SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [17 to 31 DEC 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

This is the last of my screen guides for 2021, and it’s a bumper edition, taking you all the way through until the end of the year. As ever, I hope it helps you find something great to do in the darkness. I’ll be looking forward to taking a break from compiling these guides – and their daily updates – but will be back with a January 2022 roundup sooner than you can say “Power to the people who punish bad cinema!“.

Filmscope start your screen week with the best of the Batmans, BATMAN RETURNS, whilst Screen25 shares a festive treat I’ll talk more about in a short while… (17 DEC). The Laurel & Hardy Society returns to The Cinema Museum for their quarterly meeting, The Live Ghost Tent, and World Wide Weird! stages another All-Dayer to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer, including a rare screening of PULGASARI, described by wikipedia as a “North Korean dark fantasy-action kaiju”, and you really don’t get many of them (18 DEC). To celebrate the festive season, you could do a lot worse then head to The Castle Cinema where you’ll find the last of Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club’s screenings of THE SNOWMAN (19 DEC) and Zodiac Film Club’s excellent Fairytale Christmas Special featuring THE WHITE REINDEER and some stunning animated shorts by Lotte Reiniger (21 DEC).

As well as an ever-expanding lineup of festive film seasons, this is also the time to look back on the screen year. Bertha DocHouse presents an excellent roundup of documentary films, BEST OF 2021, and ArtHouse Crouch End offers their FILM PICKS OF THE YEAR. Picturehouse takes a broader look at FILMS WE LOVE, and The Prince Charles continues to get everyone in the mood for a much anticipated new release with THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON from 35mm. MilkTea Films conclude their short run of film events with CLOSE-KNIT followed by a knit-in at Picturehouse Central (19 DEC, part of THIS IS WHAT A FAMILY LOOKS LIKE).

Speaking of Paul Thomas Anderson, the release of LICORICE PIZZA completes a strong run of new releases either side of Christmas. There’s a special 35mm preview screening at Everyman Screen On The Green (27 DEC) and the Picturehouse chain shows the film from both 70mm and 35mm for a limited run (from 27 DEC). Elsewhere, I really like the look of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s THE LOST DAUGHTER, Mark Cousin’s THE STORY OF FILM: A NEW GENERATION, and Benjamin Cleary’s SWAN SONG. And let’s not forget Julia Ducournau’s TITANE and Joel Coen’s THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH. Find them all listed below.

For our Featured Attraction of the Week, I’ve chosen Frank Capra’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE that’s showing from a variety of formats almost everywhere and at any time of any day. Why choose something so ubiquitous? Well, it’s my own little way of saying a huge thank you to everyone who has worked so terribly hard to keep cinemas and film events going throughout this enduring pandemic. Every single venue showing this much-loved and well-worn film is thoroughly deserving of the love and support your ticket purchase provides. Go see it somewhere really special with someone special or, if like me, you go to the cinema a lot on your own, settle down in the darkness with a bunch of strangers for the ultimate festive sharing experience.

Of course, if you can’t see films in venues this Christmas, you can can still give the gift of cinema by treating your loved one to a gift membership. The cash in hand will be a huge source of support to the venue as box office takes another battering, and your loved one* gets to indulge their love of the silver screen throughout the year ahead. There will be much to enjoy.

That just leaves me to sign off for the year by saying a huge thank you to everyone I have met in the darkness and particularly all my monthly subscribers at Patreon who keep me listing. This last year has been no less uncertain, worrying and, at times, terrifying than the year before. To have the companionship of such loyal fans of cinema has been hugely reassuring, empowering and blog-affirming.

By the end of January 2022 I will have been blogging about London’s indie cinema scene for a full five years. It will be time to celebrate but also to put this work on a sustainable footing. If you have ever found something great to do in the dark from these pages, the New Year would be a brilliant time to start a subscription. I know my other Patrons will welcome your company and I will really welcome your support.

Stay safe and see you in the darkness again soon,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

* You know I mean you, right?

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at indie cinemas across London (see listings):

After George Bailey wishes he had never been born, an angel is sent to earth to make his wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there.

