INTRODUCTION​

“Scenery, then, is not simply a given, but a participant in drama.” (Tag Gallagher discussing Stagecoach in John Ford The Man and his Films.) This is classic cinema in a nutshell; it’s why Hitchcock was concerned, as long ago as 1969, that dialogue was dominating what should be a visual medium. And it’s why Martin Scorcese emphasised, in a more recent interview, that scriptwriting has to be “transformed into a visual narrative” (Sight & Sound, October 2024, p.53). And it’s why I feel that, in 2025, cinema is not in a good place. Despite an often-favourable response from critics, films like Sweet Sue (the director’s debut, admittedly) and All of Us Are Strangers are, in essence, filmed theatre. Even in a major production like Maestro or American Fiction it’s a pleasant surprise if we see a horizon or a perspective shot (but they were there in Zone of Interest).

Programme 2026-27 tba

The programme is still being selected, but the dates are expected to be:

2026

27 SEPTEMBER

4 OCTOBER

1 NOVEMBER

15 NOVEMBER

22 NOVEMBER

13 DECEMBER

2027

3 JANUARY

17 JANUARY

31 JANUARY

14 FEBRUARY

28 FEBRUARY

7 MARCH