This is a film still from PICNIC dir Shunji Iwai, 1996.

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [21 to 27 APR 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

This is a banner advert for BAR TRASH Cult Films & Brunch at Rule Zero.
BAR TRASH presents cult films & brunch at Rule Zero in Hackney Wick – BOOKING NOW!!

Some quick news from across the scene…

  • Deptford Cinema returns with regular monthly screenings this week at Music Room (23 APR).
  • Watermans has reduced their opening hours due to economic pressures.
  • Queer East Festival burns brightly at venues across London (until 30 APR). Other festival’s opening nights include Chronic Youth (22 to 23 APR), Kino Short Film Festival (23 APR to 01 MAY), and London Bengali Film Festival (26 to 30 APR).
  • There’s a handful of tickets left for both Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club screenings this week at The Castle Cinema (23 & 27 APR). Read The Guardian article.
  • The IN FOCUS: ALBERT SERRA season builds up a head of steam at Ciné Lumière and ICA.
  • Rooftop Film Club’s new outdoor season starts 28 APR (Stratford East) and 01 MAY (Peckham) and is booking now!
  • I’ve chosen ICA’s Celluloid Sunday screening of Shunji Iwai’s PICNIC from 35mm as my Featured Attraction of the Week (23 APR).

See you in the darkness, and stay safe.

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

Celluloid Sunday: PICNIC 35mm d. Shunji Iwai, 1996 at ICA (23 APR 19:15).

“Believing that the end of the world is imminent, Coco, Tsumuji and Satoru, three patients of a mental asylum, escape their institution to seek the perfect picnic spot and watch the apocalypse.”

“Shunji Iwai follows up on the success of his romance drama LOVE LETTER with this strange and touching tale, which started its career at the 1996 Berlinale. The film is screening on a 35mm print from the ICA Archive.” (ICA)

FRIDAY 21 APR

SATURDAY 22 APR

  • African Odysseys: EXECUTIVE ORDER d. Lázaro Ramos, 2022 + Intro/Q&A with the director at BFI Southbank (22 APR 14:00).
  • Exploding Cinema short film programme + Live music, filmmaker Q&As & a raffle at The Cinema Museum (22 APR 19:00).
  • HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE d. Daniel Goldhaber, 2022 + Panel at Picturehouse Central (22 APR 18:00).
  • Short: THE SHENG PLAYER d. Toto Guo + Live performance & speeches, presented by Orange Blossom Arts at Genesis Cinema (22 APR 13:00 – FREE!).
  • SICK OF MYSELF d. Kristoffer Borgli, 2022 + Q&A with actor Kristine Kujath Thorp, presented by Deeper Into Movies at Rio Cinema (22 APR 15:00).
  • THE WATER RATS d. Jillian Edelstein & Greig Coetzee + Intro by director Jillian Edelstein at The Lexi Cinema (22 APR 15:00 / 26 APR 18:30).

SUNDAY 23 APR

  • ALCARRÀS d. Carla Simón, 2022 presented by Deptford Cinema at Music Room (23 APR 14:00 – PWYC).
  • ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED d. Laura Poitras, 2022 presented by Deptford Cinema at Music Room (23 APR 17:00 – FREE!).
  • Bastille MTV Unplugged for Record Store Day at Rio Cinema (23 APR 20:30).
  • THE BIG LEBOWSKI d. Joel Coen, 1997 at JW3 (23 APR 17:00 / 24 APR 19:00).
  • THE CRAZY STRANGER aka Gadjo dilo d. Tony Gatlif, 1997 at Babel Art House (23 APR 19:30).
  • Polish Film Talk: HEAVEN IN HELL d. Tomasz Mandes, 2023 + Intro by Michael Brooke at Watermans (23 APR 13:00).
  • Celluloid Sunday: PICNIC 35mm d. Shunji Iwai, 1996 at ICA (23 APR 19:15).
  • STRANGERS ON A TRAIN d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1951 + Talk & book signing with Travis Elborough at Rio Cinema (23 APR 15:45).
  • THANK YOU GUYS d. Riccardo Milani, 2023 presented by CinemaItaliaUK at Riverside Studios (23 APR 17:00).
  • TORI AND LOKITA d. Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (23 APR 17:00).