FRIDAY 17 DEC

• BATMAN RETURNS d. Tim Burton, 1992 presented by Filmscope at The Yellow (17 DEC 18:30 – FREE!).
• DIE HARD d. John McTiernan, 1988 at Catford Mews (17 DEC 20:30).
• FROM DUSK ‘TIL DAWN + THE COMEBACK SPECIAL d. Tim Pope, 1993 + 2018 at ICA (17 DEC 20:45).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Screen25 Cinema (17 DEC 19:45).

ONLINE

• Diaries, Notes & Sketches: A talk by Andrés Di Tella with a screening of PRIVATE FICTION (2019) an Essay Film Festival special event presented online by Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (17 DEC 18:00 – FREE!).

SATURDAY 18 DEC

• DIE HARD d. John McTiernan, 1988 at The Lexi Cinema (18 DEC 20:30).
• FROM DUSK ‘TIL DAWN + THE COMEBACK SPECIAL d. Tim Pope, 1993 + 2018 at ICA (18 DEC 20:20).
• HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK d. Chris Columbus, 1992 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Signature Brew Blackhorse Road (18 DEC 18:15 – FREE!).
• The Live Ghost Tent quarterly meeting of The Laurel & Hardy Society at The Cinema Museum (18 DEC 15:00).
• Simpsons Xmas Marathon presented by Deeper Into Movies at Signature Brew Blackhorse Road (18 DEC 13:30 – FREE!).
• UNSOPHISTICATED LADY aka La Pièce rapportée d. Antonin Peretjatko , 2021 at Ciné Lumière (18 DEC 16:25).
• World Wide Weird All-Dayer 4! inc PULGASARI (1985), MAGIC COP (1990), PREY (1977) + Mystery Film presented by World Wide Weird at The King & Queen (18 DEC 12:00+ / Entry £5 raffle ticket, all proceeds to Macmillan Cancer).

SUNDAY 19 DEC

• A CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Jacqui Morris and David Morris, 2021 at Barbican (19 DEC 14:00).
• BLACK PANTHER d. Ryan Coogler, 2018 + Intro by Serlina Boyd & DJ presented by Dark Matter at The Ritzy (19 DEC 11:00).
• IN THE HEIGHTS d. Jon M Chu, 2021 at Whirled Cinema (19 DEC 17:00).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Electric Cinemas (19 DEC 13:45).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at The Lexi (19 DEC 15:30).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Regent Street Cinema (19 DEC 16:10).
• LAST NIGHT IN SOHO d. Edgar Wright, 2021 + Intro by the director at Curzon Soho (19 DEC 20:30).
• THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 at Riverside Studios (19 DEC 14:30).
• THE SNOWMAN 16mm d. Dianne Jackson & Jimmy T. Murakami, 1982 + Shorts presented by Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club at The Castle Cinema (19 DEC 14:15).
• UNSOPHISTICATED LADY aka La Pièce rapportée d. Antonin Peretjatko , 2021 at Ciné Lumière (19 DEC 15:45).

MONDAY 20 DEC

• ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 at The Cinema In The Arches (20 DEC 15:10).

TUESDAY 21 DEC

• COMFORT & JOY d. Bill Forsyth, 1984 with special guest, actor Bill Paterson presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (21 DEC 20:00).
• Fairytale Christmas Special featuring THE WHITE REINDEER aka Valkoinen peura d. Erik Blomberg, 1952 + Animated shorts by Lotte Reiniger presented by Zodiac Film Club at The Castle Cinema (21 DEC 19:00).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Catford Mews (21 DEC 11:00).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at The Lexi (21 DEC 14:00).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at The Cinema In The Arches (21 DEC 17:45).
• THE LAST BUS d. Gillies MacKinnon, 2021 at The David Lean (21 DEC 14:30).
• THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 at The David Lean (21 DEC 19:30).

WEDNESDAY 22 DEC

• HOPE d. Maria Sødahl, 2021 at The David Lean (22 DEC 19:30).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Catford Mews (22 DEC 14:00).
• THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 at The David Lean (22 DEC 14:30).

