This is a film still from THE UNKNOWN dir Tod Browning, 1927, screening at Barbican as part of London International Mime Festival (29 JAN 2023).

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [27 JAN to 02 FEB 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

Welcome to another screen week!

London’s DIY, indie and alternative screenings have definitely picked up pace this week, giving you a great deal of choice…

Friday 27 JAN is Holocaust Memorial Day and there are some important screenings across London including: INJUSTICE AND RESISTANCE: ROMANI ROSE AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT at Goethe-Institut, WHERE IS ANNE FRANK at Stratford East Picturehouse (both 27 JAN), and DISTANT JOURNEY at Picturehouse Cinemas in collaboration with the Czech Centre London (29 JAN). Apologies if I’ve missed others.

In a land where the double-bill is supposed to be dead, it’s great to see one of my favourite screening formats well represented across the week. Choices include: The Gothique Film Society‘s presentation of a pair of killer apes at The Cinema Museum, GO AND GET IT + THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (27 JAN); filmmaker JoJo Bossman introducing TONGUES UNTIED + MOONLIGHT for Transmissions at Dalston Superstore (30 JAN); and The Picture Palace Archive starting a new 16mm film night at Rivoli Ballroom with a ‘Blonde Bombshell Double-bill’, THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH 16mm + PIN UP GIRL 16mm (02 FEB).

For fans of world horror cinema, World Wide Weird stages their fifth “all-dayer” event at The King & Queen Pub on Saturday (28 JAN). Their global film choices include THE BOXER’S OMEN (1983), THE CORRUPTION OF CHRIS MILLER (1973), BALLAD IN BLOOD (2016) and some rare 8mm/16mm shorts. As usual it’s a free event, but the organisers will be inviting donations to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. If your Saturday is already taken, the wonderful people at Evolution of Horror return to Genesis Cinema with the next of their big screen projections: EVENT HORIZON (31 JAN).

The week also features some excellent silent cinema including THE MARK OF ZORRO with Donald MacKenzie playing a live Wurlitzer score at The Musical Museum (29 JAN), and THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI with live score provided by Jon Sweeney at Ciné Lumière in partnership with Austrian Cultural Forum as part of their CARL MAYER MINI SEASON.

I’ve chosen the London International Mime Festival’s presentation of Todd Browning’s THE UNKNOWN with live score by Stephen Horne and Martin Pyne at Barbican (29 JAN) as my Featured Attraction of the Week because as their event blurb says: “this circus-set melodrama is one of the great silent films.”

See you in the darkness, and stay safe.

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

PS – If you fancy joining me for Sunday Brunch with a side-serving of cult cinema, I’m launching my new ‘BAR TRASH does brunch’ programme at Rule Zero with Tobe Hooper’s LIFEFORCE this weekend (29 JAN 11:00am). Normal BAR TRASH service continues at Genesis Cinema on Wednesday 01 FEB with the little-known STAR WARS stablemate, DAMNATION ALLEY. See you there…?

THE UNKNOWN d. Tod Browning, 1927 + Live musical accompaniment by Stephen Horne & Martin Pyne, presented by LIMF at Barbican (29 JAN 15:00).

“The famously versatile Lon Chaney (“The Man of a Thousand Faces”) is Alonzo the Armless Wonder, who uses his feet to perform a circus knife-throwing act. But Alonzo keeps dark secrets: he is not the amputee he pretends to be, and is in fact a killer on the run from the police. With enormous cunning, he keeps his true identity, and his arms, hidden from the world. To act on his infatuation with the circus’ beautiful bare-back rider Nanon (Joan Crawford) would be to give himself away: so, what to do?”

