This is a film still from BLACK IS... BLACK AIN'T (d. Marlon T Riggs, 1994) screening at BFI Southbank (21 OCT 2021).

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [15 to 21 OCT 2021]

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

Continuing the great venue news from last week, Act One Cinema did indeed open on 08 OCT and continues this week with screenings of NO TIME TO DIE. Tickets are also now on sale for the reopening programme at The David Lean Cinema, starting with Oscar favourite, Chloé Zhao’s NOMADLAND and Questlove’s SUMMER OF SOUL on 26 OCT. Twickenham Cinema Club is also planning to return to public events with a seasonally suitable screening of Jennifer Kent’s THE BABADOOK at The Venue at Heatham House (04 NOV).

In new releases, and in the spirit of this scariest of seasons, I’m excited to see David Gordon Green’s next iteration in the sprawling franchise HALLOWEEN KILLS (probably against my better judgement…). You can also see Małgorzata Szumowska’s latest NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN in the same week that Catford Mews brings her THE OTHER LAMB back to the screen as part of their excellent TWISTED FOLK season. I’m also delighted to see Francis Ford Coppola’s restored THE OUTSIDERS: THE COMPLETE NOVEL get a good showing (for purely sentimental reasons…). Several BFI London Film Festival titles are ready for their general releases, my pick of this week’s titles being Todd Haynes’ exceptional documentary, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND. Then, of course, DUNE opens across the board on the 21 OCT: you can still get tickets for Denis Villeneuve in Conversation at BFI Southbank at the time of posting (19 OCT).

In seasons, Halloween-themed programming continues across town. My pick of the bunch being Claire Denis’ TROUBLE EVERY DAY 35mm, concluding student programmer Geoffrey Badger’s excellent LOST VAMPIRES season at The Prince Charles (20 OCT). Taking a very different theme, NFTS classmate Yvonne Wootton starts new season ONE WORLD UNSPOKEN this week, opening a series of films exploring our relationship to the environment with THE RED TURTLE at Ciné Lumière (17 OCT). A TRIBUTE TO JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO gets underway at Close-Up.

After LFF wraps at BFI Southbank, their epic JAPAN 2021 season finally gets an in-venue engagement, including a bunch of 35mm and 4K projections. The BFI also awards significant screen estate to two directors to project some of their own choices this month: MIKE LEIGH’S CHOICES is designed to accompany the complete season of his own works, and EDGAR WRIGHT’S LONDON AFTER DARK shares some of his inspiration for forthcoming release, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO.

In stand-alone events and limited runs, it’s a strong week for Black-centred work, including: Ladj Ly’s LES MISÉRABLES at Catford Mews (16 to 18 OCT); Karin Slater’s SISTERS OF THE WILDERNESS at The Africa Centre (16 OCT); Renzo Martens’s “powerful and provocative dissection of art, class and decolonisation” WHITE CUBE at ICA (17 to 21 OCT); a Melvin van Peebles Double Bill, THE STORY OF A THREE DAY PASS + SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG at Rio Cinema (17 OCT); Perry Henzell’s THE HARDER THEY COME 16mm at The Castle, and NO PLACE LIKE HOME at Riverside Studios (17 OCT); Julius Amedume’s RATTLESNAKES at Whirled Cinema (18 to 20 OCT); Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ doc TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM at Screen25 Cinema (20 OCT); Isaac Julien’s FRANTZ FANON: BLACK SKIN WHITE MASK at BFI (21 OCT); and, also at BFI, Marlon T Riggs’ TONGUES UNTIED (20 OCT) and BLACK IS… BLACK AIN’T (21 OCT), which is our Featured Attraction Of The Week.

See you in the darkness,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

BLACK IS… BLACK AIN’T d. Marlon T Riggs, 1994 + Short: HOW TO RAISE A BLACK BOY d. Justice Jamal Jones, 2021 presented by BFI Flare at BFI Southbank (21 OCT 20:40):

  • “Marlon T Riggs’ final film, made as he died from AIDS-related complications, directly addresses issues with misogyny and homophobia in the Black community that still exist to this day. Interviews with Marlon himself, from his hospital bed, are interspersed throughout the film and serve as testimony to the work we need to do to be truly united.”

FRIDAY 15 OCT

  • ANOTHER ROUND d. Thomas Vinterberg, 2021 at Screen25 Cinema at Harris Academy South Norwood (15 OCT 19:45).
  • THE BETA TEST d. Jim Cummings & PJ McCabe, 2021 + Q&A with director Jim Cummings at Picturehouse Finsbury Park (15 OCT 20:45).
  • FILMFARSI d. Ehsan Khoshbakht, 2019 + Q&A with the director & Nick James at Close-Up (15 OCT 20:15).
  • MOONRISE KINGDOM d. Wes Anderson, 2012 presented outdoors under canvas by Rebel Reel Cine Club at Woodberry Wetlands Nature Reserve (15 OCT 18:30+).
  • VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE d. Andy Serkis, 2021 + Q&A with the director at Genesis Cinema (15 OCT 18:10).

