NEWS

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The latest film, TV and festival news from around the world.

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Today, Netflix released the trailer for the fourth and final season of the hit show Sex Education. 

This season marks the last hurrah for the Moordale gang, who have graced our screens since 2019. It’s now time to get those tissues ready and say goodbye with eight new episodes, including a bumper series finale running to 83 minutes. It’s going to be one hell of a ride – let’s finish together.

Following the closure of Moordale Secondary, Otis and Eric now face a new frontier – their first day at Cavendish Sixth Form College. Otis is nervous about setting up his new clinic, whilst Eric is praying they won’t be losers again. But Cavendish is a culture shock for all the Moordale students – they thought they were progressive, but this new college is another level. There’s daily yoga in the communal garden, a strong sustainability vibe and a group of kids who are popular for being… kind?! Viv is totally thrown by the college’s student-led, non-competitive approach, while Jackson is still struggling to get over Cal. Aimee tries something new by taking an Art A-Level, and Adam grapples with whether mainstream education is for him. Over in the US, Maeve is living her dream at the prestigious Wallace University, being taught by cult author Thomas Molloy. Otis is pining after her whilst adjusting to not being an only child at home or the only therapist on campus…

Asa Butterfield leads the cast as Otis Milburn, alongside Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Aimee-Lou Wood, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Mimi Keene, George Robinson, Chinenye Ezeudu, Dua Saleh, Alistair Petrie, Samantha Spiro, Jim Howick, Rakhee Thakrar and Daniel Ings.

Joining them for the final season will be Emmy award-winning actor and Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy, Thaddea Graham (Doctor Who), Lisa McGrillis (Somewhere Boy), Marie Reuther (Kamikaze), actress and model Jodie Turner-Smith, comedian Eshaan Akbar and newcomers Felix Mufti, Anthony Lexa, Alexandra James, Reda Elazouar, Bella Maclean and Imani Yahshua.

Earlier in July, Netflix announced season four would be the final season of the show alongside an open letter to fans from the Creator, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, Laurie Nunn, who said: “We are incredibly proud of Sex Education and feel indebted to our brilliant writers, cast and crew who put so much heart into making every episode. They have worked tirelessly to bring you the final series, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”

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NEWFEST will open with the New York premiere of RUSTIN (see below), directed by George C. Wolfe and starring Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo as the openly gay Black civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, the architect of 1963’s March on Washington.

The Closing Night Film is the highly anticipated romantic drama ALL OF US STRANGERS (see below), directed by Andrew Haigh and starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell.

The NY Centerpiece is the World premiere of QUEEN OF NEW YORK, directed by Emma Fidel, about activist drag queen Marti Cummings’ historic candidacy for New York City Council. 

For more information, visit NEWFEST.

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Curzon Cinemas announced today a revamped programme of community screenings, which include Kids Club, Baby Club, Dog Days, Captioned Screenings, Silver Screen, and Autism and Demtia-friendly screenings, expanding Curzon’s inclusive screening programme for all cinema lovers. 

Alex Sheldon, Director of Operations at Curzon, said; 

“After consultation with our customers and the local communities around our cinemas, we have revamped our community screenings to reflect what people have asked of us. Curzon aims to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and can enjoy cinema in an environment tailored to their needs. As we progress with these new strands, we welcome feedback from our customers to ensure they are working for everyone as intended.” 

Kids Club

Weekly screenings for children aged between 1 and 12 and their families at a discounted ticket price.

• Participating cinemas include Curzon Camden, Curzon Riverside, Curzon Westgate, Curzon Colchester, Curzon Hoxton, Curzon Kingston, Curzon Knutsford, Curzon Oxford.
• Weekly Sat or Sun 10:30 am.
• Discounted ticket price/family price.
• Party packages will be available.
• Attendees must be accompanied by a child.

Baby Club

Weekly screenings for parents and carers with babies under 12 months old, with reduced volume and increased lighting. 

• Participating cinemas include Curzon Aldgate, Curzon Westgate, Curzon Colchester, Curzon Hoxton, Curzon Kingston, and Curzon Oxford. 
• Suitable for parents or carers with children under 12 months of age. 
• Older siblings are permitted to attend as part of the group subject to    BBFC age restrictions. 
• Lowered volume, dimmed lights, subtitles. 
• Generally 12A rating or under. 
• Ticket price includes F&B offer (hot drink & cake).

Dog Days 

Weekly screenings for dog owners and their canine companions (dog lovers without one of their own are also welcome!). 

