SEPTEMBER 2021: What’s on in London this month

Explore what’s on in London this month with our regular epic roundup of repertory film seasons & festivals.

By RADIANT CIRCUS // Twitter @radiantcircus / Instagram @radiantcircus

This is (very) late, so we’ll cut to the chase… New seasons and LOTS of new festivals. It looks like indie screen culture is slowly gathering apace after the pandemic-imposed shutdown.

If you’re looking to expand your film knowledge with some undisputed classics, get plugged into the returning ESSENTIAL CINEMA season at Close-Up. Other new seasons include THE TIME IS NEW: SELECTIONS FROM CONTEMPORARY ARAB CINEMA which joins A PRYOR ENGAGEMENT in the September lineup at BFI Southbank. Elsewhere you can find IN FOCUS: RENATE SAMI at Goethe-Institut, NO BASS LIKE HOME at Lexi Cinema, ELLIOTT GOULD IN THE SEVENTIES at The Prince Charles, and 100 YEARS: SIMONE SIGNORET, THE POLITICAL STAR – PART I at Ciné Lumière. Scroll down for full details.

Unlike much of the internet/film twitter, we’re big fans of the post-screening Q&A at RADIANT CIRCUS, enjoying this communal sharing of screen culture. Which is why we’ll give a special mention to the NFTS AT 50 season at BFI Southbank. The month-long programme is a celebration of film and film education that serves up a veritable banquet of opportunities to hear from locally trained talent about some of their standout works.

Amongst the new and returning festivals, Leytonstone Loves Film (15 to 19 SEP) projects for another year. The lineup includes an array of incredible DIY exhibitors from across East London and beyond. What’s more, the entire event is free to attend and indie exhibitors are being paid for their expertise (which is rarer than you’d hope). Even tough we’ve got our own skin in this game (see below), we reserve our special shout outs for Queer East (15 to 26 SEP) and Women Over 50 Film Festival (25 SEP to 02 OCT) who both have their main events this month whilst contributing brilliantly to #LLF2021. It’s because of all these irresistible reasons – and so many more! – that it’s our Featured Attraction of the Month.

See you in the darkness,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

Main featured image: Apne Film Club & Saudha Arts present CHARULATA d. Satyajit Ray, 1964 + Pre-show music by Pandit Chiranjeeb Chakraborty (17 SEP 18:00 / Leytonstone Library Hall / Free!): “There will be samosas, spring rolls, chai and more available to everyone and in true Apne Film Club tradition we encourage you to talk through the film!”. Part of Leytonstone Loves Film.

There’s a lot going on in our world right now, so here’s a quick roundup:

  • Book for IN THE CUT presented by Zodiac Film Club at Mama Shelter (07 SEP 18:30+) / #ReviveTheDark
  • Book for WunderKammer Live our new screen showcase & networking event at Filly Brook (17 SEP 18:30+ / Free!)
  • Book for BITE ME! A Queer Horror Double Bill our latest collab with Last Frame Film Club at Filly Brook (19 SEP 16:00+ / Free!)
  • Book for NO PLACE LIKE HOME presented by The Twelve30Collective at Rio Cinema (26 SEP 15:45) / #ReviveTheDark

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PHANTOM THREAD 70mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2018, (06 SEP 20:30 / 11 SEP 17:00 / 14 SEP 20:45 / 15 SEP 15:00); 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70mm d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 ‘unrestored version’ (18 SEP 14:05 / 23 SEP 20:15 / 28 SEP 20:15 / 04 OCT 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); LA RONDE 35mm d. Max Ophuls, 1950 (26 SEP 14:00 / 29 SEP 18:20).

AFGHANISTAN ON SCREEN at ICA

ANDREI TARKOVSKY at ICA

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): IVAN’S CHILDHOOD d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1962 (03 SEP 15:00).

ANDREI TARKOVSKY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE SACRIFICE d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1986 (05 SEP 14:20); SOLARIS d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972 (19 SEP 20:00).

ANIME SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): AKIRA d. Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988 (03 SEP 21:00 / 10 SEP 12:00 / 11 SEP 17:30 / 13 SEP 12:00 / 14 SEP 20:30 / 16 SEP 15:15 / 22 SEP 12:20); HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE d. Hayao Miyazaki, 2004 (12 SEP 11:30 – SUB); TALES FROM EARTHSEA d. Gorô Miyazaki, 2006 (19 SEP 11:30 – SUB); MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO d. Hayao Miyazaki, 1988 (26 SEP 13:00).

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

A PRYOR ENGAGEMENT at BFI Southbank

A TERRIFYING UPRISING at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): RELIC d. Natalie Erika James, 2020 (from 06 SEP); PREVENGE d. Alice Lowe, 2017 (from 13 SEP); PET SEMATARY d. Mary Lambert, 1989 (from 20 SEP); THE BABADOOK d. Jennifer Kent, 2014 (from 27 SEP).

