This is a film still from NEMULIN (1985).
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SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [05 to 11 MAY 2023]

Our RADIANT CIRCUS guide to what’s on in London this week across DIY, indie & alternative cinema, including one-off screen events, film seasons, film festivals & new releases.

By RADIANT CIRCUS // Twitter @radiantcircus / Instagram @radiantcircus

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Welcome to another screen week!

I marvel at how volunteers keep so much of London’s DIY, indie and alternative cinema scene going… which makes Richmond Film Society’s 60th anniversary screening a truly remarkable achievement. See BILLY LIAR with them at The Exchange (09 MAY). They’re not quite as old, but my good friends at Genesis Cinema celebrate their 24th birthday with a season of staff favourites, including some from 35mm. Tickets costs just £2.50 (and there’s a popcorn combo bargain too!).

In my own personal blogging marathon, this Screen Guide would normally be edited down to create the 200th edition of my free weekly newsletter, THE BALLY. In celebration of that milestone – and recognising how late this Guide already is – it’s one of those bountiful moments when I’m sending everyone everything. Thank you for all your support, particularly my patient Patreon subscribers.

The reason why this Screen Guide is so late is that I’ve recently posted my – even later! – epic roundup of London’s rep scene for the rest of the month… Check that out here! I hope it helps you find even more great things to see with some great people.

If you’re going to watch anything in central London on Saturday, why not go underground with my Featured Attraction of the Week, 1-800-HOT-DUCK Video Night! at The Horse Hospital (06 MAY)? In a not entirely similar video vein, EARTH II from The Anti-Banality Union at The Prince Charles also looks fascinating (11 MAY).

See you in the darkness, and stay safe.

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

1-800-HOT-DUCK Video Night! at The Horse Hospital (06 MAY 19:00).

“The vast found footage library is culled from the depths of the internet, abandoned Youtube channels, strange downloads on the darkest parts of the web, videos shared and stolen and reproduced within an inch of their life. Some of the hottest 1-800-HOT-DUCK finds include 1980’s homemade horror films from deranged teenagers, lost TV from around the globe, and rare experimental video by everyone from Johanna Went to Cecelia Condit.”

“1-800-HOT-DUCK is the brainchild of Chrissy Marie Jones, a native Philadelphian and video artist. Catch her collaborations with Everything is Terrible! and occasional curation and hosting duties with Cathode Tv.”

FRIDAY 05 MAY

  • Musical Fridays: THE BAND WAGON d. Vincente Minnelli, 1953 at The Garden Cinema (05 MAY 20:40).
  • MONSTERS d. Gareth Edwards, 2010 at BFI Southbank (05 MAY 18:20).
  • RETURN TO SEOUL d. Davy Chou, 2022 + Q&A with the director at BFI Southbank (05 MAY 18:00).
  • WHAT IS ROYAL TRUX (1992), raising funds for Neil Hagerty, presented by Deeper Into Movies at Third Man Records (05 MAY 19:00).

SATURDAY 06 MAY

SUNDAY 07 MAY

  • ANDREI TARKOVSKY: A CINEMA PRAYER d. Andrey A. Tarkovsky, 2019 at Bertha DocHouse (07 MAY 16:00).
  • EMPIRE OF LIGHT d. Sam Mendes, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (07 MAY 17:00).
  • FAUST d. F.W. Murnau, 1926 + Live score by GROK in Bar Paragon at Genesis Cinema (07 MAY 18:00).
  • TOP HAT d. Mark Sandrich, 1935 at Riverside Studios (07 MAY 14:00 / 08 MAY 14:45).
  • UP ON THE ROOF d. Ben Hecking, 2022 + Q&A with Nathaniel Parker and the filmmakers at Phoenix Cinema (07 MAY 17:30).