• Participating cinemas include Curzon Aldgate, Curzon Camden, Curzon Westgate, and Curzon Hoxton. 
• Weekly, a mix of afternoon and evening screenings. 
• The film is chosen from the existing programme and not necessarily dog-themed! 
• Lowered volume.
• Lighting lowered as normal.
• Dog treats will be made available.
• Water bowls inside the screen.
• Regular ticket price.
• Dogs must be on leashes and are not allowed on seats. 
• Owners are required to bring their own clean dog blanket for the floor. Admission will be at Curzon’s discretion. 
• Owners will be required to clean up after their dogs if necessary.
• Dogs need to be small enough to fit on the floor by the seats.
• Dogs are welcome in all cafe/bar areas ahead of screenings. 
• Only well-behaved dogs will be allowed in the venue. 
• Dog lovers without a dog may attend. 

Silver Screen 

Film selection is intended primarily for customers 65+, but all ages are welcome. 

• Participating cinemas include Curzon Camden, Curzon Westgate, Curzon Colchester, Curzon Knutsford, Curzon Oxford, Curzon Richmond, Curzon Sheffield, Curzon Victoria, and Curzon Wimbledon.
• Ticket price includes F&B offer, and cinemas will host a post-screening discussion area. 
• Specially curated programme.
• Monthly – Last Tuesday of the month

Autism Friendly Screenings 

Screenings with low lighting and sound, freedom of movement, and run by trained staff to reduce sensory input and stress for attendees. 

• Participating cinemas include Curzon Aldgate, Curzon Camden, Curzon Riverside, Curzon Hoxton, Curzon Kingston, Curzon Knutsford, Curzon Oxford, Curzon Sheffield, Curzon Soho, Curzon Victoria.
• Weekly: Monday afternoons
• Dimmed lighting.
• Lower volume.
• Films selected from the existing programme and 12A or less. 
• Regular ticket price.
• Same time slot and staff where possible.
• No pre-show or trailers. 
• Trained staff. 

Dementia-Friendly Screenings 

A relaxed, regular screening slot with the same staff for every session to create a stress-free experience for dementia sufferers and their carers. 

• Participating cinemas include Curzon Westgate, Curzon Colchester, Curzon Kingston, Curzon Knutsford, Curzon Oxford, Curzon Richmond, Curzon Victoria, and Curzon Wimbledon.
• Monthly – First Friday of the month. 
• Low lights.
• Clear signage for toilets/exit/bar.
• Regular ticket price.
• Films selected from the existing programme or a suitable classic film. 
• Same trained staff for each screening where possible. 
• No pre-show or trailers. 

Captioned Screenings 

Close captioned screenings circuit-wide and at various times of the day. 

• Film selected from the existing programme. 
• Close Captioned. 

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In September, ARROW is proud to present the newly restored Blood and Black Lace from the original camera negative and in its original uncut form. This new release allows fans to see it afresh and offers newcomers the ideal introduction to a major piece of cult filmmaking from filmmaker Mario Bava – make sure you don’t miss it on ARROW in September.

The Christian Haute Couture fashion house is a home to models… and backstabbing… and blackmail… and drug deals… and MURDER. Having established a template for the Giallo with The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Mario Bava set about cementing its rules with Blood and Black Lace. In doing so, he created one of the most influential films ever made – an Italian classic that would spearhead the Giallo genre, provide a prototype for the slasher movie, and have a huge effect on filmmakers as diverse as Dario Argento and Martin Scorsese.

Blood and Black Lace debuts on ARROW from 25th September.

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Candela is a captivating Caribbean thriller that takes audiences on a mesmerizing journey through the lives of three strangers whose fates become entwined amidst the looming threat of an approaching hurricane. Developed by the Sundance Lab, this film weaves together a unique and suspenseful storyline that is as thrilling as it is visually stunning.

The first character we meet is Sera, a young woman from high society who leads a double life. By day, she navigates the privileged world of the elite, but at night, she ventures into the slums to engage in anonymous encounters with strangers. Her secretive escapades serve as an escape from the confines of her privileged existence.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Pérez, a solitary policeman, is struggling to repair his fractured relationship with his daughters. As he investigates a perplexing case, he becomes increasingly entangled in the web of intrigue surrounding the death of Renato, a talented young poet and candy-man. Determined to uncover the truth, Lieutenant Pérez finds himself on a path that could ultimately lead to redemption.