ONLINE

SATURDAY 16 OCT

  • THE BETA TEST d. Jim Cummings & PJ McCabe, 2021 + Q&A with director Jim Cummings at The Prince Charles (16 OCT 12:30 & 17:30).
  • BOTTLE ROCKET d. Wes Anderson, 1996 at Riverside Studios (16 OCT 14:00).
  • FILMFARSI d. Ehsan Khoshbakht, 2019 at Close-Up (16 OCT 18:00).
  • JODOROWSKY’S DUNE d. Frank Pavich, 2013 at Picturehouse Central (16 OCT 13:40).
  • LES MISÉRABLES d. Ladj Ly, 2020 at Catford Mews (16 OCT 18:30).
  • THE SERVANT d. Joseph Levy, 1963 at Kiln Theatre (16 OCT 15:30).
  • SISTERS OF THE WILDERNESS d. Karin Slater, 2018 at The Africa Centre (16 OCT 15:00 – FREE!).

SUNDAY 17 OCT

MONDAY 18 OCT

TUESDAY 19 OCT

WEDNESDAY 20 OCT

  • But Where Are You Really From? The Good Immigrant short film programme + Q&A with the filmmakers – HOH-captioned/Q&A signed live in BSL/live-captioned (20 OCT 18:15).
  • CELTS d. Milica Tomovic, 2021 + recorded Q&A with the director presented by New East Cinema at Barbican (20 OCT 20:45).
  • THE HARDER THEY COME 16mm d. Perry Henzell, 1972 presented by Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club at The Castle Cinema (20 OCT 19:30).
  • LES MISÉRABLES d. Ladj Ly, 2020 at Catford Mews (20 OCT 18:30).
  • RATTLESNAKES d. Julius Amedume, 2019 at Whirled Cinema (20 OCT 20:00).
  • ROMANTIC ROAD d. Oliver McGarvey, 2021 + Q&A with the director & protagonists Jan Grey & Rupert Grey hosted by Ray Mears at The Gate (20 OCT 18:00).
  • THE SERVANT d. Joseph Levy, 1963 at Kiln Theatre (20 OCT 15:30).
  • TOM PETTY: SOMEWHERE YOU FEEL FREE – THE MAKING OF WILDFLOWERS d. Mary Wharton, 2021 at: Chiswick Cinema (20 OCT 19:30); Everyman Cinemas (20 OCT various); Olympic Studios (20 OCT 20:30); Phoenix Cinema (20 OCT 20:30); Picturehouse Cinemas (20 OCT various).
  • TONGUES UNTIED d. Marlon T Riggs, 1989 + Intro by Rico Johnson-Sinclair presented by BFI Flare at BFI Southbank (20 OCT 20:30).
  • TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM d. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, 2019 at Screen25 Cinema at Harris Academy South Norwood (20 OCT 19:45).
  • WHITE CUBE d. Renzo Martens, 2020 at ICA (20 OCT 18:50).

THURSDAY 21 OCT

Check out our ultimate ‘scream guide‘ for the best films in London this Halloween.

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

100 YEARS: SIMONE SIGNORET, THE POLITICAL STAR – PART I at Ciné Lumière

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BLOW OUT 35mm (15 OCT 20:30); THE INNOCENTS d. Jack Clayton, 1961 (17 OCT 12:15); DONNIE DARKO d. Richard Kelly, 2001 (17 OCT 17:15 / 20 OCT 13:10); MULHOLLAND DR. 35mm d. David Lynch (18 OCT 20:15); RAW d. Julia Ducournau, 2016 (19 OCT 13:00); CARRIE d. Brian De Palma, 1976 (20 OCT 13:45).

ARNIE CLASSICS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE RUNNING MAN d. Paul Michael Glaser, 1987 (21 OCT 18:25).

A TRIBUTE TO JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO at Close-Up

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PIERROT LE FOU d. Jean-Luc Godard, 1965 (16 OCT 20:15); LE DOULOS d. Jean-Pierre Melville, 1962 (17 OCT 18:00); BREATHLESS d. Jean-Luc Godard, 1959 (17 OCT 20:15).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: WATCHING THE DETECTIVES at BFI Southbank

BLACK FEMME FILM PRESENTS: MOVIES THAT MADE US at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE TRUMAN SHOW d. Peter Weir, 1998 + Intro (16 OCT 20:30 – Hackney Picturehouse).

BRIAN DE PALMA at The Prince Charles 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BLOW OUT 35mm (15 OCT 20:30); CARRIE d. Brian De Palma, 1976 (20 OCT 13:45).

CULTPIX SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SHE FREAK d. Bryon Mabe & Donn Davison, 1967 + Intro by introduced by Karen Krizanovich (19 OCT 20:30 – Everyman Broadgate / 22 OCT 23:00 – Everyman Screen On the Green).