THURSDAY 23 DEC

• FROM DUSK ‘TIL DAWN + THE COMEBACK SPECIAL d. Tim Pope, 1993 + 2018 at ICA (23 DEC 20:45).
• HOPE d. Maria Sødahl, 2021 at The David Lean (23 DEC 14:30).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at The Lexi (23 DEC 18:10).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Catford Mews (23 DEC 20:00).
• MELVIN: CHRONICLES OF A PLAYER d. Lawrence Coke, 2012 at Whirled Cinema (23 DEC 20:00).
• THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 at The David Lean (23 DEC 19:30).

CHRISTMAS EVE 24 DEC

• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Electric Cinemas (24 DEC 11:30 & 13:30).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Regent Street Cinema (24 DEC 12:15).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Kiln Theatre (24 DEC 14:00).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at The Lexi (24 DEC 17:15).
• IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at Catford Mews (24 DEC 17:30).

BOXING DAY 26 DEC

• AMELIE aka Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain d. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001 at The Prince Charles (26 DEC 17:45 / 27 DEC 14:35 – 35mm / 29 DEC 18:15 – 35mm).
• THE BIRDS d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1963 at Picturehouse Central (26 DEC 16:10).
• SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN d. Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly 1952 at The Prince Charles (26 DEC 15:15 – £1 Members’ Screening).

27 to 31 DEC [BY DATE]

• THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 at JW3 (27 DEC 16:10).
• LICORICE PIZZA 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021 at Everyman Screen On The Green (27 DEC 17:30).
• THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN d. Will Sharpe, 2021 + Recorded Q&A at: Everyman Cinemas (29 DEC various); The Lexi Cinema (29 DEC 18:00); Phoenix Cinema (29 DEC 17:30); Picturehouse Cinemas (29 DEC various); Regent Street Cinema (29 DEC 19:00); Riverside Studios (29 DEC 17:45).
• WHEEL OF FORTUNE & FANTASY aka Guzen to sozo d. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, 2021 preview at BFI Southbank (29 DEC 18:00).
• THE FRENCH DISPATCH d. Wes Anderson, 2021 at The David Lean (30 DEC 14:30).
• SOLARIS d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972 at The Prince Charles (30 DEC 20:10).
• THE LAST BUS d. Gillies MacKinnon, 2021 at The David Lean (31 DEC 14:30).
• DINER d. Barry Levinson, 1982 at The Prince Charles (31 DEC 13:00).

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

• Includes (check venue for full listings): IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 35mm d. Frank Capra, 1946 (until 24 DEC various); THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER 35mm d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 (17 DEC 15:00 / 23 DEC 15:40); BATMAN RETURNS 35mm d. Tim Burton, 1992 (20 DEC 20:45); AMERICAN PSYCHO 35mm d. Mary Harron, 2000 (21 DEC 13:00 – £1 Members’ Screening); DIE HARD 35mm d. John McTiernan, 1988 (21 DEC 15:20 / 22 DEC 21:00 / 24 DEC 18:15); JINGLE ALL THE WAY 35mm d. Brian Levant, 1996 (21 DEC 18:10); CAROL 35mm d. Todd Haynes, 2015 (21 DEC 20:45);  THE APARTMENT 35mm d. Billy Wilder, 1960 (22 DEC 18:00); HOME ALONE 2 : LOST IN NEW YORK 35mm d. Chris Columbus, 1992 (23 DEC 15:25); FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF 35mm d. John Hughes, 1986 (26 DEC 15:00 – £1 Members’ Screening); MAGNOLIA 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999 (28 DEC 20:15); AMELIE 35mm aka Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain d. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001 at The Prince Charles (27 DEC 14:35 / 29 DEC 18:15); THERE WILL BE BLOOD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007 (29 DEC 20:30); ENTER THE DRAGON [Uncut] 35mm d. Robert Clouse, 1973 (30 DEC 17:50); INHERENT VICE 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014 (30 DEC 20:30); PHANTOM THREAD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017 (31 DEC 15:00); TRADING PLACES 35mm d. John Landis, 1983 (31 DEC 15:30); WHEN HARRY MET SALLY 35mm d. Rob Reiner, 1989 (31 DEC 18:00).