“THE UNKNOWN builds to a Grand Guignol finale that is truly breath-taking in its intensity.” (LIMF)

FRIDAY 27 JAN

  • ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED d. Laura Poitras, 2022 + Q&A with the director at Barbican (27 JAN 18:30).
  • ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED d. Laura Poitras, 2022 + Q&A with the director at Picturehouse Central (27 JAN 20:00).
  • THE FAREWELL + Short: STAY WITH HER ds. Lulu Wang, 2019 + Yang Chen, presented by WOFFF & Newham Community Cinema for Chinese New Year at Stratford Library (27 JAN 16:00 – FREE!).
  • Double-bill: GO AND GET IT + THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL ds. Marshall Neilan & Henry Roberts Symonds, 1920 + Stuart Heisler, 1941 Live piano accompaniment for Go And Get It provided by John Sweeney, presented by The Gothique Film Society at The Cinema Museum (27 JAN 19:00).
  • INJUSTICE AND RESISTANCE: ROMANI ROSE AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT d. Peter Nestler, 2022 presented by Essay Film Festival and the Goethe-Institut for Holocaust Memorial Day at Goethe-Institut London (27 JAN 19:00).
  • MAMMA MIA! Sing-along d. Phyllida Lloyd, 2008 presented by West London Queer Project at Chiswick Cinema (27 JAN 21:00).
  • MARIA FULL OF GRACE d. Joshua Marston, 2004 + Intro by Adam Feinstein at Friern Barnet Community Library (27 JAN 18:30).
  • TRAMPS! d. Kevin Hegge, 2022 + Music in the bar, presented by Rebel Reel Cine Club at The Garden Cinema (27 JAN 20:00).
  • WHERE IS ANNE FRANK + Short: TRUDIE’S GOOSE ds. Ari Folman, 2021 + Liran Kapel, 2020 + Panel, presented by WOFFF & Newham Community Cinema at Stratford East Picturehouse for Holocaust Memorial Day (27 JAN 19:00 – FREE!).
  • THE WOMAN OF MY LIFE d. Antony Donchev, 2014 at Bulgarian Cultural Institute London (27 JAN 19:30 – FREE!).

TALKS etc.

SATURDAY 28 JAN

  • ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED d. Laura Poitras, 2022 + Q&A with the director at Curzon Mayfair (28 JAN 17:30).
  • ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED d. Laura Poitras, 2022 + Q&A with the director at ICA (28 JAN 20:30).
  • CLEOPATRA d. Cecil B. DeMille, 1934 + Intro, presented by Women & Cocaine at The Cinema Museum (28 JAN 19:30).
  • RRR d. S. S. Rajamouli, 2022 at The Prince Charles (28 JAN 12:00 & 17:45).
  • SERIOUSLY RED d. Gracie Otto, 2022 presented by London Australian Film Society for Australia Day at The Garden Cinema (28 JAN 12:30 & 20:30).
  • Taste: Hong Kong Identity in Food and Film short film programme presented by Emerging Film Curators 2022 at Barbican (28 JAN 14:00).
  • World Wide Weird All-Dayer at The King & Queen, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support (28 JAN 12:30+).

SUNDAY 29 JAN

  • ANTONIA’S LINE d. Marleen Gorris, 1995 presented by Babel Film club at Babel Art House (29 JAN 19:00).
  • BRINGING UP BABY 16mm d. Howard Hawks, 1938 presented by Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club at The Castle Cinema (29 JAN 14:15).
  • CESÀRIA ÉVORA d. Ana Sofia Fonseca, 2022 at Bertha DocHouse (29 JAN 16:00).
  • DISTANT JOURNEY d. Alfred Radok, 1948 in collaboration with the Czech Centre London to mark the International Holocaust Remembrance Day at Picturehouse Cinemas (29 JAN various).
  • IF I HAD FOUR CAMELS d. Chris Marker, 1966 + Intro by Ehsan Khoshbakht, presented by Never On Sunday at Close-Up (29 JAN 20:15).
  • THE LAST TREE d. Shola Amoo, 2019 at Whirled Cinema (29 JAN 17:00).
  • THE MARK OF ZORRO d. Fred Niblo, 1920 + Live accompaniment by Donald MacKenzie on Wurlitzer at The Musical Museum (29 JAN 14:30).
  • OLIMPIA’S WAY d. Corrado Ceron, 2023 + Q&A with the director, presented by CinemaItaliaUK at Riverside Studios (29 JAN 17:30).
  • REDS d. Warren Beatty, 1981 at Riverside Studios (29 JAN 13:45 / 30 JAN 13:30).
  • THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION d. Frank Darabont, 1994 presented by Film Tottenham at Blighty Tottenham N15 (29 JAN 18:00).
  • THE UNKNOWN d. Tod Browning, 1927 + Live musical accompaniment by Stephen Horne & Martin Pyne, presented by LIMF at Barbican (29 JAN 15:00).

