This is a film still from ZONE TROOPERS dir Danny Bilson, 1985 presented by Bar Trash at Rule Zero (30 APR 2023).

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [28 APR to 04 MAY 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!!

Welcome to another screen week!

I had the joy of being interviewed by Anna McKibbin for a forthcoming article for the Independent Cinema Office about the rise and rise of the cult and curious film night this week. As well as the general ‘how did BAR TRASH start?’ and ‘where’s it going?’ questions (not entirely sure I know…), we spent a lot of time talking about pro-social forms of cinema and how independent exhibitors across the country are creating events that bring people together and deliberately eschew rigid ideas about how audiences are ‘meant’ to behave and which films are ‘meant’ to be shown.

I think this idea of an alternative cinema that puts people’s experience on a par with the film is something ICA are also now exploring (from their own perspective) with a new monthly series of takeovers, Screen Practices, launching this weekend. I say ‘think’ not to be disingenuous, but to further encourage the ICA to review how they describe their events to start dismantling barriers to inclusion that can be created by the unnecessarily complex, coded language of the academy.

Looking at this issue from another perspective, I am shocked by the number of dead and dormant social media accounts and websites I scroll through when compiling these listings. A significant number of London’s DIY film clubs and exhibitors have ceased creating their own forms of accessible, affordable and social cinema for whatever reasons. When I speculated on social media about how BFI Southbank could help their audiences discover the wealth of London’s DIY/alternative cinema talent – after all, what’s a flagship without its fleet? – I got several ‘likes’ and comments from other exhibitors. We clearly need to do more to help alternative cinema become more sustainable.

Finally, I went on my own to see new release EVIL DEAD RISE in the biggest screen on a mid-week night at my local chain cinema this week (it’s walking distance from home and my hotdog fetish needs fuelling every now and then…). There were just four people dispersed across a very big room. Whilst the staff were very lovely, you have to wonder how anyone has the reserves of energy to make this unsocial version of the cinema business model last?

For all of these reasons, I’ve committed the cardinal sin of making my own event – a brunch screening of ZONE TROOPERS at Rule Zero on Sunday 30 April – my Featured Attraction of the Week. Because it’s a very social screening of a rarely shown cult film. And we still need to shift a few more tickets.

See you in the darkness, and stay safe.

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

ZONE TROOPERS d. Danny Bilson, 1985 + Intro, intermission, prize giveaways & brunch! at Rule Zero’s Sub Zero (30 APR 12:00 – £1).

“When a World War II American military patrol gets lost behind enemy lines in Italy and stumbles upon a crashed alien spacecraft, they quickly come to realise they must join forces with the extra-terrestrials if they are to defeat the Nazis who are hell-bent on using the alien technology to win the war.”

“Indie U.S. production company Empire International Pictures (aka Empire Entertainment) was a real family affair. Founder Charles Band appointed his dad, Albert – an experienced director/producer (ZOLTAN… HOUND OF DRACULA) – as head of production and recruited his brother, Richard (GHOULIES), to write several film scores. Beloved Empire titles include TRANCERS (1984), RE-ANIMATOR (1985) and ROBOT JOX (1990).”

“ZONE TROOPERS comes from the period of ‘peak Empire’ before the studio’s eventual financial collapse in the late 80s which led Charles Band to launch Full Moon Entertainment, a company he still runs today (home of the PUPPET MASTER franchise). Plugging yourself into this “daft” little number will put an instant smile on your face, making it another pitch-perfect slice of Sunday brunch cinema.”

BAR TRASH films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways and subtitles (where possible). Film £1 / Film + Bottomless Prosecco £25. Full brunch menu available at your table from the Rule Zero kitchen (billed separately).

FRIDAY 28 APR

  • BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER d. Ryan Coogler, 2022 + Q&A with Addassa Follett & Brenda Smith (Sickle Cell Society UK), presented by Newham Community Cinema at Stratford Library – FREE!).
  • Musical Fridays: THE BLUES BROTHERS d. John Landis, 1980 (28 APR 20:30).
  • COUP 53 d. Taghi Amirani, 2019 + Q&A with the director & Walter Murch at ActOne Cinema (28 APR 18:30 & 19:15).
  • GRAND HOTEL d. Edmund Goulding, 1932 + Intro & raffle, presented by Women & Cocaine at The Cinema Museum (28 APR 19:30).
  • IN THE MIDDLE d. Greg Cruttwell, 2023 + Q&A with the director & participating referees at Picturehouse West Norwood (28 APR 20:00).
  • LOVE ACCORDING TO DALVA dir Emmanuelle Nicot, 2022 + Q&A with the director at Genesis Cinema (28 APR 20:40).
  • WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL d. Hannah Congdon & Catherine Haigh, 2022 + Q&A with the directors at The Ritzy (28 APR 19:00).

SATURDAY 29 APR

SUNDAY 30 APR

TALKS etc.