A CLASS OF HIS OWN: THE FILMS OF JACK CLAYTON at BFI Southbank

• Includes (check venue for listings): THE PUMPKIN EATER d. Jack Clayton, 1964 + Recorded intro by Lucy Scholes (18 DEC 12:50); ROOM AT THE TOP + NAPLES IS A BATTLEFIELD d. Jack Clayton, 1959 + 1944 (18 DEC 14:10 – 35mm / 29 DEC 14:30); MEMENTO MORI + THE BESPOKE OVERCOAT d. Jack Clayton, 1992 + 1955 (19 DEC 18:00); OUR MOTHER’S HOUSE 35mm d. Jack Clayton. 1967 (20 DEC 18:15); THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE d. Jack Clayton, 1987 (21 DEC 14:20 / 29 DEC 17:50); SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES 35mm d. Jack Clayton, 1983 (21 DEC 20:40); ROOM AT THE TOP d. Jack Clayton, 1959 (22 DEC 18:10); THE INNOCENTS d. Jack Clayton, 1961 (23 DEC 14:20 / 27 DEC 15:20 / 30 DEC 14:30 – Some 35mm); THE GREAT GATSBY d. Jack Clayton, 1974 (27 DEC 12:45); THE PUMPKIN EATER d. Jack Clayton, 1964 (28 DEC 12:15 / 30 DEC 18:10).

ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS… at Picturehouse Cinemas

• Includes (check venue for full listings): IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 (17 to 24 DEC); GREMLINS d. Joe Dante, 1984 + Quiz (19 DEC); THE HOLIDAY d. Nancy Meyers, 2006 + Intro by Jude Law presented by The Holiday Season podcast (19 DEC); THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Brian Henson, 1992 (19 DEC); DIE HARD d. John McTiernan, 1988 (20 & 23 DEC); PARALLEL MOTHERS aka Madres paralelas d. Pedro Almodóvar, 2021 (26 DEC); PIRATES d. Reggie Yates, 2021 + Recorded intro by the cast (31 DEC); THE SOUVENIR: PART II d. Joanna Hogg, 2021 (01 JAN 2022).

ALT. XMAS at The Prince Charles

• Includes (check venue for listings): PADDINGTON d. Paul King, 2014 (17 DEC 13:00 / 22 DEC 16:00); ROCKY IV: ROCKY VS DRAGO [Ultimate Director’s Cut] d. Sylvester Stallone, 1985 (20 DEC 12:30 / 22 DEC 12:45); LITTLE WOMEN d. Greta Gerwig, 2019 (20 DEC 12:45); BATMAN RETURNS 35mm d. Tim Burton, 1992 (20 DEC 20:45); AMERICAN PSYCHO 35mm d. Mary Harron, 2000 (21 DEC 13:00 – £1 Members’ Screening); CAROL 35mm d. Todd Haynes, 2015 (21 DEC 20:45).

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

• Includes (check venue for full listings): JINGLE ALL THE WAY 35mm d. Brian Levant, 1996 (21 DEC 18:10).

BEST OF 2021 at Bertha DocHouse

• Includes (check venue for full listings): THE LOST LEONARDO d. Andreas Koefoed, 2021 (24 DEC 16:00 / 28 DEC 13:50 / 31 DEC 17:40); THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS d. Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw, 2020 (24 DEC 18:00 / 29 DEC 16:10 / 04 JAN 20:40 / 01 FEB 19:00); MLK / FBI d. Sam Pollard, 2020 (26 DEC 14:30 / 29 DEC 18:10 / 04 JAN 18:20); SUMMER OF SOUL (… OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) d. Questlove, 2021 (26 DEC 17:00 / 29 DEC 20:20 / 03 JAN 15:00); THE VELVET UNDERGROUND d. Todd Haynes, 2021 (26 DEC 19:30 / 05 JAN 15:45); THE REASON I JUMP d. Jerry Rothwell, 2020 (27 DEC 16:10 / 30 DEC 18:10 / 02 FEB 18:00); GUNDA d. Viktor Kossakovsky, 2020 (27 DEC 20:10 / 03 JAN 17:30 / 06 JAN 16:00); WRITING WITH FIRE d. Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh, 2021 (28 DEC 18:40 / 02 JAN 16:00 / 05 JAN 18:20); THE ALPINIST d. Peter Mortimer & Nick Rosen, 2021 (30 DEC 16:10 / 05 JAN 20:30); POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ d. Paul Sng & Celeste Bell, 2021 (01 JAN 16:40 / 04 JAN 16:20 / 06 JAN 20:30).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: CHRISTMAS ON SCREEN at BFI Southbank

