY 18:15 SOLD OUT!); LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2013 (05 MAY 16:30 / 21 MAY 20:40); NOBODY KNOWS d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2004 (07 MAY 18:05); OUR LITTLE SISTER d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2015 (11 MAY 20:10 / 26 MAY 15:10); AFTER THE STORM d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2016 (18 MAY 18:00 / 27 MAY 20:00); and, THE THIRD MURDER d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2017 (19 MAY 20:00 / 27 MA& 16:30).
  • MABOROSI d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 1995 enjoys a grind show run (26 APR to 09 MAY).

OF FLESH AND BLOOD: THE CINEMA OF HIROKAZU KORE-EDA at The Prince Charles (27 APR to 12 MAY):

  • Includes: AFTER LIFE d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 1998 (02 MAY 20:45); NOBODY KNOWS d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2004 (05 MAY 12:40); and, STILL WALKING d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2008 (08 MAY 21:05).
Films in London this month: TRUE ROMANCE, part of ONCE UPON A TIME WITH TARANTINO at The Prince Charles (11 MAY).
Films in London this month: TRUE ROMANCE, part of ONCE UPON A TIME WITH TARANTINO at The Prince Charles (11 MAY).

ONCE UPON A TIME WITH TARANTINO at The Prince Charles (11 MAY to 14 AUG):

  • “In the lead up to the release of Quentin Tarantino’s 9th film ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, we will be getting in the mood with all things Tarantino!” Includes: TRUE ROMANCE 35mm d. Quentin Tarantino, 1993 (11 MAY 20:45).

RE:DOX at DocHouse (26 APR to 02 MAY):

SCENES at Deptford Cinema (17 FEB to 16 MAR):

  • “Inspired by a project by Caroline Jupp to interview local audiences about their personally significant movie scenes, this season is celebrating a selection of these films from the iconic to the obscure.” Includes: IKIRU d. Akira Kurosawa, 1952 (10 MAY 19:30).

SCI-FI SUNDAYS at Deptford Cinema (until 26 MAY):

  • An afternoon movie and a little something extra on the last Sunday of the month. Includes: HOMO SAPIENS d. Nikolaus Geyrhalter, 2016 (26 MAY 15:30).

SECRETS, MYSTERY, ABSURDITY: THE WORLD OF DAVID LYNCH at Genesis Cinema (02 APR to 02 MAY):

  • Includes: THE ELEPHANT MAN d. David Lynch, 1980 presented by Cult Classic Collective including an INTRO + post-screening SALON with Nick Walker, Rochester Kino (02 MAY 18:25).

SHE, A CHINESE at The Whitechapel Gallery (09 to 26 MAY):

STEVEN SPIELBERG SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles (20 MAY to 30 JUN):

STUDIO GHIBLI FOREVER at The Prince Charles (until 21 APR):

TEMPLE CINEMA at Andaz London Liverpool Street (ongoing):

  • “London’s most unique and opulent venue – the once-deserted Masonic temple hidden in the walls of Andaz Liverpool Street – will be taken over by the dark art of horror filmmaking.” Includes: MANDY d. Panos Cosmatos, 2018 (30 MAY 19:30).

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME at Ealing Green Church (03 MAY to 31 MAY):

  • Classic Cinema Club Ealing presents: “As we make our move into another venue, here’s a run of films where location is key.” Includes: CHARLIE BUBBLES d. Albert Finney, 1968 (03 MAY 19:30); THE OLD DARK HOUSE d. James Whale, 1932 (10 MAY 19:30); MID-AUGUST LUNCH d. Gianni Di Gregorio, 2008 (17 MAY 19:30); SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN d. Mu Fei, 1948 (24 MAY 19:30); and, THE ICE STORM d. And Lee, 1997 (31 MAY 19:30).

TONY COKES: SOUND SYSTEMS at Tate Modern (31 MAY to 02 JUN):

  • “Join us for a weekend with Tony Cokes as he surveys 30 years of his groundbreaking videos.” Includes: Programme coming soon…
Films in London this month: KUNG FU MASTER, part of TRIBUTE TO AGNÈS VARDA at Ciné Lumière (14 MAY).
Films in London this month: KUNG FU MASTER, part of TRIBUTE TO AGNÈS VARDA at Ciné Lumière (14 MAY).

TRIBUTE TO AGNÈS VARDA at Ciné Lumière (MAY):

THE VICTORIAN FILM WEEKENDER at BFI Southbank (10 to 12 MAY):

WE’RE GONNA PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999! at The Prince Charles (02 MAY to 26 NOV):

  • “1999 was an EPIC year for movies – so we’re bringing a whole heap of it back to the big-screen!” Includes: MAGNOLIA 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999 (02 MAY 20:00); and, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD 35mm d. Martin Scorsese, 1999 (22 MAY 20:45).

FILM FESTIVALS (A–Z)

Films in London this month: MEILI, part of Chinese Visual Festival at King's College (06 MAY 13:00).
Films in London this month: MEILI, part of Chinese Visual Festival at King’s College (06 MAY 13:00).

Film festivals in London this month include:

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*THE SMALL PRINT: As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any errors. Apologies if we have missed your event. Updates & corrections will be made to the online version. Event dates/times are subject to change by the venue/organiser. We try to only list events you can book for at the time of posting: however, some events may already be sold out. Please click quickly! We don’t filter by age/certification: all readers & subscribers should be 18+.