Completing this trio of complex characters is Candela, a captivating Drag Queen who performs at a small cabaret. Driven by a quest for justice, Candela is deeply affected by Renato’s death and embarks on a personal mission to bring the truth to light. With a flair for theatrics and a sharp intellect, Candela adds an element of intrigue to the unfolding narrative.

As the story progresses, the hurricane looms ever closer, mirroring the escalating tension and danger faced by our protagonists. The film’s stunning imagery and carefully crafted twists and turns keep audiences on the edge of their seats, while the off-beat and fascinating characters leave a lasting impression.

Candela has quickly garnered critical acclaim, earning 18 Official Selections and 10 awards, including the prestigious Jury Prize in Biarritz and three Adopresci Awards. With its unique blend of Caribbean charm, suspenseful storytelling, and captivating characters, this 84-minute thriller, presented in Spanish, is a cinematic experience that will leave audiences enthralled from beginning to end.

“An electrifying blend of suspense, mystery, and Caribbean allure, Candela takes audiences on a thrilling ride through the hidden depths of society. With its captivating storyline and mesmerizing characters, this film is a true gem. We are proud to bring this unique cinematic experience to audiences worldwide.” – Rich Wolff, CEO of Breaking Glass Pictures

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The 67th BFI London Film Festival (LFF), in partnership with American Express, today announced the full programme line-up, which will be presented in cinemas and online across the UK. Over twelve days from 4 – 15 October, the LFF will invite audiences to return to its fantastic flagship venues in the heart of London – BFI Southbank and the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, which between them host Galas, Special Presentations and Official Competition. Films and Series from all strands of the Festival will screen in many of central London’s iconic cinemas, with a curated selection of features also being showcased at 9 partner venues across the UK.

The LFF will present a compelling and diverse programme of films, shorts, series and immersive works from 92 countries, featuring 79 languages playing across the 12 days of the festival. This includes 99 works made by female and non-binary filmmakers – 39% of the programme. 

An impressive number of major alumni filmmakers return to LFF including: Martin Scorsese, Yorgos Lanthimos, Sally El Hosaini, Jonathan Glazer, Steve McQueen, Michel Gondry, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Adura Onashile, Bertrand Bonello, Robin Campillo, Lukas Moodysson, Maite Alberdi, William Oldroyd, DK Welchman, Hugh Welchman, James Benning, Claire Simon, Angela Schanelec, Nicolas Philibert, Lila Avilés, Tatiana Huezo, Victoria Linares Villegas, Michel Franco, Quentin Dupieux, Catherine Breillat, Mohamed Ben Attia, Molly Manning Walker, Kitty Green, Aki Kaurismäki, Marco Bellocchio, Hirokazu Koreeda, Amat Escalante, Nuhash Humayun, Kaouther Ben Hania, Trần Anh Hùng, Baloji, Marie Amachoukeli, Jesse Lewis Reece, Cédric Kahn, Alexandre O. Philippe, Ladj Ly, Alex Gibney, James Krishna Floyd, Dominic Leclerc, Frederick Wiseman, Fawzia Mirza, Pat Collins, Deepa Mehta, Bill Ross, Turner Ross and Mahalia Belo. 

The Festival is also introducing audiences to a thrilling new generation of international filmmakers with 47 debut features in LFF from: Mika Gustafson, Raven Jackson, Erica Tremblay, Randall Park, Adura Onashile, Noora Niasari, Laura Moss, Mary Helena Clark, Mike Gibisser, Fox Maxy, Zeno Graton, Myriam U. Birara, Savanah Leaf, Agniia Galdanova, Cyrielle Raingou, Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann, Michael Lukk Litwak, Chloe Abrahams, Felipe Carmona, Ramata-Toulaye Sy, Julia Jackman, Moin Hussain, Naqqash Khalid, Kibwe Tavares, Mohamed Kordofani, Baloji, Zoljargal Purevdash, Amjad Al Rasheed, Lillah Halla, Amanda Nell Eu, Stéphan Castang, Rosine Mbakam, Thien An Pham, Seán Devlin, Chris Pine, Ernst De Geer, David Allen, Rachel Ramsay, James Erskine, Cyril Aris, Caroline Ingvarsson, Victor Iriarte, Neo Sora, Tulapop Saenjaroen, Fawzia Mirza, Ali Catterall, Jane Giles, Thomas Hyland and Dana Kavelina.