• Includes (check venue for full listings): THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 (until 23 DEC); MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET 4K d. George Seaton, 1947 (17 DEC 14:30); SCROOGE (aka A Christmas Carol) d. Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951 (17 DEC 18:20 / 18 DEC 18:10 / 19 DEC 15:40 / 20 DEC 18:10 / 21 DEC 14:30); BAD SANTA d. Terry Zwigoff, 2003 (17 DEC 21:00); IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 4K d. Frank Capra, 1946 (18 DEC 20:30 / 19 DEC 15:10 / 20 DEC 20:30 / 21 DEC 18:00 / 22 DEC 14:30 / 23 DEC 14:30 & 18:00); GREMLINS 4K d. Joe Dante, 1984 (18 DEC 20:45 / 22 DEC 20:45 / 29 DEC 20:50); MEET ME IN ST LOUIS d. Vincente Minnelli, 1944 (19 DEC 12:20 / 22 DEC 18:00 / 28 DEC 12:20); TOKYO GODFATHERS aka Tokyo goddofazazu d. Satoshi Kon, 2003 (20 DEC 20:45); TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS d. Henry Selick, 1993 (21 DEC 21:00 / 23 DEC 20:45); THE APARTMENT 4K d. Billy Wilder, 1960 (22 DEC 20:40 / 28 DEC 18:10 / 30 DEC 20:30); REMEMBER THE NIGHT d. Mitchell Leisen, 1940 (27 DEC 13:00 / 30 DEC 18:00); CAROL d. Todd Haynes, 2015 (27 DEC 18:00 / 30 DEC 14:20); A CHRISTMAS TALE 35mm aka Un Conte de Noël d. Arnaud Desplechin, 2008 (28 DEC 15:15).

BOGARDE AT 100 at BFI Southbank

• Includes (check venue for listings):  OUR MOTHER’S HOUSE 35mm d. Jack Clayton, 1967 + Intro (20 DEC 18:15); THE SERVANT: 4K RESTORATION d. Joseph Losey, 1963 (28 DEC 18:30 / 29 DEC 17:55).

CHRISTMAS at ArtHouse Crouch End

• Includes (check venue for listings): IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1945 (17 DEC 14:00 / 19 DEC 17:00 / 23 DEC 17:30 / 24 DEC 15:15); ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (18 DEC 15:30 / 21 DEC 15:15 / 22 DEC 15:00); HOME ALONE d. Chris Columbus, 1990 (20 DEC 12:00 / 23 DEC 11:45).

CHRISTMAS at Catford Mews

• Includes (check venue for listings): DIE HARD d. John McTiernan, 1988 (17 DEC 20:30); ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (18 DEC 11:30 / 19 DEC 15:00); IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 (21 DEC 11:00 / 22 DEC 14:00 / 23 DEC 20:00 / 24 DEC 17:00).

CHRISTMAS at Chiswick Cinema

• Includes (check venue for listings): IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 (18 DEC 15:00 / 21 DEC 18:00 / 23 DEC 15:00); FROZEN: SING-A-LONG d. Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee, 2013 (19 DEC 14:30); DIE HARD d. John McTiernan, 1988 (26 DEC 18:00).

CHRISTMAS at Genesis Cinema 

• Includes (check venue for listings): HOME ALONE d. Chris Columbus, 1990 (18 DEC 15:20); THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Brian Henson, 1992 (19 DEC 12:20). IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 (19 DEC 14:30).

