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Previews and events
Join us for previews, talks and special screenings.
June
Latin Quarter (aka Frenzy) + intro by Jason Morell, actor and son of Joan Greenwood
When an artist’s muse disappears, her lover searches for her beyond the grave in this eerie Gothic tale.
Barren Lives + intro by Dr Tiago de Luca, University of Warwick
A landmark Cinema Novo classic of drought, migration and human resilience.
Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures + intro by season co-curator Adriana Rouanet
A lyrical road movie wherein cinema and friendship cross Brazil’s arid countryside.
The Partition Trilogy: The Cloud-Capped Star + intro by Manishita Dass, author of BFI Film Classic: The Cloud-Capped Star
A cinematic masterpiece that portrays sacrifice and Partition’s enduring trauma.
Limit + pre-recorded intro by film critic Rafa Sales Ross
Mythic, dreamlike and newly restored – Brazil’s most legendary silent film.
Death of a Bureaucrat + intro by Ketty Rodríguez, Founder & Artistic Director of the London Latino Film Festival
A dead man’s missing paperwork sparks chaos in this sharp, absurdist satire, where one family battles a labyrinth of red tape and bureaucratic madness.
A River Called Titas + intro by Tanjil Rashid, New Statesman culture editor
Poetic depiction of memory, loss and a vanishing fishing community.
Mark Kermode Live in 3D at the BFI
The critic presents the latest episode of his live discussion, on stage in NFT1.
New Writings: The Films of Aleksandr Rou – Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema
Dr Deborah Allison traces the enchanted legacy of Aleksandr Rou, the director who transformed Soviet fantasy on screen.
Preview: Cactus Pears + Q&A with director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade and producers Neeraj Churi and Kaushik Ray
Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s debut feature is a sensitive romantic drama exploring grief, tradition, longing and the realities of lower-class queer life in India.
The Second Mother + intro by Cine Brazil
A funny, piercing look at class and care inside a privileged São Paulo household.
London Premiere: Allies in Exile + Q&A with director Hasan Kattan
A powerful portrait of two Syrian documentary filmmakers as they attempt to seek asylum in the UK.
25 and Under: An Introduction to Marilyn Monroe
An introduction to one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars.
Niagara + intro
In this sensational noir, Marilyn Monroe’s unsettling antics disturb a honeymooning couple.
The Runaway + intro by Agni Lahiri, film protagonist’s son and producer’s grandson
A story of discovery, longing and hardship in an indifferent city.
Pierre Coffin in Conversation – Celebrating the Minions
The Oscar nominated Pierre Coffin talks about his career and breathing life into the Minions.
The Woman of Everyone + intro by Natalia Christofoletti Barrenha, Cinema Mentiré
A delirious anti-heroine tears through São Paulo, in a defining classic of Brazil’s Cinema Marginal.
Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands + intro by Natali Juste Simmonds, London Latino Film Festival
Sonia Braga dazzles in this sensual and hugely popular classic.
Experimental Cinema Structures, Systems and Strategies + writer and artist Simon Payne in conversation with BFI National Archive curator William Fowler
The incredible rigour and creative inventiveness of artists’ experimental film is showcased in a special, wide-ranging programme that launches a new book by Simon Payne.
The Prince and the Showgirl + intro
Marilyn Monroe is an American chorus girl who snares a prince, in the first film produced by her own production company.
UK Premiere: Ollie + Q&A with director Antoine Besse
A young teenager, living in rural France, grapples with family tragedy through his friendship with two fellow skateboarders.
Khartoum + discussion
In this moving documentary, a collective of filmmakers capture the lives of a people caught up in a conflict that has ravaged Sudan.
Kind Hearts and Coronets + Q&A with artist, skateboarder and model Blondey McCoy
This Ealing classic stars Dennis Price as a vengeful outcast of the Victorian aristocracy, whose murderous plan pits him against his relatives, all played by Alec Guinness.
Skate Kitchen + intro by season co-curator Siobhan Browne
Crystal Moselle’s accomplished documentary traces the lives of a group of female skateboarding friends in New York.