AUTISM AND CINEMA at Barbican

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): TEMPLE GRANDIN d. Mick Jackson, 2010 + Q&A with Dr David Hartley & Dr Bonnie Evans (16 SEP 18:30); 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); LIFE, ANIMATED d. Roger Ross Williams, 2019 + Intro/Q&A with Alex Widdowson, Tim Webb & Carla MacKinnon (25 SEP 14:30); KEEP THE CHANGE d. Rachel Israel, 2017 + Q&A with Professor Steven Eastwood and & Neurocultures Collective (28 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 (03 SEP 11:05 / 05 SEP 19:40).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS at BFI Southbank

CINEMA REDISCOVERED ON TOUR at Ciné Lumière

DARIO ARGENTO – NEW RESTORATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE CAT O’NINE TAILS d. Dario Argento, 1971 (24 SEP 21:00 / 28 SEP 15:00 / 30 SEP 18:15).

DENIS VILLENEUVE: THE PATH TO DUNE at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BLADE RUNNER 2049 4k d. Denis Villeneuve, 2017 (04 SEP 20:00 / 18 SEP 17:15 / 24 SEP 14:15 / 03 OCT 17:30); POLYTECHNIQUE d. Denis Villeneuve, 2009 (10 SEP 21:20 / 19 SEP 12:15 / 30 SEP 20:50); MAELSTRÖM 35mm d. Denis Villeneuve, 2000 (06 SEP 18:15 / 17 SEP 20:55); INCENDIES d. Denis Villeneuve, 2010 (11 SEP 20:30 / 17 SEP 17:50 / 19 SEP 14:45); ENEMY d. Denis Villeneuve, 2013 (12 SEP 12:20 / 21 SEP 20:55); SICARIO d. Denis Villeneuve, 2015 (12 SEP 18:10 / 22 SEP 20:40 / 25 SEP 20:40); PRISONERS d. Denis Villeneuve, 2013 (14 SEP 14:15 / 25 SEP 17:00); AUGUST 32ND ON EARTH 35mm aka Un 32 août sur terre d. Denis Villeneuve, 1998 (16 SEP 18:20); ARRIVAL d. Denis Villeneuve, 2016 (16 SEP 20:45 / 28 SEP 14:15 / 02 OCT 17:30).

DISNEY MATINEES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE LITTLE MERMAID d. Ron Clements & John Musker, 1989 (04 SEP 15:30 / 07 SEP 13:30); ALADDIN d. Ron Clements & John Musker, 1992 (11 SEP 12:00); BEAUTY AND THE BEAST d. Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, 1991 (18 SEP 12:00); THE LION KING d. Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff, 1994 (25 SEP 12:05).

ELLIOTT GOULD IN THE SEVENTIES at The Prince Charles

ENNIO MORRICONE at BFI Southbank 

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): CINEMA PARADISO 4K aka Nuovo Cinema Paradiso d. Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988 (04 SEP 15:20 / 07 SEP 14:15 / 08 SEP 14:15).

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 (10 to 16 SEP various).

THE FILMS OF ÉRIC ROHMER at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): AN AUTUMN TALE 35mm aka Conte d’automne d. Éric Rohmer, 1998 (06 SEP 17:50).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THERE WILL BE BLOOD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007 (05 SEP 17:35); PHANTOM THREAD 70mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2018 (06 SEP 20:30 / 11 SEP 17:00 / 14 SEP 20:45 / 15 SEP 15:00); THE MASTER 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012 (08 SEP 20:15 / 17 SEP 14:50).

THE FILMS OF QUENTIN TARANTINO at The Prince Charles

THE FILMS OF SAINT ETIENNE at BFI Southbank

FLUID REALITIES: THE CINEMA OF SALOMÉ LAMAS at ICA

IN FOCUS: RENATE SAMI at Goethe-Institut

JOIN THE #BONGHIVE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MEMORIES OF MURDER aka Salinui chueok d. Bong Joon Ho, 2003 (13 SEP 12:20); PARASITE d. Bong Joon Ho, 2019 (14 SEP 12:00).