CHRISTMAS at Olympic Studios

• Includes (check venue for full listings): HOME ALONE d. Chris Columbus, 1990 (19 DEC 12:00); ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (19 DEC 13:15); IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 (19 DEC 16:00 / 21 DEC 15:40 / 24 DEC 13:00); THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 (21 DEC 19:00); THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Brian Henson, 1992 (23 DEC 13:00); LOVE ACTUALLY d. Richard Curtis, 2003 (23 DEC 17:00); THE POLAR EXPRESS d. Robert Zemeckis, 2004 (24 DEC 10:00).

CHRISTMAS at The Prince Charles

• Includes (check venue for full listings): A WONDERFUL LIFE 35mm d. Frank Capra, 1946 (until 24 DEC various); THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Brian Henson, 1992 (until 24 DEC various Sing Along/Santa – check venue for details); ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (17 DEC 12:45 / 19 DEC 12:30 / 21 DEC 15:35 / 22 DEC 13:30 / 23 DEC 18:15 / 24 DEC 13:15); THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER 35mm d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940 (17 DEC 15:00 / 23 DEC 15:40); LOVE ACTUALLY d. Richard Curtis, 2003 (17 DEC 20:45 + Santa! / 19 DEC 20:30 / 23 DEC 20:15 + Santa!); NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION d. Jeremiah S. Chechik, 1989 (17 DEC 21:00); WHITE CHRISTMAS d. Michael Curtiz, 1954 (18 DEC 13:05 / 20 DEC 15:45); THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY – EXTENDED EDITIONS d. Peter Jackson, 2001, 2002 & 2003 (18 DEC 21:00); CHRISTMAS PYJAMA PARTY 5 Films, 1 Ticket! (18 DEC 21:30); SCROOGED d. Richard Donner, 1988 (19 DEC 20:45); TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS d. Henry Selick, 1993 (20 DEC 18:30); DIE HARD 35mm d. John McTiernan, 1988 (21 DEC 15:20 / 22 DEC 21:00 / 24 DEC 18:15); JINGLE ALL THE WAY 35mm d. Brian Levant, 1996 (21 DEC 18:10); HOME ALONE d. Chris Columbus, 1990 (21 DEC 18:15 / 23 DEC 13:00 / 24 DEC 15:45); CAROL 35mm d. Todd Haynes, 2015 (21 DEC 20:45); THE APARTMENT 35mm d. Billy Wilder, 1960 (22 DEC 18:00); THE NIGHT BEFORE d. Jonathan Levine, 2015 (22 DEC 18:15); HOME ALONE 2 : LOST IN NEW YORK 35mm d. Chris Columbus, 1992 (23 DEC 15:25); TRADING PLACES 35mm d. John Landis, 1983 (31 DEC 15:30).

CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHTS at Rivoli Ballroom

• Includes (check venue for full listings): ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (17 DEC 16:30); DIE HARD d. John McTiernan, 1988 (17 DEC 20:00).

CHRISTMAS ON 35MM at Everyman Screen On The Green

• Includes (check venue for full listings): IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 35mm d. Frank Capra, 1946 (18 DEC 22:30).

CULT CLASSIC FILM POP UP at Design District

• Includes (check venue for full listings): TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS d. Henry Selick, 1993 (18 DEC 14:00); LOVE ACTUALLY d. Richard Curtis, 2003 (18 DEC 18:30); ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (19 DEC 14:00); IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 (19 DEC 18:30).

EYES ON SPIES at Ciné Lumière

• Includes (check venue for full listings): LE PROFESSIONNEL d. Georges Lautner, 1981 (18 DEC 13:40).