Pixote + intro by director Bárbara Paz
This visceral portrayal of abandoned childhood and institutional violence in Brazil is considered a masterpiece of social realism.
Babenco: Tell Me When I Die + Q&A with director Bárbara Paz
A tender portrait of one of Brazil’s most influential filmmakers, Héctor Babenco.
Dogtown and Z-Boys + intro by Rohan Denton, BFI Engagement, Marketing and Communications
The godfather of the skateboard documentary charts the history of the subculture from the streets of mid-70s USA to the present day.
Spike Jonze in Conversation live from New York
The skateboarding fanatic and Oscar-winning director talks about his passion for the world he documented early in his career.
Skate Shorts + Q&A
A selection of new and classic shorts celebrating skateboarding culture.
River of No Return + intro
Marilyn Monroe is a golden-hearted girl sucked into a treacherous journey in this western adventure.
New Writings: The Look of the 1960s: Barbarella and Pulp Pop Comics
Jan Baetens and Hugo Frey discuss the vibrant collision of pop art, comics and cinema in a decade of radical change.
Philosophical Screens: How to Marry a Millionaire
A discussion of the themes raised in one of Marilyn Monroe’s most celebrated films.
How to Marry a Millionaire + intro by Lucy Bolton, Queen Mary University of London
In this hilarious comedy, Marilyn Monroe teams up with Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall on a mission to marry wealthy suitors.
Iracema: Uma Transa Amazônica + discussion presented by People’s Palace Projects
A once-banned, newly restored road movie captures a transforming Amazon.
Blue Heron + Q&A with director Sophy Romvari
In her astonishing and award-winning feature debut, director Sophy Romvari constructs a personal portrait of memory, childhood and family.
There’s No Business Like Show Business + intro
Marilyn Monroe is a knockout in this musical comedy about a family of entertainers.
The Citizen + intro by Ashvin Devasundaram, Queen Mary University of London
Ritwik Ghatak’s film explores ideas of lost home and hope in post-Partition Kolkata.
The Partition Trilogy: E-Flat + pre-recorded intro by Ritaban Ghatak, Ritwik Ghatak’s son
A lyrical tale of exile, human connection and collective hope.
The Partition Trilogy: Subarnarekha + pre-recorded intro by filmmaker Mani Kaul
A Partition epic of separation, fateful encounters and new beginnings.
Fargo + extended intro by cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins and James Ellis Deakins
A botched kidnapping, inept but ruthless criminals and a relentlessly polite police chief collide in this 1990s Coen Brothers classic.
Work in Progress: Ghatak Was Here
A personal essay film about the life, death and resurrection of the great Bengali director Ritwik Ghatak.
Let’s Make Love + intro by Anna Smith, broadcaster, film critic and host of Girls on Film
Marilyn Monroe shines opposite French star Yves Montand in this musical comedy of deception and misunderstandings.
July
Season Introduction Station to Station: Kazuo Ishiguro’s Top Ten Train Films
Booker and Nobel prize-winning writer Kazuo Ishiguro discusses his favourite train films.
Shanghai Express + intro by writer and season curator Kazuo Ishiguro
One of the greatest collaborations between Josef von Sternberg and star Marlene Dietrich unfolds aboard the plush environs of a trans-continental train.
A Better Tomorrow + intro by Dr Lin Feng, University of Leicester
This tale of two brothers on the opposite sides of the law marks the emergence of John Woo’s signature action filmmaking style.
Marilyn Monroe Study Day
Take a contextual deep dive into Marilyn Monroe with this dedicated day of talks and screenings.
Don’t Bother to Knock + intro
Marilyn Monroe thrills as an unstable babysitter in British director Roy Ward Baker’s psychological thriller.
All About Eve + intro by film and cultural events programmer Caroline Cassin
Marilyn Monroe steals all of her scenes in this Hollywood classic about an ageing star unwittingly letting an aspiring actress into her life.
TV Preview: The Undeclared War Series 2 + Q&A with cast and creator (tbc)
Join us for the return of Channel 4’s immense international cyberwarfare thriller.
