Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
29
FILM FESTIVALS
Birds Eye View Film Festival
W
birds-eye-view
.co.uk.
Splendid week-long festival, held at various
venues in March, with a creative programme
celebrating the work of women directors - and
pioneers in all areas of moviemaking - from around
the world and during all historic periods.
East End Film Festival
W
eastendfilmfestival
.com.
High-profile event in late June/early July,
bursting with international premieres, workshops, free
screenings and live happenings. Its day-long “fringe
event”, Cine East, uses a host of quirky East End venues
for exciting, immersive screenings.
London Film Festival
W
bfi.org.uk/lff.
One of the
major players on the world movie festival circuit, the
LFF is held over a fortnight in late October, with movies
shown across ten or so West End cinemas. Many sell out
soon after publication of the programme in early Sept.
London International Animation Festival
W
liaf.org.uk.
Hundreds of animated shorts, features,
documentaries and retrospectives from all over the
world are shown during this dynamic ten-day festival,
held at various venues in Oct/Nov.
Portobello Film Festival
W
portobellofilmfestival
.com.
Fortnight-long free film festival, in September,
showing innovative independent works by British
filmmakers in cinemas, clubs and bars in West London.
Raindance Festival
W
raindance.co.uk.
Major
independent film festival, held over two weeks in late
September/early October, showing new work by indie
directors from across the globe.
retro diner next door is a great place to hang out before or
after the show. The programme concentrates on mainstream
hits, with more offbeat offerings on Sundays.
ICA Cinema
Nash House, The Mall, SW1
T
020 7930
3647,
W
ica.org.uk;
!
Piccadilly Circus or Charing Cross.
One of the capital's most cutting-edge programmes - offering
avant-garde, world, documentary and underground movies
on two screens (one of them with just 45 seats) in the seriously
hip HQ of the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Tues-Sun.
Lexi
194b Chamberlayne Rd, NW10
T
0871 704 2069,
W
thelexicinema.co.uk;
!
Kensal Green.
Calling itself
the “UK's first social enterprise independent boutique
digital cinema”, this friendly little volunteer-run place has a
film club feel, screening the best contemporary and indie
films and donating all profits to charity.
Phoenix
52 East Finchley High Rd, N2
T
020 8444
6789,
W
phoenixcinema.co.uk;
!
East Finchley.
Run by
a charitable trust, this beautiful Art Deco cinema, open
since 1910, is a neighbourhood favourite that pulls
audiences from all over London for its intelligent mix of
indies and classics, themed seasons and events.
Ì
Prince Charles
7 Leicester Place, WC2
T
020 7494
3654,
W
princecharlescinema.com;
!
Leicester Square.
Two screens in the heart of the West End, with good prices
(rep tickets start at just £6.50, new releases at £8) and a
daily changing, lively programme of newish movies, classics
and cult favourites, plus marathons and all-nighters and
participatory “singalong” and “quotealong” romps.
Ì
Rio
107 Kingsland High St, E8
T
020 7241 9410,
W
riocinema.ndirect.co.uk; Dalston Kingsland
Overground.
This Deco beauty, with a cosy screening
room, offers a good mix of the most interesting current US
releases, world cinema, arthouse classics and
documentaries. Frequent Q&As and special themed events
and festivals, with excellent Sunday matinees.
Riverside Studios
Crisp Rd, W6
T
020 8237 1111,
W
riversidestudios.co.uk;
!
Hammersmith.
In addition
to its splendid fringe theatre (see p.419), this space is
worth checking out for its mini film festivals and innovative
programming, including themed double bills and seasons.
FILM CLUBS
Duke Mitchell Film Club
W
facebook.com
/thedukemitchell.
After a long residency in King's Cross, this
popular cult movie club was looking for a new permanent
base at the time of writing; check the Facebook page for
news. They offer free monthly screenings of quirky and trash
movies, often based on obscure themes - heist night, lost
films night and Canadian exploitation night, for example.
The Flicker Club
Stoke Newington Town Hall, Stoke
Newington Church St, N16
W
theflickerclub.com; Stoke
Newington train station.
Classic movies, usually based,
however loosely, on a literary text. The revamped Art Deco
environs of Stoke Newington town hall, along with
cocktails and themed treats, keep the mood merry, and all
profits go to charity. Monthly; Thurs evenings.
Hidden Cinema
The Organ Factory, St Ann's Rd, N8
W
theorganfactory.co.uk;
!
Manor House.
Tucked away
in a ghostly old organ factory, this monthly gathering screens
cult and underground movies to a crowd of thirty. A laidback
way to spend a Sunday afternoon; email for tickets.
Sands Films Cinema Club
82 St Marychurch St, SE16
T
020 7231 2209,
W
sandsfilms.co.uk; Rotherhithe
Overground.
There couldn't be a more atmospheric venue
than this old movie studio - weave your way through
costumes and set designs to the bashed-up opulence of the
back room, and settle down to enjoy anything from war-time
musicals to world cinema classics. Tickets are free, allocated
first-come, first-served; you need to sign up for weekly
emails and reserve by email in advance. Tues 8.30pm.