MONDAY 01 MAY

  • THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN d. Martin McDonagh, 2022 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Farr’s Dalston (01 MAY 19:30).
  • EMPIRE OF LIGHT d. Sam Mendes, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (01 MAY 20:00 / 02 MAY 20:00 / 03 MAY 20:00 / 07 MAY 17:00).
  • ENYS MEN d. Mark Jenkin, 2022 + Live score by The Cornish Sound Unit at BFI Southbank (01 MAY 18:40).
  • Classic Monday Matinée: HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE d. Jean Negulesco, 1953 + Live organ recital at Regent Street Cinema (01 MAY 13:00).

TUESDAY 02 MAY

  • A CLEVER WOMAN d. Jon Sanders, 2023 + Q&A with the director at Phoenix Cinema (02 MAY 20:15).
  • THE BEASTS d. Rodrigo Sorogoyen, 2022 at The David Lean (02 MAY 19:30).
  • BERGMAN ISLAND d. Mia Hansen-Løve, 2021 presented by Richmond Film Society at The Exchange (02 MAY 20:00).
  • Celebrating Black Female Directors short film programme + Q&A with directors Olivia Lifungula & Jade O’Belle, hosted by Natty Kasambala, presented by Girls In Film x Minute Shorts at Genesis Cinema (02 MAY 20:50).
  • CHIRIMBOLO short films about Cuba, presented in-venue & online by Sands Films Cinema Club & North and South London Cuban Solidarity Campaign at Sands Films Studios (02 MAY 20:00).
  • EL SUR d. Víctor Erice, 1983 + Q&A with Professor Peter Evans, presented by Wimbledon Film Club at Curzon Wimbledon (02 MAY 20:30).
  • EMPIRE OF LIGHT d. Sam Mendes, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (02 MAY 20:00 / 03 MAY 20:00 / 07 MAY 17:00).
  • FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1940 presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (02 MAY 20:00).
  • Pink Palace: THE HOURS d. Stephen Daldry, 2002 + Intro/discussion in the basement bar at Rio Cinema (02 MAY 19:30).
  • RETURN TO SEOUL d. Davy Chou, 2022 at Picturehouse Cinemas (02 MAY various).
  • Problematic Faves: TRANSAMERICA d. Duncan Tucker, 2005 presented by Transmissions at Dalston Superstore (02 MAY 19:00).

WEDNESDAY 03 MAY

THURSDAY 04 MAY

  • Amy Winehouse Live In London – Film Screening presented by Deeper Into Movies at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (04 MAY 19:30).
  • THE BLUE CAFTAN aka Le bleu du caftan d. Maryam Touzani, 2022 presented by Reclaim The Frame at Curzon Bloomsbury (04 MAY 18:00).
  • Whirled Docs: DOCTOR WHO AM I? d. Matthew Jacobs & Vanessa Yuille, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (04 MAY 20:00).
  • Woman with a Movie Camera: THE HEADLESS WOMAN aka La mujer sin cabeza d. Lucrecia Martel, 2008 + Intro by Zeina Durra at BFI Southbank (04 MAY 20:30).
  • THE KING’S SPEECH d. Tom Hooper, 2010 at The Cinema in the Arches (04 MAY 18:00).
  • LEAVING TO REMAIN dir Mira Erdevički, 2023 + Q&A with the director & producer Lucie Wenigerová at Picturehouse Finsbury Park (04 MAY 20:00).
  • LITTLE ENGLISH d. Pravesh Kumar, 2022 at The David Lean (04 MAY 14:30 & 19:30).
  • PIRIPKURA d. Mariana Oliva, Bruno Jorge & Renata Terra + Discussion, presented by Cine Brazil & Brazil Matters at The Cinema Museum (04 MAY 19:30).
  • REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE d. Nicholas Ray, 1955 presented by Ms Fontaine’s Film Club at Fontaine’s Bar (04 MAY 20:00 – FREE!).
  • RETURN TO SEOUL d. Davy Chou, 2022 presented by Dazed x MUBI Cinema Club at Rio Cinema (04 MAY 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): THE LIGHTHOUSE d. Robert Eggers, 2019 (30 APR various / 02 MAY various).

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

ANIME at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): JUNK HEAD d. Takahide Hori, 2021 (28 APR 20:20 / 29 APR 13:00 / 30 APR 18:30 / 02 MAY 21:00 / 03 MAY 13:00).

ARROW VIDEO CULT FILM at Everyman Screen On The Green

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): RINGU d. Hideo Nakata, 1998 (02 MAY 20:45).

AU CONTRAIRE: JEAN-LUC GODARD at Close-Up

BAR TRASH at Rule Zero 

  • Includes (check venue for listings): ZONE TROOPERS d. Danny Bilson, 1985 + Intro, intermission, prize giveaways & brunch! at Rule Zero’s Sub Zero (30 APR 12:00).
  • Presented by Token Homo.

BEN WHEATLEY PRESENTS at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for listings): A FIELD IN ENGLAND d. Ben Wheatley, 2013 (01 MAY various / 03 MAY various); SIGHTSEERS d. Ben Wheatley, 2012 (01 MAY 20:15 – Picturehouse Central / 08 MAY various / 10 MAY various).