Bus Stop + intro
Marilyn Monroe is an unvarnished singer evading an overly keen cowboy in this romantic comedy-drama.
New Writings: Hard Streets – Working Class Lives in Charlie Chaplin’s London with Jacqueline Riding
From Edwardian poverty to cinematic genius, Jacqueline Riding explores how Chaplin’s Lambeth roots, radical politics and street culture shaped his films and enduring worldview globally.
Night Train + intro with Professor Philip Horne, hosted by Kazuo Ishiguro
Jerzy Kawalerowicz’s richly cinematic gem is one of the creative highlights of an extraordinary era of Polish cinema.
It’s Love Again + intro by Maureen Footer, author of Feel the Floor: Restoring the Life and Legacy of Jazz Choreographer Buddy Bradley
This ultra-stylish Jessie Matthews musical is a brilliant comedy of mistaken identity.
Bullet in the Head + intro by film critic Katie Smith-Wong
This Vietnam war melodrama is an underrated and emotionally devastating masterpiece in John Woo’s filmography.
UK Premiere of 4K Restoration: Bashu, the Little Stranger + intro by film curator Ehsan Khoshbakht
The bond between an orphan and a strong, independent woman who defies tradition and authority lies at the heart of this drama by a filmmaker whose work was subject to censorship.
New Writings: Feel the Floor – Restoring the Life and Legacy of Jazz Choreographer Buddy Bradley with Maureen Footer
This discussion explores how one choreographer’s jazz steps electrified Broadway, conquered the West End and reshaped stage and screen dance through legendary students and decades of innovation worldwide.
How to Marry a Millionaire + intro
In this hilarious comedy, Marilyn Monroe teams up with Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall as three women on a mission to marry wealthy suitors.
London Indian Film Festival Opening Night – European Premiere: 52 Blue + intro and Q&A with cast and crew
A young man's passion and desire to meet his idol Lionel Messi leads him on a journey to the football World Cup in Qatar, in this rousing tale of self-discovery and Love.
New Brit-Asian Shorts + Q&A
New and exciting short films from emerging British Asian filmmakers.
Marilynspirations Double Bill
This Claudette Colbert and Jean Harlow double bill celebrates the stars that influenced Marilyn Monroe.
India’s AI & Film Future + discussion
A look at innovation in South Asian cinema, harnessing the use of AI and other technologies, plus a discussion with industry experts.
Goodness Gracious Me Reunion + Q&A with Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Nina Wadi, Kulvinder Ghir and Anil Gupta
A rare chance to share the on-stage reunion of legends of British comedy – the cast of Goodness Gracious Me.
50th Anniversary Screening: Bugsy Malone + Q&A
We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alan Parker’s musical masterpiece.
What Could Have Been: Something’s Got to Give
An illustrated talk examining background of Marilyn Monroe’s final, unfinished film.
Marilyn in Her Own Words... + intro
Two insightful documentaries, featuring a couple of the few interviews conducted with Marilyn Monroe, give the star her voice.
Ladies of the Chorus + intro by season curator Kimberley Sheehan
Monroe delivers a luminous performance in her first major role, in this long‑forgotten B‑movie musical.
UK Premiere: In Search of the Sky + discussion
An elderly couple in an Indian village struggle with prejudice towards their disabled son and make a journey to the country’s largest religious gathering in search of a solution.
Mark Kermode Live in 3D at the BFI
The critic presents the latest episode of his live discussion, on stage in NFT1.
As Young as You Feel + intro
A man battles against mandatory retirement in this quirky film from Marilyn Monroe’s early career.
UK Premiere of 4K Restoration: In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones + Q&A
A new restoration of this cult classic written by Arundhati Roy which captured the zeitgeist of student life in an architecture school in 1970s Delhi.
Sound and Vision: Films by Helen Petts + Helen Petts in conversation with musician Steve Beresford
A screening of films by the acclaimed filmmaker followed by a discussion of her work.