MONDAY 08 MAY

  • THE CASTLE d. Rob Sitch, 1997 presented by London Australian Film Society at The Garden Cinema (08 MAY 18:30).
  • Classic Matinée: THE KING AND I d. Charles Walters, 1956 at Regent Street Cinema (08 MAY 13:00).
  • LIVING d. Oliver Hermanus, 2022 + Recorded conversation between Bill Nighy & Stephen Woolley at Picturehouse Cinemas (08 MAY various / 09 MAY 19:15).
  • LIVING d. Oliver Hermanus, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (08 MAY 20:00 / 09 MAY 20:00 / 10 MAY 20:00 / 14 MAY 17:00).
  • Problematic Faves: PARTY MONSTER d. Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato, 2003 presented by Transmissions at Dalston Superstore (08 MAY 19:00).
  • SPRING BREAKERS d. Harmony Korine, 2012 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Farr’s Dalston (08 MAY 19:30).
  • TOP HAT d. Mark Sandrich, 1935 at Riverside Studios (08 MAY 14:45).

TUESDAY 09 MAY

  • Bar Shorts Presents An Evening of Short Animations chosen by Jonathan Hodgson at The Garden Cinema (09 MAY 20:00).
  • BILLY LIAR d. John Schlesinger, 1963 presented by Richmond Film Society in celebration of their 60th Anniversary at The Exchange (09 MAY 20:00).
  • Preview: THE DAM d. Ali Cherri, 2022 + Q&A with the director at ICA (09 MAY 18:30).
  • Trans-X-Ploitation: GLEN OR GLENDA d. Ed Wood, 1953 + Intro, presented by TGirlsOnFilm x Funeral Parade at The Prince Charles (09 MAY 18:15).
  • I SOLITI IGNOTI d. Mario Monicelli, 1958 presented in-venue & online by Sands Films Cinema Club at Sands Films Studios (09 MAY 20:00 – Donation requested).
  • JAWS d. Steven Spielberg, 1975 in tribute to Bill Butler (1921 – 2023), presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (09 MAY 20:00).
  • LIFE AND A DAY aka Abad va yek rooz d. Saeed Roustayi, 2016 at Babel Art House (09 MAY 19:30).
  • LIVING d. Oliver Hermanus, 2022 + Recorded conversation between Bill Nighy & Stephen Woolley at Picturehouse Cinemas (09 MAY 19:15).
  • LIVING d. Oliver Hermanus, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (09 MAY 20:00 / 10 MAY 20:00 / 14 MAY 17:00).
  • Preview: PLAN 75 d. Chie Hayakawa, 2022 at BFI Southbank (09 MAY 18:15).
  • SICK OF MYSELF d. Kristoffer Borgli, 2022 at The David Lean (09 MAY 19:30).
  • State Sponsored Documentary and Act of Cinematic Rebellion short film programme & discussion at BLOC Cinema (09 MAY 15:00 – FREE!).
  • Science On Screen: WAR OF THE WORLDS d. Steven Spielberg, 2005 + Presentation by Philip Ball at Barbican (09 MAY 18:10).

TALKS etc.

WEDNESDAY 10 MAY

  • Pink Palace: BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS d. Russ Meyer, 1970 + Intro/discussion, 1st Birthday celebration in the basement bar at Rio Cinema (10 MAY 19:30).
  • Preview: THE DAM d. Ali Cherri, 2022 + Q&A with the director at Ciné Lumière (10 MAY 18:30).
  • DocHouse Shorts: British Anthologies, Vol. 1 at Bertha DocHouse (10 MAY 18:20).
  • THE FIVE DEVILS d. Léa Mysius, 2023 + Drinks reception, presented by MUBI & Girls In Film at The Castle Cinema (10 MAY 18:30).
  • LIVING d. Oliver Hermanus, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (10 MAY 20:00 / 14 MAY 17:00).
  • RUMBLE FISH d. Francis Ford Coppola, 1983 presented by Cinema Rising at The Garden Cinema (10 MAY 20:00).
  • Classic Matinée: TOP HAT d. Mark Sandrich, 1935 at ActOne Cinema (10 MAY 14:15).
  • XIMEI d. Andy Cohen & Gaylen Ross, 2019 for Human Rights Week (10 MAY 18:35).

