SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [17 to 23 SEP 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

Just as some sun has returned, it’s time for the end of the season shows in London’s various outdoor venues. Rooftop Film Club runs through to 25 SEP at Stratford East and 26 SEP at Peckham. The Luna Cinema has outdoor dates programmed at Wandsworth Park until 03 OCT. The last 18 months have been an exceptionally curious time for cinema in the open air, with the rise and fall of the drive-ins followed by reduced capacity seated screenings across the city, all pretty much showing the same thing (Cycle-In-Cinema, Deeper Into Movies and Sunset Screening Sessions are the notable exceptions!). That means a lot of NOTTING HILL, DIRTY DANCING and BACK TO THE FUTURE. Whilst we won’t miss that lot per se, it will be interesting to see how broad the outdoor offering becomes next year in what will hopefully be an easier operating environment…

In another interesting development, The Castle Cinema is returning to full capacity seating and is, with Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club, offering their next screenings in both socially distanced and full capacity formats. It will be interesting to see how that goes, but our guess is there won’t be the same adverse reaction seen earlier in the summer when plans for full capacity bookings were too early for many. Quite how many audience members remain cautious about returning to cinemas in this period remains unclear, but I’m guessing venues are hoping for a considerable Bond-shaped re-boot if the flurry of “now booking” notices is anything to go by…

New season arrivals this week include a CULTPIX SEASON at Everyman Cinemas, tribute act JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO LE MAGNIFIQUE at Ciné Lumière, and NFTS curation student Elle Haywood’s season about female misfits, NOT LIKE US? at Genesis Cinema (& online).

Festivals continue strongly with our special mentions going to Japanese Avant-garde & Experimental Film Festival, Leytonstone Loves Film, and Peckham & Nunhead Free Film Festival for their closing weekends. Queer East Film Festival blazes its rainbow light across the city for another week, and we’re particularly pleased to see it packing out the revered Horse Hospital after its recent threat of closure.

Special mentions to Birds’ Eye View and venue partners for arranging a special International Day Of Peace screening of THE BREADWINNER (21 SEP), and to We Do Good Disco for projecting the Director’s Cut of vogueing doc, PARIS IS BURNING in the warehouse space at Catford Mews (18 SEP). In their words:

Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion houses, from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women… PARIS IS BURNING brings it, celebrating the joy of movement, the force of eloquence, and the draw of community.

We Do Good Disco

Our Featured Attraction of the Week is the ICA’s 24hr presentation of Olaf Nicolai’s MARX as part of a simultaneous global screening (21 to 22 SEP). Because cinema, like life, can be an endurance test, but acts of solidarity will always illuminate the darkness.

Stay safe,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

PS – RADIANT CIRCUS will be delivering our events as part of Leytonstone Loves Film this weekend. If you create indie screen culture, then please join us for our networking showcase, WunderKammer Live (17 SEP). After that, we’ll be settling down into our beanbags for a late Sunday afternoon queer horror double bill with our friends at Last Frame Film Club, Bite Me! (19 SEP). If you can’t be there, we’ll see you on the other side.

MARX d. Olaf Nicolai, 2020 – 24hr screening at ICA (21-22 SEP).

  • “The ICA joins 16 other institutions around the world for a special simultaneous screening of MARX, Olaf Nicolai’s audacious 24-hour film created from a single shot of a sole statue: a vast bronze bust of Karl Marx, installed 50 years ago in Nicolai’s hometown of Chemnitz (formerly Karl-Marx-Stadt). Shot in one take on the 2020 autumnal equinox, when day and night are equal lengths, and shown here on the same date, Marx transforms this iconic figure into a kind of unnatural landscape, subject to constant change beneath the evolving light of night and day.”
  • Timed entry: “A ticket for any timed entry grants you access to the entire film but reserving a ticket for a specific time will help us regulate the screenings. For overnight sessions, water and facilities will be provided.”