TALKS etc.

MONDAY 30 JAN

  • ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED d. Laura Poitras, 2022 + Panel discussion, raising funds for Positive East at Rio Cinema (30 JAN 18:15).
  • DAISIES aka Sedmikrásky d. Vera Chytilová, 1966 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Farr’s Dalston (30 JAN 19:30).
  • DRIVE MY CAR d. Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 2021 at Whirled Cinema (30 JAN 20:00 / 31 JAN 20:00 / 01 FEB 20:00 / 05 FEB 17:00).
  • Monday Classic Matinée: FATHER OF THE BRIDE d. Vincente Minnelli, 1950 at Regent Street Cinema (30 JAN 13:00).
  • REDS d. Warren Beatty, 1981 at Riverside Studios (30 JAN 13:30).
  • THE SUBSTITUTE d. Diego Lerman, 2022 + Recorded Q&A with the director at Genesis Cinema (30 JAN 18:15).
  • Double-bill: TONGUES UNTIED + MOONLIGHT ds. Marlon Riggs, 1989 + Barry Jenkins, 2016 + Intro by JoJo Bossman, presented by Transmissions at Dalston Superstore (30 JAN 17:30).
  • WOMEN TALKING d. Sarah Polley, 2023 + Q&A at Curzon Soho (30 JAN 18:15).

TUESDAY 31 JAN

  • AFTERSUN d. Charlotte Wells, 2022 at The David Lean (31 JAN 19:30).
  • DRIVE MY CAR d. Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 2021 at Whirled Cinema (31 JAN 20:00 / 01 FEB 20:00 / 05 FEB 17:00).
  • EVENT HORIZON d. Paul W.S. Anderson, 1997 + Live panel discussion with Journey Through Sci-Fi podcast, presented by Evolution of Horror at Genesis Cinema (31 JAN 18:20).
  • FLASH GORDON d. Mike Hodges, 1980 in tribute to Mike Hodges (1932 – 2022), presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (31 JAN 20:00).
  • LA BETE HUMAINE d. Jean Renoir, 1938 presented in-venue & online by Sands Films Cine Club at Sands Films Studios (31 JAN 20:00 – Donation requested).
  • Movie Night with Minute Shorts short film programme at Dijonss E1 (31 JAN 19:00).

WEDNESDAY 01 FEB

  • Pink Palace: THE CRYING GAME d. Neil Jordan, 1992 + Intro/discussion with Fringe! programmer, Jaye Hudson in the basement bar at Rio Cinema (01 FEB 20:00).
  • Films from Iran for Iran: DREAM SILK + GUT FEELINGS: FRAGMENTS OF TRUTH ds. Nahid Reza, 2003 + Katayoun Jalilipour, 2021 at One And A Half (01 FEB 18:30).
  • DRIVE MY CAR d. Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 2021 at Whirled Cinema (01 FEB 20:00 / 05 FEB 17:00).
  • THE FABELMANS d. Steven Spielberg, 2022 + Intro by Adrian Wootton at Barbican (01 FEB 20:15).
  • South By South: LOSING GROUND d. Kathleen Collins, 1982 at South London Gallery (01 FEB 19:00).
  • THE SUBSTITUTE d. Diego Lerman, 2022 + Recorded Q&A with the director at Picturehouse Crouch End (01 FEB 20:30).
  • SUPER NATURAL d. Jorge Jácome, 2022 UK Premiere + Intro/Q&A with the artist at Tate Modern (01 FEB 18:30).

THURSDAY 02 FEB

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): INTERSTELLAR 70mm d. Christopher Nolan, 2014 (30 JAN 12:00).

IMAX PRESENTATIONS at BFI IMAX

AKIRA KUROSAWA at BFI Southbank & BFI IMAX 

ANNIVERSARY SEASON at Everyman Belsize Park

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LE MÉPRIS aka Contempt d. Jean-Luc Godard, 1963 (29 JAN 14:00 / 01 FEB 17:45).

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles (Not listed elsewhere!)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SUPERMAN d. Richard Donner, 1978 (29 JAN 15:05 / 31 JAN 15:00 – 4K/£1 Members Film / 01 FEB 20:45).

