The UK’s leading classic film festival is heading to Bristol in July, with tickets on sale next week.
Acclaimed repertory film festival Cinema Rediscovered is returning to venues across Bristol for its 9th year this summer, with more than 60 events taking place across the city from 23rd – 27th July.
Opening with a keynote address from producer Stephen Woolley ahead of a 35mm screening of his 1986 David Bowie musical, Absolute Beginners, the programme promises film-on-film rarities, workshops and special guests.
The opening night paves the way for the festival’s ‘Against The Grain’ strand, celebrating classics from the British independent film scene of the 1980s. Director Sir Stephen Frears and star Gordon Warnecke will make an appearance for a 40th anniversary screening of My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), Gabriel Byrne is due to talk (via video) about political thriller Defence Of The Realm (1985), and Lucy Sheen will chat British-Chinese comedy Ping Pong (1986) ahead of its 40th anniversary next year.
Festival founder Mark Cosgrove called the 2025 lineup “our most expansive and exciting programme yet”, praising the 80s strand alongside the team’s work rediscovering the films of Yasujirō Masumura.
The full programme is yet to be announced, but a few highlights include:
- A screening of Amadeus (1984)’s 4k restoration ahead of its theatrical re-release, with an introduction from conductor Charles Hazlewood.
- Yeelen (1987), hailed by one critic as “the most beautifully photographed and best African film ever made”, showing as an homage to its director, the pioneering Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé who died in February, aged 84.
- A panel discussion looking at the impact Channel 4’s entry into film production, including via its funding for films in the festival’s ‘Against The Grain’ strand.
- For children/ families, a selection of film-on-film animations screening from 16mm prints, accompanied by a chance for children to discover how film is projected and a weekend matinee showing of Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits (1981)
- A choice of guided walks through Bristol’s long history of involvement with cinema; have-a-go at 16mm projection workshops; projection box tours and a quiz.
The full lineup and festival tickets will be available here. Public tickets are on sale from 3rd June.