DAVID CRONENBERG at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): VIDEODROME d. David Cronenberg, 1983 (18 OCT 18:10).

EDGAR WRIGHT’S LONDON AFTER DARK at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PASSPORT TO SHAME (aka Room 43) d. Alvin Rakoff, 1958 (18 OCT 20:50); PEEPING TOM d. Michael Powell, 1960 (19 OCT 20:30).

EXPERIENCE THE FLAVOURS OF JAPAN at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SEVEN SAMURAI d. Akira Kurosawa, 1954 (17 OCT various).

FATAL FEMMES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE WITCH d. Robert Eggers, 2015 (16 OCT 15:15); RAW d. Julia Ducournau, 2016 (19 OCT 13:00); CARRIE d. Brian De Palma, 1976 (20 OCT 13:45).

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES IS MORE DEADLY THAN THE MALE at The Prince Charles 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SHE-WOLF OF LONDON d. Jean Yarbrough, 1946 (18 OCT 18:25).
  • Curated by Sophie Determan. Presented in partnership with the National Film & Television School.

HALLOWEEN at Backyard Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): HOCUS POCUS d. Kenny Ortega, 1993 (19 OCT – 13 NOV various).

HALLOWEEN SPECIALS at The Exhibit

HORROCTOBER at The Prince Charles

JAPAN 2021 at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): EARLY SUMMER 4k aka Bakushû d. Yasujirô Ozu, 1951 (18 OCT 14:30 / 19 OCT 20:35 / 20 OCT 17:50); THE FLAVOUR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE 4k aka Ochazuke no aji d. Yasujirô Ozu, 1952 (18 OCT 18:10 / 20 OCT 20:40 / 21 OCT 14:40); TOKYO STORY 4k aka Tôkyô monogatari d. Yasujirô Ozu, 1953 (18 OCT 20:20 / 21 OCT 14:30); THRONE OF BLOOD aka Kumonosu-jô d. Akira Kurosawa, 1957 (18 OCT 20:35 / 19 OCT 18:10); EARLY SPRING 4k aka Sôshun d. Yasujirô Ozu, 1956 (19 OCT 14:30 / 20 OCT 20:15 / 21 OCT 17:30); YOJIMBO d. Akira Kurosawa, 1961 (19 OCT 20:45 / 21 OCT 17:55); AN ACTOR’S REVENGE 4k d. Kon Ichikawa, 1963 (20 OCT 14:15); TOKYO STORY 4k aka Tôkyô monogatari d. Yasujirô Ozu, 1953 + Inside Cinema: Akira Kurosawa (21 OCT 20:35).

JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO LE MAGNIFIQUE at Ciné Lumière

LOST VAMPIRES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): TROUBLE EVERY DAY 35mm d. Claire Denis, 2001 (20 OCT 18:00).
  • Curated by Geoffrey Badger. Presented in partnership with the National Film & Television School.

MIKE LEIGH at BFI Southbank 

  • Includes (check venue for listings): BLEAK MOMENTS d. Mike Leigh, 1971 (18 OCT 20:40); NUTS IN MAY d. Mike Leigh, 1976 (20 OCT 18:00).

MIKE LEIGH’S CHOICES at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for listings): TOKYO STORY 4k aka Tôkyô monogatari d. Yasujirô Ozu, 1953 (18 OCT 20:20 / 21 OCT 14:30); JULES ET JIM d. François Truffaut, 1962 (19 OCT 20:50); THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS aka L’Albero degli zoccoli d. Ermanno Olmi, 1978 (20 OCT 14:00); I AM CUBA aka Soy Cuba d. Mikhail Kalatozov, 1964 (20 OCT 14:30).

ONE WORLD UNSPOKEN at Ciné Lumière & Genesis Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for listings): THE RED TURTLE d. Michaël Dudok de Wit, 2016 + Recorded Q&A with director at Ciné Lumière (17 OCT 13:30); AQUARELA d. Victor Kossakovsky, 2018 at Genesis Cinema (20 OCT 18:30); KOYAANISQATSI d. Godfrey Reggio, 1983 at Genesis Cinema (21 OCT 21:00).
  • Curated by Yvonne Wootton. Presented in partnership with the National Film & Television School.

STEPHEN KING at The Prince Charles

TWISTED FOLK: THE BEST FOLK HORROR FILMS FROM THE LAST DECADE at Catford Mews

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE OTHER LAMB d. Małgorzata Szumowska, 2019 (16 OCT 20:30 / 18 OCT 20:30 / 20 OCT 20:30).

WEREWOLF FILMS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE MONSTER SQUAD 35mm d. Fred Dekker, 1987 + Q&A with Andre Gower & Ryan Lambert (19 OCT 18:20).

HALLOWEEN KILLS d. David Gordon Green, 2021.

NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN d. Małgorzata Szumowska & Michal Englert, 2020.

THE OUTSIDERS: THE COMPLETE NOVEL d. Francis Ford Coppola, 1983.

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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. //.