FILM PICK OF THE YEAR at ArtHouse Crouch End

• Includes (check venue for full listings): THE FRENCH DISPATCH d. Wes Anderson, 2021 (17 DEC 17:30); NOMADLAND d. Chloé Zhao, 2020 (18 DEC 20:45); JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY d. Bert Stern & Aram Avakian, 1959 (19 DEC 14:45); THE GREEN KNIGHT d. David Lowery, 2021 (20 DEC 16:45); LIMBO d. Ben Sharrock, 2020 (21 DEC 17:30); SUMMER OF SOUL (… OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) d. Questlove, 2021 (22 DEC 20:30); IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1945 at ActOne Cinema (24 DEC 11:30).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

• Includes (check venue for full listings): MAGNOLIA 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999 (28 DEC 20:15); THERE WILL BE BLOOD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007 (29 DEC 20:30); INHERENT VICE 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014 (30 DEC 20:30); PHANTOM THREAD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017 (31 DEC 15:00).

FILMS WE LOVE at Picturehouse Cinemas

• Includes (check venue for full listings): THE BLUES BROTHERS d. John Landis, 1980 (26 DEC 13:00); ZOLA d. Janicza Bravo, 2020 (26 DEC 18:40); THELMA & LOUISE d. Ridley Scott, 1991 (26 DEC 19:00); CLÉO FROM 5 TO 7 aka Cléo de 5 à 7 d. Agnès Varda, 1962 (27 DEC 13:00); HAROLD & MAUDE d. Hal Ashby, 1971 (27 DEC 15:30); ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST aka C’era una volta il West d. Sergio Leone, 1968 (27 DEC 18:00); DRIVE d. Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011 (27 DEC 21:30); THE BIRDS d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1963 at Picturehouse Central (28 DEC 15:30); HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE d. Taika Waititi, 2016 (28 DEC 18:20); PULP FICTION d. Quentin Tarantino, 1994 (29 DEC 20:20); THE MASTER d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012 (30 DEC 12:00).

JAPAN 2021 at BFI Southbank

• Includes (check venue for full listings): DEATH BY HANGING 35mm aka Kôshikei d. Nagisa Ôshima, 1968 (17 DEC 18:00); TAMPOPO 4K d. Jûzô Itami, 1985 (17 DEC 20:45 / 28 DEC 15:10); THE EMPEROR’S NAKED ARMY MARCHES ON aka Yuki Yukite, Shingun d. Kazuo Hara, 1987 (18 DEC 11:40 / 27 DEC 18:20); STRAITS OF HUNGER (aka A Fugitive from the Past) aka Kiga kaikyô d. Tomu Uchida, 1965 (18 DEC 14:30); WOMAN OF THE DUNES aka Suna no Onna d. Hiroshi Teshigahara, 1964 (18 DEC 17:30); MOVING aka Ohikkoshi d. Shinji Sômai, 1993 (18 DEC 20:35 / 29 DEC 20:30); THE LONG DARKNESS 35mm aka Shinobugawa d. Kei Kumai, 1972 (19 DEC 12:40); THE DEMON 35mm aka Kichiku d. Yoshitarô Nomura, 1978 (19 DEC 16:00); PALE FLOWER 35mm aka Kawaita hana d. Masahiro Shinoda, 1964 (19 DEC 18:20); FIRE FESTIVAL 35mm aka Himatsuri d. Mitsuo Yanagimachi, 1984 (20 DEC 17:50 / 27 DEC 13:20); SUZAKU 35mm aka Moe No Suzaku d. Naomi Kawase, 1997 (21 DEC 17:45 / 30 DEC 21:00); SHALL WE DANCE? 35mmaka Shall we dansu? d. Masayuki Suo, 1996 (21 DEC 20:30 / 30 DEC 17:40); IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES 35mm aka Ai no corrida d. Nagisa Ôshima, 1976 (22 DEC 18:20); LOVE LETTER d. Shunji Iwai, 1995 (22 DEC 20:50 / 28 DEC 12:10); TOKYO DRIFTER aka Tôkyô nagaremono d. Seijun Suzuki, 1966 (23 DEC 18:30); MUDDY RIVER 35mm aka Doro no kawa d. Kôhei Oguri, 1981 (23 DEC 20:40); FUNERAL PARADE OF ROSES aka Bara no sôretsu d. Toshio Matsumoto, 1969 (27 DEC 15:50); BLACK RAIN 35mm aka Kuroi ame d. Shôhei Imamura, 1989 (28 DEC 18:15); AFTER LIFE aka Wandafuru raifu d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 1998 (29 DEC 14:20).