Every feature and series will screen to audiences in the UK for the very first time, with many shown publicly for the first time ever anywhere in the world. Premieres include 29 World Premieres (14 features, 2 series and 13 shorts), 7 International Premieres (6 features and 1 short) and 30 European Premieres (22 features, 1 series and 7 shorts). World Premieres from filmmakers and artists include: Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya’s THE KITCHEN, which closes the festival, CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET by the award-winning British stop-motion giant Aardman Studios, Immersive artwork MY TRIP by Bjarne Melgaard, coming of age rom-com BONUS TRACK by Julia Jackman, Daniel Kokotajlo’s STARVE ACRE, THE BOOK OF CLARENCE by Jeymes Samuel, THE BUCKINGHAM MURDERS by Hansal Mehta, Theresa Ikoko’s GRIME KIDS from the Series strand, the BFI National Archive and The Film Foundation restoration of Michael Powell’s 1960 masterpiece PEEPING TOM in association with STUDIOCANAL, and the BFI National Archive and The Film Foundation’s restoration of Horace Ové’s pioneering 1975 debut PRESSURE. International Premieres include SALTBURN, directed, produced and written by Emerald Fennell, which opens the festival, as well as collaboration between Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja I AM SIRAT and THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG by Thomas Charles Hyland. Major European Premieres include ONE LIFE by James Hawes, starring Anthony Hopkins, EXPATS directed by Lulu Wang, starring Nicole Kidman, TOGETHER 99 by Lukas Moodyson, DEAR JASSI by Tarsem Singh, Alexander Payne’s THE HOLDOVERS and ALL OF US STRANGERS by Andrew Haigh.

Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “In preparing this 2023 festival, my colleagues and I have been endlessly buoyed by the artistry, ideas and talented individuals and communities that have come into our orbit. It’s now time to share all this wonder and we can’t wait for audiences to experience it all this October here in London and across the UK with LFF on Tour and online at BFI Player.”

Ben Roberts, CEO, BFI said: “Cinema has reclaimed its status as a cultural force, an art-form that can spark a conversation around the world, and which will resound loudly through the wide-ranging line-up of essential cinema that our 67th edition of the BFI London Film Festival will offer. I am particularly excited that the Festival will be sharing the exhilarating experience of new work from global filmmakers alongside so many debut features from the UK this year. I congratulate Kristy on her first LFF programme and the talented team who continue to find creative ways to reach new audiences, including through our free programme.  We couldn’t do it without our loyal supporters, including our principal partner of 14 years American Express, so huge thanks to them and our many other sponsors, funders, partners, including the UK Government and the UK’s National Lottery players who do so much to enable both the Festival and our work throughout the year.”

Audiences will enjoy a rich programme of fiction, documentary, animation, artists’ moving image, short film, newly restored classics from the world’s archives, and exciting international works made in immersive and episodic forms. LFF for Free will return to BFI Southbank with a vibrant, wide-ranging programme of talks, short films and immersive works alongside imaginative, playful events and filmmaker Q&As, both in-person at BFI Southbank and at Gallery@OXO plus short films online on BFI Player – all completely free of charge. The Festival will also be accessible UK-wide via a specially curated programme of 14 free short films on BFI Player, which viewers will be able to enjoy from 4 – 15  October.

The LFF is delighted to invite audiences once again to its London hubs on the South Bank and in the West End, with both areas remaining at the heart of the BFI London Film Festival experience. Galas will screen at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on an 18-metre screen with full high-spec 7.1 channel surround sound, ensuring every seat in the over-2000-seater venue is the best in the house. Titles from the main programme will screen at a range of cinemas across the city, from the BFI’s own South Bank Cinemas – BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX – to fantastic partner venues Vue West End, the Prince Charles Cinema, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Curzon Soho and Curzon Mayfair, each of them bringing audiences up close and personal with filmmaking talents from the UK and across the globe. Festival venues across the UK include Broadway Cinema in Nottingham, Chapter in Cardiff, Glasgow Film Theatre, HOME in Manchester, MAC in Birmingham, Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast, Showroom Cinema in Sheffield, Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle and Watershed in Bristol.

The LFF’s Competition sections celebrate a range of cinematic talents premiering at this year’s Festival and feature an incredible range of filmmakers from across the world. 11 films will screen in Official Competition, competing for the Best Film Award, which showcases inspiring, inventive and distinctive international filmmaking, while 11 films will also screen in the First Feature Competition, competing for the Sutherland Award, which recognises the most original and imaginative directorial debut. The Grierson Award will acknowledge feature-length documentaries with integrity, originality and social or cultural significance; 8 films will screen in the Documentary Competition. The Short Film Award will recognise short-form works with a unique cinematic voice, with 10 films selected in this category. The winners of these four competitive awards will be chosen by LFF Awards Juries, the members of which will be announced in the coming weeks, and the winning films will be announced of the final day of the Festival – 15 October – with surprise screenings of the winning feature films taking place that night. The ever-popular Audience Award will also return for 2023, with audiences being able to vote for their favourite work they saw at this year’s Festival, be it fiction, documentary, short or XR work.