AU CONTRAIRE: JEAN-LUC GODARD at Close-Up

BAR TRASH: TRASH OR TREASURE? at Rule Zero & Genesis Cinema 

  • Includes (check venue for listings): LIFEFORCE d. Tobe Hooper, 1985 + Intro, intermission, brunch & prize giveaways at Rule Zero’s Sub Zero (29 JAN 11:00+); DAMNATION ALLEY d. Jack Smight, 1977 + Intro, intermission, themed drinks & prize giveaways at Genesis Cinema’s Bar Paragon (01 FEB 20:30).
  • Presented by Token Homo.

CARL MAYER MINI SEASON at Ciné Lumière & Austrian Cultural Forum

CELEBRATING JACK NICHOLSON at The Garden Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): FIVE EASY PIECES d. Bob Rafelson, 1970 (27 JAN 17:15 / 31 JAN 15:15); CHINATOWN d. Roman Polanski, 1974 (28 JAN 14:30 / 01 FEB 15:10); THE SHINING d. Stanley Kubrick, 1980 (29 JAN 16:45 / 30 JAN 14:55); THE PASSENGER d. Michelangelo Antonioni, 1975 (30 JAN 20:30).

CHAZELLE SEASON at Genesis Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BABYLON d. Damien Chazelle, 2023 (until 02 FEB).

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

DISNEY MATINEES at The Prince Charles

DRUMROLL FOR FORTUITOUS HEROES at Ciné Lumière

ESSENTIAL CINEMA at Close-Up Film Centre

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MIRROR d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1974 (28 JAN 20:15).

‘I PURPLE U’ at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE HANDMAIDEN d. Park Chan-Wook, 2016 (31 JAN 20:20).
  • Curated by Heeyeon Park in partnership with NFTS.

MARK JENKIN’S THE CINEMATIC DNA OF ENYS MEN at BFI Southbank

MEL BROOKS SELECTROSPECTIVE (IN REVERSE) at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN d. Mel Brooks, 1974 (27 JAN 18:00).

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

NOBODY DOES IT LIKE SAM PECKINPAH at The Prince Charles

SCI-FI SELECTIONS at The Prince Charles

SIGHT & SOUND GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME 2022 at BFI Southbank & BFI IMAX

SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN FILMMAKERS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): AFTERSUN d. Charlotte Wells, 2022 (27 JAN 15:45 / 29 JAN 18:25 / 30 JAN 20:30 / 31 JAN 15:45 / 01 FEB 15:30); BEAU TRAVAIL 35mm d. Claire Denis, 1999 (29 JAN 18:15 / 07 FEB 12:15); STORIES WE TELL d. Sarah Polley, 2012 (01 FEB 18:15).

STEFAN DANAILOV at Bulgarian Cultural Institute London

STEVEN SPIELBERG FROM 35MM at Everyman Screen On The Green

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 35mm d. Steven Spielberg, 1998 (28 JAN 22:30 / 01 FEB 10:30).

THROWBACK SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

TRINTIGNANT: THE NON-CONFORMIST at Ciné Lumière

WOMEN SHAPING THE WORLD at Ciné Lumière

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): FALLEN ANGELS d. Wong Kar Wai, 1995 (27 JAN 12:35 – 4K / 28 JAN 15:45 – 4K / 01 FEB 18:00 – 4K / 02 FEB 15:30 – 4K); CHUNGKING EXPRESS d. Wong Kar Wai, 1994 (31 JAN 18:00); IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE d. Wong Kar Wai, 2000 (02 FEB 21:15 – 4K).

YASUJIRŌ OZU: NORIKO TRILOGY at Close-Up Film Centre

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): EARLY SUMMER d. Yasujiro Ozu, 1951 (28 JAN 17:45); TOKYO STORY d. Yasujiro Ozu, 1953 (29 JAN 17:45).

ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED dir Laura Poitras, 2022

This is a film still from ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED dir Laura Poitras, 2022 which opens across London this week (27 Jan to 02 Feb 2023).

THE FABELMANS dir Steven Spielberg, 2022

This is a film still from THE FABELMANS dir Steven Spielberg, 2022, which opens across London this week (27 JAN to 02 Feb 2023).

Also 27 JAN to 02 FEB (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. //.