MONDAY 24 APR

TUESDAY 25 APR

  • A TASTE OF HONEY d. Tony Richardson, 1961 in homage to Murray Melvin, presented in-venue & online by Sands Films Cinema Club at Sands Films Studios (25 APR 20:00 – Donation requested!).
  • BELLA CIAO, SONG OF REBELLION d. Andrea Vogt, 2021 presented by Millstream Films & Media at The Garden Cinema (25 APR 20:00).
  • CLARA SOLA d. Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, 2021 at Whirled Cinema (25 APR 20:00 / 26 APR 20:00 / 30 APR 17:00).
  • Projecting The Archive: INTIMATE RELATIONS 35mm d. Charles Frank, 1953 + Intro by Vic Pratt, BFI Video Publishing at BFI Southbank (25 APR 18:20).
  • MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE d. Nagisa Ôshima, 1983 presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (25 APR 20:00).
  • THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH d. Dominik Moll, 2022 at The David Lean (25 APR 19:30).

WEDNESDAY 26 APR

  • ALIEN d. Ridley Scott, 1979 for Alien Day at Electric Cinemas (26 APR various).
  • Alien Day Double-Bill: ALIEN + ALIENS at Picturehouse Cinemas (26 APR various).
  • ALLELUJAH d. Richard Eyre, 2022 at The David Lean (26 APR 14:30 HOH & 19:30).
  • CLARA SOLA d. Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, 2021 at Whirled Cinema (26 APR 20:00 / 30 APR 17:00).
  • DROP DEAD GORGEOUS d. Michael Patrick Jann, 1999 presented by FAB Film Club at The Old Nuns Head (26 APR 19:45).
  • Pink Palace: GATEWAYS GRIND d. Jacquie Lawrence, 2022 + Intro/discussion with Arabella Kennedy-Compston in the basement bar at Rio Cinema (26 APR 19:30).
  • JASON MOLINA – FAREWELL TRANSMISSION presented by Deeper Into Movies & Secretly Canadian at Bush Hall (26 APR 19:30).
  • RODEO d. Lola Quivoron, 2023 + Recorded Q&A, presented by Reclaim The Frame at Genesis Cinema (26 APR 20:55).
  • VENDREDI SOIR aka Friday Night d. Claire Denis, 2002 presented by Jellied Reels at The Castle Cinema (26 APR 19:00).
  • THE WATER RATS d. Jillian Edelstein & Greig Coetzee + Intro by director Jillian Edelstein at The Lexi Cinema (26 APR 18:30).

THURSDAY 27 APR

  • THE BIG LEBOWSKI d. Joel Coen, 1997 presented by Signature at Genesis Cinema (27 APR 21:00 + A drink).
  • BLU BAG LIFE d. Lisa Selby & Rebecca Lloyd-Evans, 2022 + Q&A with the directors at Curzon Soho (27 APR 18:20).
  • FINITE: THE CLIMATE OF CHANGE d. Rich Felgate, 2022 + Intro, presented by Clean Up the River Brent, Ealing Wildlife Group, Friends of Horsenden Hill & Extinction Rebellion Brent at The Lexi Cinema (27 APR 18:30).
  • GOD’S CREATURES d. Saela Davis & Anna Rose Holmer, 2022 at The David Lean (27 APR 14:30 HOH & 19:30).
  • PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE d. Brian De Palma, 1974 an evening of food & film, presented by Movie & Munch at Cave (27 APR 17:00).
  • THE ROOM d. Tommy Wiseau, 2003 at The Prince Charles (27 APR 20:45).
  • THEOREM d. Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1968 + Intro/talk with Bruce LaBruce presented by a/political, DMovies & Doesn’t Exist Magazine at BFI Southbank (27 APR 18:00).

16MM SCREENINGS at The Castle Cinema

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

IMAX PRESENTATIONS at BFI IMAX

10 YEARS OF A24 at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): AMERICAN HONEY d. Andrea Arnold, 2016 (23 APR various / 25 APR various).

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

A LUKAS MOODYSSON SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

ANIME at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): JUNK HEAD d. Takahide Hori, 2021 (24 APR 13:15 & 18:15).