FRIDAY 17 SEP

  • AHEAD OF THE CURVE d. Jen Rainin, 2021 in partnership with Fringe! at Screen25 Cinema at Harris Academy South Norwood (17 SEP 19:45).
  • FAUCI d. John Hoffman & Janet Tobias, 2021 at ICA (17 SEP 14:20).
  • House Party: LEGALLY BLONDE d. Robert Luketic, 2001 at Everyman Cinemas (17 SEP various – Drink/sweets included).
  • THE STORY OF LOOKING d. Mark Cousins, 2021 + Q&A with the director at ICA (17 SEP 18:30).

SATURDAY 18 SEP

  • AMERICAN HONEY d. Andrea Arnold, 2016 presented by Deptford Cinema at Deptford Lounge (18 SEP 19:00 / Standard £5 / Consc: Pay-what-you-can).
  • COMMANDO d. Mark L. Lester, 1985 at The Prince Charles (18 SEP 20:40).
  • FAUCI d. John Hoffman & Janet Tobias, 2021 at ICA (18 SEP 14:50).
  • GALLIVANT 35mm d. Andrew Kötting, 1996 + Intro by Eden and Andrew Kötting at BFI Southbank (18 SEP 14:30).
  • PARIS IS BURNING [Director’s Cut] 2k d. Jennie Livingston, 1990 presented by We Do Good Disco at Catford Mews Warehouse Space (18 SEP 20:00+ / Floor Cushions provided/Bring your own chair!).
  • Short Films by Eden and Andrew Kötting + Andrew Kötting in Conversation with film curator Gareth Evans at BFI Southbank (18 SEP 18:00).

SUNDAY 19 SEP

  • DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE d. Rouben Mamoulian, 1931 presented by Movies At Weekends at Genesis Cinema (19 SEP 15:00).
  • GLADIATOR d. Ridley Scott, 2000 at Olympic Studios (19 SEP 13:00).
  • LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE d. Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, 2006 at Everyman Cinemas (19 SEP various).
  • MRS DOUBTFIRE d. Chris Columbus, 1993 + live drag Q&A with Bunny Galore & Ophelia Love presented by Everydiva at Everyman Broadgate (19 SEP 11:00).
  • THE THIRD MAN 16mm d. Carol Reed, 1949 presented by Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club at The Castle Cinema (19 SEP 14:15 – full capacity / 26 SEP 14:15 – socially distanced).
  • MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE d. Nagisa Oshima, 1983 + Intro by Christopher Brown, University of Sussex at Catford Mews (19 SEP 17:00) / Part of Queer East.
  • PARASITE d. Bong Joon-ho, 2019 at Kino Bermondsey (19 SEP 20:30).
  • TO BE SOMEONE d. Ray Burdis, 2020 at Whirled Cinema (19 SEP 17:00).

MONDAY 20 SEP

  • OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE d. Ric Burns, 2019 + Record panel discussion at Barbican (20 SEP 18:30).
  • PAPICHA d. Mounia Meddour, 2019 at Whirled Cinema (20 SEP 20:00).
  • SORCERER d. William Friedkin, 1977 at The Prince Charles (20 SEP 20:35).

TUESDAY 21 SEP

  • THE BREADWINNER d. Nora Twomey, 2018 presented by Birds’ Eye View & partners for International Day Of Peace, raising funds for Afghanistan & Central Asian Association inc: The Castle Cinema (21 SEP 21:00); Genesis Cinema (21 SEP 18:45); The Lexi Cinema (21 SEP 18:10); Picturehouse Cinemas (21 SEP various); Regent Street Cinema (21 SEP 18:00); Riverside Studios (21 SEP 20:10).
  • FLESH & BLOOD 35mm d. Anthony Kimmins, 1951 + Intro by Jason Morell, actor and son of Joan Greenwood at BFI Southbank (21 SEP 18:10).
  • GATTACA d. Andrew Nichol, 1997 presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (21 SEP 20:00).
  • MABOROSI d. Hirokazu Koreeda, 1995 presented by No Bollocks Film Club at The Castle Cinema (21 SEP 18:45).
  • PAPICHA d. Mounia Meddour, 2019 at Whirled Cinema (21 SEP 20:00).
  • THE RAID 2 d. Gareth Evans, 2014 at The Prince Charles (21 SEP 14:45).
  • YULI: THE CARLOS ACOSTA STORY d. Icíar Bollaín, 2018 + Recorded intro by Carlos Acosta presented by Sands Films Cinema Club, Cuba Solidarity Campaign & London Socialist Film Co-op at Sands Films Studios (21 SEP 20:00 – Free/Donation requested).