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

  • Includes (check venue for listings): SAINT MAUD d. Rose Glass, 2019 + Short: ROOM 55, 2014 + Q&A with the director (02 SEP 17:45); THE LAST TREE d. Shola Amoo, 2019 + Q&A with the director (11 SEP 17:00); An Evening with Roger and James Deakins (12 SEP 20:30); ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS d. Julien Temple, 1986 + Q&A with the director & cinematographer Oliver Stapleton (15 SEP 20:25); THE SOUVENIR d. Joanna Hogg, 2019 + Q&A with the director (17 SEP 17:45); THE SELFISH GIANT d. Clio Barnard, 2013 + Q&A with the director (20 SEP 20:50); ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT d. Beeban Kidron, 1989 + Q&A with the director (23 SEP 18:00); KURT & COURTNEY d. Nick Broomfield, 1998 + Q&A with the director (25 SEP 14:30); THEATRE GIRLS d. Kim Longinotto, 1978 + Q&A with the director (26 SEP 15:40); SURGE d. Aneil Karia, 2020 + Q&A with the director (28 SEP 17:40); OF TIME & THE CITY d. Terence Davies, 2008 + Q&A with the director (02 OCT 14:15); ROCKS d. Sarah Gavron, 2019 + Q&A with the director (02 OCT 17:30); IL POSTINO aka The Postman d. Michael Radford, 1994 + Q&A with the director (12 SEP 17:00).

NO BASS LIKE HOME at Lexi Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BURNING AN ILLUSION d. Menelik Shabazz, 1981 + Q&A (09 SEP 19:45); PRESSURE d. Horace Ove, 1976 + Q&A (12 SEP 16:00); BABYLON d. Franco Rosso, 1980 + Q&A (16 SEP 19:45); ROCKERS d. Ted Bafaloukos, 1978 + Q&A (19 SEP 16:00); THE HARDER THEY COME d. Perry Henzell, 1972 + Q&A (26 SEP 16:00).

STUDIO GHIBLI at The Prince Charles

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

TEEN MOVIES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): AMERICAN GRAFFITI 35mm d. George Lucas, 1973 (04 SEP 20:50 / 09 SEP 15:15 / 12 SEP 12:10); BACK TO THE FUTURE d. Robert Zemeckis, 1985 (11 SEP 14:15 / 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): THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN aka L’Homme qui a vendu sa peau d. Kaouther Ben Hania, 2020 + Recorded Q&A with the director (04 SEP 17:40); 200 METERS d. Ameen Nayfeh, 2019 (07 SEP 20:50 / 15 SEP 20:50); AS ABOVE, SO BELOW aka Kama fissamaa’, kathalika ala al-ard d. Sarah Francis, 2020 (08 SEP 20:45); 143 SAHARA STREET aka 143 rue du désert d. Hassen Ferhani, 2019 (11 SEP 11:30 / 20 SEP 18:15); IT MUST BE HEAVEN d. Elia Suleiman, 2019 (11 SEP 20:40 / 27 SEP 18:00 / 04 OCT 14:30); LET’S TALK d. Marianne Khoury, 2019 + Recorded Q&A with the director (13 SEP 18:00); TLAMESS d. Ala Eddine Slim, 2019 (14 SEP 20:40 / 30 SEP 18:00); THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN aka L’Homme qui a vendu sa peau d. Kaouther Ben Hania, 2020 (16 SEP 20:50); TALKING ABOUT TREES d. Suhaib Gasmelbari, 2019 (20 SEP 14:30 / 27 SEP 20:45 / 03 OCT 18:00); YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY aka Satamoto fel eshreen d. Amjad Abu Alala, 2019 + Recorded with the director (23 SEP 20:30); Narrative Encounters: Shorts Programme (24 SEP 20:40 / 05 OCT 18:10); ADAM d. Maryam Touzani, 2019 (25 SEP 14:20 / 04 OCT 20:50); ABOUT LEILA d. Amin Sidi-Boumédiène, 2019 (26 SEP 18:00 / 02 OCT 20:30); AS ABOVE, SO BELOW aka Kama fissamaa’, kathalika ala al-ard d. Sarah Francis, 2020 + Recorded Q&A with the director (01 OCT 18:10); YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY aka Satamoto fel eshreen d. Amjad Abu Alala, 2019 (02 OCT 14:20).

WIM WENDERS ON 35MM at The Prince Charles

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 (from 03 SEP); IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE 4K aka Fa yeung nin wah d. Wong Kar Wai, 2000 (from 05 SEP); 2046 d. Wong Kar Wai, 2004 (from 12 SEP).

Deeper Into Movies at Dalston Roof Park

The Luna Cinema at Brompton Cemetery

The Luna Cinema at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

  • Includes (check promoter for full listings): THE SHINING d. Stanley Kubrick, 1980 (05 SEP 20:00).

The Luna Cinema at Royal Hospital Chelsea

Rooftop Film Club, Peckham

Rooftop Film Club, Stratford East

Summer Outdoor Cinema at Watermans

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): DIRTY DANCING d. Emile Ardolino, 1987 (03 SEP 19:45); BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY d. Bryan Singer, 2018 (10 SEP 19:30).

Sunset Screening Sessions at The Homestead Cafe at Beckenham Place Park (02 JUL to 06 AUG):

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): I AM NOT A WITCH d. Rugano Nyoni, 2017 (03 SEP 20:00); BEAUTIFUL THING d. Hettie MacDonald, 1996 (10 SEP 19:30).

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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. //.