THURSDAY 11 MAY

  • A GAZA WEEKEND d. Basil Khalil, 2023 + Q&A with the creative team at Picturehouse Hackney (11 MAY 19:30).
  • THE CASSANDRA CAT d. Vojtech Jasný, 1963 presented by Jellied Reels at The Castle Cinema (11 MAY 18:45).
  • EARTH II + Q&A presented by The Anti-Banality Union at The Prince Charles (11 MAY 20:45).
  • GODLAND d. Hlynur Pálmason, 2022 at The David Lean (11 MAY 14:30 & 19:30).
  • THE SEEDS OF VANDANA SHIVA d. Camilla Becket & Jim Becket, 2021 + Q&A with Vandana Shiva at Bertha DocHouse (11 MAY 18:20).
  • Seeing and Being Seen: A Trio of Films, part of Alice Need: Hot Off The Griddle at Barbican (11 MAY 19:00).
  • Stories Of Access: Shorts Programme + Panel short films that consider accessibility in their production and distribution strategy, presented by EFN Film Festival at The Garden Cinema (11 MAY 19:30).
  • THE TRIAL: PRAGUE 1952 d. Ruth Zylberman + Q&A with the director presented by Czech Centre at the Czech Embassy Cinema (11 MAY 19:00).

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): INTERSTELLAR 70mm d. Christopher Nolan, 2014 (08 MAY 20:15).

IMAX PRESENTATIONS at BFI IMAX

3+3: ÉRIC BAUDELAIRE at ICA & Ciné Lumière

10 YEARS OF A24 at Picturehouse Cinemas

A LI’L BIT OF LUIS BUÑUEL at The Prince Charles

A LUKAS MOODYSSON SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): CONTAINER d. Lukas Moodysson, 2006 (09 MAY 18:00).

ANIME at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): JUNK HEAD d. Takahide Hori, 2021 (05 MAY 20:20 / 07 MAY 12:45 / 10 MAY 13:00); LIZ AND THE BLUE BIRD d. Naoko Yamada, 2018 + Intro by Michael Leader & Jake Cunningham, Ghibliotheque Podcast (10 MAY 20:45).

ARROW VIDEO CULT FILM at Everyman Screen On The Green

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): DONNIE DARKO d. Richard Kelly, 2001 (09 MAY 20:45).

AU CONTRAIRE: JEAN-LUC GODARD at Close-Up

BEN WHEATLEY PRESENTS at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for listings): SIGHTSEERS d. Ben Wheatley, 2012 (08 MAY various / 10 MAY various); A FIELD IN ENGLAND d. Ben Wheatley, 2013 + Q&A with the director at Picturehouse Central (08 MAY 16:45).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION… at BFI Southbank

CELEBRATING QUEER CINEMA at The Garden Cinema 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE BLUE CAFTAN d. Maryam Touzani, 2022 + Q&A with the director (05 MAY 16:30); THE BLUE CAFTAN d. Maryam Touzani, 2022 (05 to 11 MAY).

CHINESE CINEMA PROJECT at The Garden Cinema 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SO LONG, MY SON d. Wang Xiaoshuai, 2019 + Q&A with the director (07 MAY 12:00).

CHISWICK PICKS at Chiswick Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BOTTLE ROCKET d. Wes Anderson, 1996 (10 MAY 20:00).

CINEMATIC JUKEBOX / CLASSIC FILM SEASON at The Prince Charles (not listed elsewhere!)

CINEMATIC SORCERESS: THE FILMS OF NINA MENKES at BFI Southbank

THE CINEMA OF WES ANDERSON ON 35MM at Everyman Screen On The Green

COURIER CINEMA at Biddle Bros

DARIO ARGENTO: DOORS INTO DARKNESS at BFI Southbank

ESSENTIAL CINEMA at Close-Up Film Centre

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): WILD AT HEART d. David Lynch, 1990 (05 MAY 20:15); 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 (06 MAY 20:00); BADLANDS d. Terrence Malick, 1973 (07 MAY 20:15).