24HR

  • MARX d. Olaf Nicolai, 2020 – 24hr screening at ICA (21-22 SEP) / Timed entry / A ticket for any timed entry grants you access to the entire film but reserving a ticket for a specific time will help us regulate the screenings. / For overnight sessions, water and facilities will be provided.

WEDNESDAY 22 SEP

  • A BRIXTON TALE d. Darragh Carey & Bertrand Desrochers, 2021 + Q&A with the directors at Riverside Studios (22 SEP 19:50).
  • FAUCI d. John Hoffman & Janet Tobias, 2021 at ICA (22 SEP 14:35).
  • MLK/FBI d. Sam Pollard, 2021 at Screen25 Cinema at Harris Academy South Norwood (22 SEP 19:45).
  • PAPICHA d. Mounia Meddour, 2019 at Whirled Cinema (22 SEP 20:00).
  • TOKYO RIDE d. Ila Bêka & Louise Lemoine, 2020 + Zoom Q&A with the directors at Barbican (22 SEP 20:40) / Part of Architecture On Film.

24HR

  • MARX d. Olaf Nicolai, 2020 – 24hr screening at ICA (21-22 SEP) / Timed entry / A ticket for any timed entry grants you access to the entire film but reserving a ticket for a specific time will help us regulate the screenings. / For overnight sessions, water and facilities will be provided.

THURSDAY 23 SEP

  • A BRIXTON TALE d. Darragh Carey & Bertrand Desrochers, 2021 + Q&A with the directors & actor Craige Middleburg at Genesis Cinema (23 SEP 18:30).
  • BLUE VELVET d. David Lynch, 1984 + Intro/Salon with Nick Walker presented by Cult Classic Collective at Genesis Cinema (23 SEP 18:15).
  • PATHS OF GLORY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1957 at The Prince Charles (23 SEP 17:45).
  • THE THIRD MAN 16mm d. Carol Reed, 1949 presented by Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club at The Castle Cinema (23 SEP 19:30 – full capacity / 26 SEP 14:15 – socially distanced).

ONLINE

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70mm d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 ‘unrestored version’ (18 SEP 14:05 / 23 SEP 20:15).

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

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THÉRÈSE RAQUIN d. Marcel Carné, 1953 (19 SEP 14:00 / 21 SEP 18:20).

ANDREI TARKOVSKY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings)SOLARIS d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972 (19 SEP 20:00).

ANIME SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): TALES FROM EARTHSEA d. Gorô Miyazaki, 2006 (19 SEP 11:30 – SUB); AKIRA d. Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988 (22 SEP 12:20).

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

A PRYOR ENGAGEMENT at BFI Southbank

A TERRIFYING UPRISING at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PET SEMATARY d. Mary Lambert, 1989 (20 SEP various).

AUTISM AND CINEMA at Barbican

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LE MOINDRE GESTE d. Jean-Pierre Daniel, Fernand Deligny & Josée Manenti, 1971 + Intro/Q&A with Janet Harbord & Dr Damian Milton (18 SEP 14:30); MULHOLLAND DR. d. David Lynch, 2001 + Intro by Georgia Kumari Bradburn (21 SEP 20:00); JIGSAW + ILLUMINATING THE WILDERNESS d. Robina Rose + Kate Adams, 1980 + 2018 + Intro by Professor Janet Harbord & Q&A with the directors (23 SEP 18:00).