JAPAN 2021: ANOTHER GAZE at BFI Southbank

• Includes (check venue for full listings): DEAR PYONGYANG d. Yang Yong-hi, 2005 + Recorded intro by the director (23 DEC 18:10); 0.5MM aka 0.5 miri d. Momoko Andô, 2014 (27 DEC 16:30); THE FAR ROAD aka Toi ippon no michi d. Sachiko Hidari, 1978 Restoration premiere + Recorded intro by Professor Ayako Saito (28 DEC 15:00); Experimenta presents: A selection of video and film works by experimental filmmaker Mako Idemitsu (29 DEC 20:40).

JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO LE MAGNIFIQUE at Ciné Lumière

• Includes (check venue for full listings): LE PROFESSIONNEL d. Georges Lautner, 1981 (18 DEC 13:40); BORSALINO: 4K RESTORATION d. Jacques Deray, 1970 (19 DEC 14:00); LE DOULOS d. Jean-Pierre Melville, 1962 (19 DEC 16:35); PIERROT LE FOU d. Jean-Luc Godard, 1965 (19 DEC 17:40).

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

• Includes (check venue for listings): THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY – EXTENDED EDITIONS d. Peter Jackson, 2001, 2002 & 2003 (18 DEC 21:00); CHRISTMAS PYJAMA PARTY 5 Films, 1 Ticket! (18 DEC 21:30); BLADE RUNNER: DOUBLE FEATURE (27 DEC 18:00).

THE PRECIOUS THINGS at BFI Southbank

• Includes (check venue for listings): Neil Innes and Terry Jones: EAST OF THE MOON + Intro by producer Joy Whitby (17 DEC 18:10); Christmas Specials of Yesteryear (18 DEC 18:20).

THIS IS WHAT A FAMILY LOOKS LIKE at Rio, ActOne & Picturehouse Central

• Includes (check venues for listings): CLOSE-KNIT aka Karera ga honki de amu toki wa d. Naoko Ogigami, 2017 + Intro by Stranded Dyeworks & post-screening knit-in at Picturehouse Central (19 DEC 14:00).
• Programmed by MilkTea Films.

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

• Includes (check venue for listings): CHUNGKING EXPRESS d. Wong Kar Wai, 1994 (28 DEC 21:00).

• The South London Film Festival (18 DEC).

• Also (17 to 23 DEC, various dates/times): A CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Jacqui Morris and David Morris, 2021 at: Peckhamplex / Watermans // AMAZING GRACE d. Alan Elliott & Sydney Pollack, 2018 at: Bertha DocHouse // IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE d. Frank Capra, 1946 at: Picturehouse Cinemas / Riverside Studios // KARPOPOTNIK d. Matjaž Ivanišin, 2013 at: ICA // LOLA AND THE SEA aka Lola vers la mer d. Laurent Micheli, 2021 at: Curzon Cinemas / ICA // NINE DAYS d. Edson Oda, 2020 at: Picturehouse Cinemas // THE TENDER BAR d. George Clooney, 2021 at: Curzon Cinemas // TO THE MOON d. Tadhg O’Sullivan, 2021 at: Bertha DocHouse / ICA.
• From 26 DEC, various dates/times: THE HUMANS d. Stephen Karam, 2021 at: ActOne Cinema / ArtHouse Crouch End / TITANE d. Julia Ducournau, 2021 at: ArtHouse Crouch End / Everyman Cinemas / Picturehouse Cinemas / Prince Charles Cinema / Rio Cinema // THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH d. Joel Coen, 2021 at: Electric Cinemas / Everyman Cinemas / Prince Charles Cinema / Rio Cinema / Riverside Studios.
• From 27 DEC, various dates/times: LICORICE PIZZA d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021 at: Chiswick Cinema / Picturehouse Cinemas 70mm (27, 28 & 31 DEC) & 35mm (28, 29 & 30 DEC).

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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. //.