AU CONTRAIRE: JEAN-LUC GODARD at Close-Up

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MASCULIN FÉMININ d. Jean-Luc Godard, 1966 (23 APR 17:45).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION… at BFI Southbank

BRING ME THE FILMS OF SAM PECKINPAH at The Prince Charles

CELEBRATING QUEER CINEMA at The Garden Cinema 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE d. Stephen Frears, 1987 (21 APR 18:00 / 26 APR 15:00); CABARET d. Bob Fosse, 1972 + Live performance by Señorita Scarlett (21 APR 20:00); BEAU TRAVAIL d. Claire Denis, 1999 (22 APR 20:50); 120 BPM d. Robin Campillo, 2017 (23 APR 15:00 + Fundraiser by The People’s Film Club for Positive East); QUEERAMA d. Daisy Asquith, 2018 (24 APR 18:00); ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER d. Pedro Almodóvar, 1999 (25 APR 18:00); REBEL DYKES d. Harri Shanahan & Siana Williams, 2021 (26 APR 18:00 + Recorded Q&A with the directors); PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE d. Céline Sciamma, 2019 (27 APR 20:10 + Intro by Dr Alice Pember for Lesbian Visibility week).

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

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

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE BIG LEBOWSKI d. Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, 1998 (21 APR 20:45); VERTIGO d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1958 (23 APR 20:45 – 4K); ALIEN [THEATRICAL CUT] d. Ridley Scott, 1979 (26 APR 12:00); ALIENS d. James Cameron, 1986 (26 APR 14:45).

DISNEY MATINEES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LADY AND THE TRAMP 35mm d. Clyde Geronimi & Wilfred Jackson, 1955 (22 APR 15:30).

DRESSED TO THRILL: A SERIES OF FILMS EXPLORING DRESS CODE AND GENDER EXPRESSION at The Cinema Museum

ESSENTIAL CINEMA at Close-Up Film Centre

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): RUSHMORE d. Wes Anderson, 1998 (21 APR 18:00).

FRANCOPHONE WEST AFRICAN CINEMA at The Garden Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BAMAKO d. Abderrahmane Sissako, 2006 (22 APR 18:20); MANDABI d. Ousmane Sembène, 1968 (24 APR 16:00); TIMBUKTU d. Abderrahmane Sissako, 2014 (27 APR 18:00 + Intro & discussion with Keith Shiri).

FROM THE REQUEST BOARD… at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN d. Mel Brooks, 1974 (23 APR 18:10).

GINGER ROGERS: ALL THAT SASS at BFI Southbank

IN FOCUS: ALBERT SERRA at Ciné Lumière & ICA

KIEŚLOWSKI’S THREE COLOURS at Close-Up 

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

NORTHERN VOICES at BFI Southbank 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): IN CELEBRATION d. Lindsay Anderson, 1975 (23 APR 18:10); BILLY LIAR d. John Schlesinger, 1963 (27 APR 20:50).

OUTSIDERS AND EXILES: THE FILMS OF JERZY SKOLIMOWSKI at BFI Southbank

SIGHT & SOUND GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME 2022 at Ciné Lumière 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): #25 – AU HASARD BALTHAZAR d. Robert Bresson, 1966 (23 APR 14:00 / 25 APR 18:30).

SPOTLIGHT ON FEMALE FILMMAKERS at The Prince Charles

TECHNOLOGY ON SCREEN at Ciné Lumière

THROWBACK SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

TI WEST’S X AND PEARL at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): X d. Ti West, 2022 (22 APR 15:45 / 25 APR 13:30); PEARL d. Ti West, 2022 (22 APR 18:15 / 25 APR 15:50 / 27 APR 20:35).

WOMEN SHAPING THE WORLD at Ciné Lumière

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE d. Wong Kar Wai, 2000 (22 APR 17:30 – 4K / 27 APR 13:00); CHUNGKING EXPRESS d. Wong Kar Wai, 1994 (23 APR 18:20 – 4K).

WUXIA SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

A THOUSAND AND ONE dir A.V. Rockwell, 2023

EVIL DEAD RISE dir Lee Cronin, 2023

HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE dir Daniel Goldhaber, 2022

THE THREE MUSKETEERS: D’ARTAGNAN dir Martin Bourboulon, 2023

Also 21 to 27 APR (various dates/times):

RADIANT CIRCUS is powered by monthly subscribers. Get great rewards & help #ReviveTheDark. JOIN US!

*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. //.