As previously announced, LFF Expanded the Festival’s programme of Immersive Art and Extended Realities will run from 6-22 October and invite audiences to explore and experience powerful new ways of telling stories on screen. Featuring British and international artists, filmmakers and creative teams, such as Shirin Neshat, Tania de Montaigne, Bjarne Melgaard, Karen Palmer, Darren Emerson and Anagram, this year’s programme offers audiences a huge diversity of approaches to storytelling at the cutting edge of screen technology. This year, LFF Expanded finds a new home at Bargehouse at OXO Tower Wharf, in the heart of the cultural hub of the South Bank, hosting 9 projects with free work also being showcased at the nearby Gallery@OXO. The programme also includes two free augmented reality walks; additional projects will appear in the largest digital space in Europe, cultural hotspot Outernet London and a groundbreaking audiovisual spectacle at Science Gallery London.

In its third year, the LFF Series strand returns to showcase compelling new episodic programming, including EXPATS, directed by Lulu Wang, following the vibrant lives of a close-knit expatriate community with an exciting ensemble cast. Also featured in the strand are the World Premieres of Theresa Ikoko’s hotly-anticipated GRIME KIDS, inspired by the book by DJ Target and detailing the emergence of the East London grime scene in the early 2000s; and heist series CULPRITS by J Blakeson’s thrilling twist of the heist genre, starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Gemma Arterton.

The Festival aims to be inclusive, accessible and welcoming, and alongside the major LFF For Free programme, which will be announced in mid-September, there will be a limited number of £10 tickets available to all London screenings, as well as £5 tickets for those aged 25 & Under. Young cinema goers and emerging professionals can also enrich their experience with the Festival through our FAMILY screenings (with tickets priced at £5 for children and from £10 for adults), our education programmes, and via events and screenings for young aspiring professionals presented with BFI Film Academy and the BFI Future Film Festival.

A full programme of events and screenings is available for press and industry delegates across the Festival. Within a programme of Spotlight talks and panel discussions, global industry leaders, writers, directors, and producers will be talking about urgent subjects that are top of the industry’s agenda, sharing their insights and experience with delegates. Full details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Visionary British theatre producer John Gore has acquired the iconic Hammer Films and Studios in an acquisition announced today.

Gore, the twenty-time Tony-winning, Emmy and Olivier-winning British entertainment producer renowned for his live theatre company, the John Gore Organisation, which owns Broadway.com and Broadway Across America – the leading presenter, distributor, and marketer of Broadway theatre worldwide – has acquired Hammer Films. Gore will lead a new team as Chairman and C.E.O. 

Marking a significant moment for both Hammer Films and Gore, the acquisition brings together two incredible forces in the entertainment industry. With significant investment in Hammer Films, the partnership will breathe new life into the studio, blending the nostalgic charm of Hammer with modern cinematic style and innovation – all the while preserving its rich heritage and vast library, ensuring continued appreciation by generations to come.

Hammer Films and Studios has held its iconic status in the film industry and made an indelible mark on British and global cinema since it was founded in 1934. The company is synonymous with horror, after defining the genre in Britain with classics such as Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein and The Mummy, which made stars of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing while spawning numerous sequels widely adored by audiences across the globe. It also produced such classics as One Million Years B.C., starring Raquel Welch, and She, starring Ursula Andress. Although famous for horror, it had great success across all genres and achieved the rare cross-over success from film to TV and vice versa.

With a captivating new slate of films and projects that will be unveiled in the coming months, the first film of the new incarnation of the studio to be released is B Good Picture Company’s Doctor Jekyll, starring Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers and directed by Joe Stephenson. It is due for a cinema release later this year.

John Gore said of the acquisition, “Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve been enchanted by the magic of Hammer Films. Its stories, its characters and its unique place in British heritage and cinema have been a source of inspiration and wonder. Today, as I stand at the helm of this iconic studio, my commitment is twofold: to celebrate and preserve the unmatched legacy of Hammer and to usher in a new era of storytelling that captivates audiences worldwide. With significant investment and a fresh creative vision, we will ensure that the spirit of Hammer not only endures but thrives in the modern age.”

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Academy Award-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire. Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten.

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