BEST OF CÉSAR 2021 at Ciné Lumière

  • Includes (check venue for full listings)BYE BYE MORONS aka Adieu les cons d. Albert Dupontel, 2020 (18 SEP 18:30 / 20 SEP 20:15).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS at BFI Southbank

BRITISH ANIMATION at Riverside Studios

CULTPIX SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD d. George A Romero, 1968 + Intro by Dave Norris (21 SEP 20:30 – Broadgate / 24 SEP 23:00 – Everyman Screen On The Green).

DENIS VILLENEUVE: THE PATH TO DUNE at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): INCENDIES d. Denis Villeneuve, 2010 (17 SEP 17:50 / 19 SEP 14:45); MAELSTRÖM 35mm d. Denis Villeneuve, 2000 (17 SEP 20:55); BLADE RUNNER 2049 4k d. Denis Villeneuve, 2017 (18 SEP 17:15); POLYTECHNIQUE d. Denis Villeneuve, 2009 (19 SEP 12:15); ENEMY d. Denis Villeneuve, 2013 (21 SEP 20:55); SICARIO d. Denis Villeneuve, 2015 (22 SEP 20:40).

DISNEY MATINEES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BEAUTY AND THE BEAST d. Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, 1991 (18 SEP 12:00).

ELLIOTT GOULD IN THE SEVENTIES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): CALIFORNIA SPLIT d. Robert Altman, 1974 (21 SEP 18:05).

ESSENTIAL CINEMA at Close-Up

THE FILMS OF DAVID LYNCH at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MULHOLLAND DR. 35mm d. David Lynch, 2001 (19 SEP 15:00).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE MASTER 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012 (17 SEP 14:50); BOOGIE NIGHTS 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997 (19 SEP 16:40).

JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO LE MAGNIFIQUE at Ciné Lumière

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BREATHLESS aka A bout de souffle d. Jean-Luc Godard, 1959 (19 SEP 17:00 / 20 SEP 20:15 / 22 SEP 15:45 & 18:20 / 23 SEP 16:30).

L.A. NIGHTS at Backyard Cinema

  • Continues at Capital Studios (check venue for listings).

MIAMI BEACH at Backyard Cinema

  • Continues at Capital Studios (check venue for listings).

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

NFTS AT 50 at BFI Southbank

NO BASS LIKE HOME at Lexi Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): ROCKERS d. Ted Bafaloukos, 1978 + Q&A (19 SEP 16:00).

NOT LIKE US? at Genesis Cinema & Online

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): WE ARE THE BEST! d. Lukas Moodysson, 2013 + Recorded interview with the director at Genesis Cinema (21 SEP at 21:00).

STUDIO GHIBLI at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): TALES FROM EARTHSEA d. Gorô Miyazaki, 2006 (19 SEP 11:30 – SUB).

TALES OF TOMORROW: SCI-FI SELECTIONS at The Prince Charles

TEEN MOVIES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BACK TO THE FUTURE d. Robert Zemeckis, 1985 (20 SEP 15:15).

THAT’S KINO, BABY! at The Prince Charles

THE TIME IS NEW: SELECTIONS FROM CONTEMPORARY ARAB CINEMA at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): TALKING ABOUT TREES d. Suhaib Gasmelbari, 2019 (20 SEP 14:30); 143 SAHARA STREET aka 143 rue du désert d. Hassen Ferhani, 2019 (20 SEP 18:15); YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY aka Satamoto fel eshreen d. Amjad Abu Alala, 2019 + Recorded with the director (23 SEP 20:30).

WONG KAR WAI at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): HAPPY TOGETHER 4K aka Chun gwong cha sit d. Wong Kar Wai, 1997 at Picturehouse Central (19 SEP 14:00).

Deeper Into Movies at Dalston Roof Park

The Luna Cinema at Royal Hospital Chelsea

Rooftop Film Club, Peckham

Rooftop Film Club, Stratford East

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE 4K d. Stanley Kubrick, 1971.

THE MALTESE FALCON d. John Huston, 1941.

THE STORY OF LOOKING d. Mark Cousins, 2021

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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. //.