Clash by Night + intro by season curator Kimberley Sheehan
Marilyn Monroe impresses as a naïve small-town girl in Fritz Lang’s dark melodrama fraught with sexual tension.
The Killer + intro by Vicki Brown, co-founder of the MilkTea collective
In one of John Woo’s finest Hong Kong films, Chow Yun-fat excels as a charismatic hitman defined by an unshakeable a moral code.
We Crip Film Festival Opening Night: UK Festival Premiere: Joybubbles + pre-recorded intro from Rachael J. Morrison
A blind hacker genius creates a new subculture and chooses child-like wonder in this astounding documentary.
European Festival Premiere: Lone Wolves + pre-recorded intro from writer and actor Matt Foss
In this knockout indie comedy, an impeccably planned DIY self-insemination operation between old friends causes more than one kind of discharge.
We Crip Film Festival: Shorts Programme: It’s Not You, It’s Ableism + Q&A
This short film showcase is a vibrant and eclectic collection of disability stories and filmmaking.
We Crip Film Festival Closing Night: World Premiere: D-Punk + panel discussion
A raw, defiant documentary where punk and disability collide – challenging norms, reclaiming space, and rewriting who gets to be seen and heard.
Some Like It Hot + intro
Marilyn Monroe sizzles opposite Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Billy Wilder’s genre-melding comic masterpiece.
UK premiere of 4K restoration: 3 Bad Men + intro by Bryony Dixon, Rosie Taylor and Makeda Doyal
This magnificent early John Ford western screens at the BFI for the first time.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes + intro
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell make for a magnetic duo, playing two showgirls pursuing a perfect match in Howard Hawks’ classic comedy musical.
Library Talk: Lost Star – The Rediscovery of the Transnational Stardom of Belinda Lee with Steve Chibnall
Steve Chibnall uncovers a forgotten film star’s meteoric rise and fall, from English seaside fame to American exile, revealing postwar challenges to respectability and stardom.
Rome Express + intro with writer Jonathan Coe, hosted by writer and season curator Kazuo Ishiguro
An opportunity to catch a ride aboard this criminally underseen British thriller.
Hard Boiled + intro by Xavier Alexandre Pillai, BFI TV Programmer
The action looks incredible in this in newly restored, digital 4K version of John Woo’s crime thriller masterpiece about a vengeful cop taking down an weapons-smuggling syndicate.
Blue Black Permanent + pre-recorded intro by Beth Johnston, Filmmaker
The first feature by a female Scottish filmmaker finds a young woman embarking on a lyrical journey to understand her lineage.
Missing Believed Wiped: Mid-Summer Special
A long-lost BBC documentary celebrating the release of Abbey Road screens alongside a special collection of recently uncovered items.
John Woo Double Bill: Red Cliff Part I + Red Cliff Part II
Don’t miss your opportunity to see both parts of John Woo’s historical epic on the big screen.
Eve and Marilyn + Q&A with Eve Arnold’s grandson, Michael Arnold
This short documentary and discussion will examine Monroe’s work with photojournalist Eve Arnold.
Murder on the Orient Express + intro with writer Sophie Hannah, hosted by writer and season curator Kazuo Ishiguro
The best Agatha Christie adaptation bar none was an atypical journey for director Sidney Lumet and features an incredible all-star cast.
The Seven Year Itch + intro by Ruby McGuigan, BFI Programme Development Manager
Marilyn Monroe is a middle-aged man’s ultimate fantasy in this comedy by Billy Wilder.
Preview: Ish + Q&A with co-writer, director and composer Imran Perretta + cast (tbc)
A coming-of-age story for modern times, this powerful British debut explores the emotional cost of racism on our children.
Radio On + pre-recorded intro by director Christopher Petit
An existential road movie (and thriller with one flat tyre) that ranks among the most influential debuts in British cinema.
BFI Member exclusives
BFI Members enjoy special events, previews and screenings at BFI Southbank all year round.
BFI Southbank will be closed Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 June due to a private event. There is currently no step-free access to the Mezzanine or Blue Room. We are working to resolve this as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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