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): TANGERINE d. Sean Baker, 2015 (29 APR 16:20); BEAU TRAVAIL d. Claire Denis, 1999 (30 APR 16:20); 120 BPM d. Robin Campillo, 2017 (02 MAY 17:30); THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY d. Peter Strickland, 2014 (03 MAY 15:30); MOONLIGHT d. Barry Jenkins, 2017 (04 MAY 20:15).

CHINESE CINEMA PROJECT at The Garden Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): JOURNEY TO THE WEST d. Kong Dashan, 2021 (01 MAY 20:30).

CHISWICK PICKS at Chiswick Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): RAGING BULL d. Martin Scorsese, 1980 (30 APR 15:00 / 02 MAY 19:30).

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

CINEMA RESTORED at Barbican

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

DARIO ARGENTO: DOORS INTO DARKNESS at BFI Southbank

ESSENTIAL CINEMA at Close-Up Film Centre

EXPERIMENTS IN FILM at Barbican

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): JE RESTE PHOTOGRAPHE d. Ananias Léki Dago, 2023 + Q&A with the director (04 MAY 18:30).

THE FILMS OF MICHAEL MANN at The Prince Charles

FORGOTTEN TELEVISION DRAMA: REDISCOVERING THE HALF-HOUR PLAY at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): Novice Directors + Discussion/Q&A (03 MAY 18:15).

FRANCOPHONE WEST AFRICAN CINEMA at The Garden Cinema

GENA & JOHN at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): FACES 35mm d. John Cassavetes, 1968 (04 MAY 12:40 / 24 MAY 20:45).

GENESIS 24TH BIRTHDAY at Genesis Cinema

GINGER ROGERS: ALL THAT SASS at BFI Southbank

JOACHIM TRIER’S OSLO TRILOGY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): REPRISE d. Joachim Trier, 2006 (28 APR 15:35 / 04 MAY 18:15).

KIEŚLOWSKI’S THREE COLOURS at Close-Up 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THREE COLOURS: RED d. Krzysztof Kieślowski, 1994 (29 APR 18:00).

KIEŚLOWSKI’S THREE COLOURS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THREE COLOURS TRILOGY d. Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1993-1994 (01 MAY 12:00 – 4K).

MARILYN MONROE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): BUS STOP d. Joshua Logan, 1956 (30 APR 13:30).

MARTIN SCORSESE: THE 90S PICTURES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): CAPE FEAR 35mm d. Martin Scorsese, 1991 (28 APR 13:00 / 03 MAY 20:45 / 09 MAY 15:10).

MICHELLE YEOH SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): YES, MADAM! d. Corey Yuen, 1985 (02 MAY 13:15 / 12 MAY 18:10).

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

MURIEL BOX: A WOMAN’S TAKE at BFI Southbank

NORTHERN VOICES at BFI Southbank 

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

SHASHA MOVIES: ARCHIVE FEVER at ICA

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE DEVIL QUEEN d. Antonio Carlos da Fontoura, 1974 + Q&A with KK Obi and Hélène Selam Kleih, hosted by Miss Jason (28 APR 20:30); DRYLONGSO d. Cauleen Smith, 1998 + Conversation with artist-filmmaker Rachel Jones & Róisín Tapponi (29 APR 16:00); THE GUARD FROM UNDERGROUND d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1992 (29 APR 23:00); ORIGINS OF A MEAL d. Luc Moullet, 1978 + Panel with Missy Flynn (Founder of Rita’s Dining) and Imogen Kwok, hosted by Jago Rackham (Ecstasy Cookbook) (30 APR 11:00); LIFE ON THE CAPS d. Meriem Bennani, 2022 + Conversation with visual artist Anthea Hamilton hosted by Róisín Tapponi (30 APR 18:00).
  • Special events: Opening Party (28 APR 22:00).
  • Part of: Screen Practices.

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 (28 APR 15:45); #59 –SANS SOLEIL d. Chris Marker, 1983 (30 APR 14:00 / 02 MAY 18:30 / 04 MAY 15:45).

SIGHT & SOUND GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA d. Dziga Vertov, 1929 (29 APR various / 30 APR various / 04 MAY various).

SPOTLIGHT ON FEMALE FILMMAKERS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MISSISSIPPI MASALA d. Mira Nair, 1991 (30 APR 15:45); WANDA d. Barbara Loden, 1970 (02 MAY 15:35); THE WOMAN KING d. Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2022 (03 MAY 15:05).

TECHNOLOGY ON SCREEN at Ciné Lumière

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): WALL-E d. Andrew Stanton, 2008 (30 APR 13:30 – Relaxed screening).

THROWBACK SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): ALIENS d. James Cameron, 1986 (30 APR various).

WB100 – CELEBRATING EVERY STORY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): RISKY BUSINESS d. Paul Brickman, 1983 (28 APR 18:00).

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

WUXIA SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Bussey Building

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Roof East

LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING dir Lisa Cortés, 2022

POLITE SOCIETY dir Nida Manzoor, 2023

RODEO dir Lola Quivoron, 2023

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY dir Hettie MacDonald, 2023

Also 28 APR to 04 MAY (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. //.