EXPERIMENTS IN FILM at Barbican

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE GIFT d. Jasmina Cibic, 2021 + Panel with the director, Owen Hatherley & Lucy Reynolds (11 MAY 18:30).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

THE FILMS OF WES ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS d. Wes Anderson, 2001 (07 MAY 18:00).

FROM THE REQUEST BOARD… at The Prince Charles

FORGOTTEN TELEVISION DRAMA: REDISCOVERING THE HALF-HOUR PLAY at BFI Southbank

FRANCOPHONE WEST AFRICAN CINEMA at The Garden Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): TIMBUKTU d. Abderrahmane Sissako, 2014 (08 MAY 15:00).

GENA & JOHN at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MINNIE AND MOSKOWITZ d. John Cassavetes, 1971 (08 MAY 15:25).

GENESIS 24TH BIRTHDAY at Genesis Cinema

MARTIN SCORSESE: THE 90S PICTURES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): CASINO 35mm d. Martin Scorsese, 1995 (06 MAY 17:00); CAPE FEAR 35mm d. Martin Scorsese, 1991 (09 MAY 15:10).

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

MUKHRIJAT: ARAB WOMEN FILMMAKERS at The Garden Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE BLUE CAFTAN d. Maryam Touzani, 2022 (05 to 11 MAY); THE BLUE CAFTAN d. Maryam Touzani, 2022 + Q&A with the director (05 MAY 16:30); CAPERNAUM d. Nadine Labaki, 2018 (05 MAY 19:45 + Live podcast recording with Leila Latif & Mydylarama / 11 MAY 20:30); MEMORY BOX d. Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige, 2021 (06 MAY 20:30 HOH / 10 MAY 18:00); SOUD d. Ayten Amin, 2021 (07 MAY 19:00 / 10 MAY 15:15).

MURIEL BOX: A WOMAN’S TAKE at BFI Southbank

SPOTLIGHT ON FEMALE FILMMAKERS at The Prince Charles

TECHNOLOGY ON SCREEN at Ciné Lumière

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): WALL-E d. Andrew Stanton, 2008 (06 MAY 14:05); MON ONCLE d. Jacques Tati, 1958 (07 MAY 14:00 / 09 MAY 18:10 / 11 MAY 15:45).

THROWBACK SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): CLUELESS d. Amy Heckerling, 1995 (from 07 MAY various).

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): CHUNGKING EXPRESS d. Wong Kar Wai, 1994 (05 MAY 12:35); IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE d. Wong Kar Wai, 2000 (06 MAY 12:00 / 07 MAY 20:30 – 4K / 09 MAY 12:45 – 4K); FALLEN ANGELS d. Wong Kar Wai, 1995 (11 MAY 21:00 – 4K).

WUXIA SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): A TOUCH OF SIN d. Zhang-Ke Jia, 2013 (07 MAY 15:20).

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Bussey Building

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Roof East

THE BLUE CAFTAN dir Maryam Touzani, 2022

PAMFIR dir Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, 2022

RETURN TO SEOUL dir Davy Chou, 2022

Also 05 to 11 MAY 2023 (various dates/times):

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*THE SMALL PRINT: Opinions author’s own. // As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any errors. Updates & corrections will be made to the online version only. // Event dates/times/formats are subject to change by the venue/organiser. Events may already be sold out at the time of posting, so please click quickly. // We try to list as many original format screenings as we can (8 to 70MM), but sometimes formats change due to age of the print, availability, logistics etc, so please check ahead with your venue if the format is your thing. // All images are used in the spirit of fair use for reporting & review – no ownership is implied or intended / unless otherwise credited to RADIANT CIRCUS as the original rights holder. We will remove any images immediately upon request – just get in touch. // We don’t filter our listings by age/certification: all readers & subscribers should therefore be 18+. // Finally, we always try to follow The Carny Code by “not screwing up anyone else’s game”, but everyone can make mistakes… If something does go wrong, we will always do our best to put it right. //.