In Edhi Alice, director and queer activist Ilrhan Kim interrogates how documentaries about trans communities are made: the creative decisions, relationships,…
Get into the chocolate-eating spirit with this iconic and scrumdiddlyumptious version of Roald Dahl's much-loved classic, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.…
Get into the chocolate-eating spirit with this iconic and scrumdiddlyumptious version of Roald Dahl's much-loved classic, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.…
Get into the chocolate-eating spirit with this iconic and scrumdiddlyumptious version of Roald Dahl's much-loved classic, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.…
When a charming house guest (Nicholas Galitzine) arrives at a remote castle, the delicate dynamic between a neglectful husband, his innocent bride Cherry (Maika Monroe), and their devoted maid Hero (Emma Corrin), is thrown into chaos. Based on Isabel Greenberg’s acclaimed graphic… Read More
The screening on 4 April will be introduced by Luke Robinson (University of Sussex). A singular work in Jia Zhangke’s filmography, 24 City is a striking hybrid of documentary and fiction, tracing half a century of Chinese industrial history from 1958 to 2008… Read More
This classic Disney musical animation is loosely inspired by one of the stories associated with the Middle Eastern folk tales collection 'One Thousand and One Nights'. Street-smart Aladdin, pairs up with clever, confident Princess Jasmine to fight against the evil sorcerer Jafar… Read More
In the Occupied West Bank of the 1980s, a Palestinian teenager is swept into a protest that changes the course of his family's life. Reeling from its aftermath, his mother, Hanan, shares the story that led them to that fateful moment. Spanning… Read More
The Jia Zhangke retrospective will launch on Sunday 8 March with a members' event featuring spicy cocktails and an academic intro by Maurizio Marinelli (UCL). You can find tickets for this here. Ash Is Purest White is Jia Zhangke’s only explicit gangster film,… Read More
Our screening on Thursday 22 January will be introduced by Alastair Phillips (University of Warwick), and followed by a post film discussion group in the Atrium Bar. Cinematic anthropologist extraordinaire Shohei Imamura won his first Palme d'Or at the 1983 Cannes… Read More
This film was proposed by our members William Reynolds, Will Chegwidden, and Benjamin Harrison. Will writes: 'A wonderful 1994 coming of age film set on a council estate in South East London, with a great cast, superb comedic and dramatic performances, a… Read More
The screening on 23 April will be introduced by Tony Rayns, whose long-standing support of Jia Zhangke, from festival exposure to sustained critical advocacy and English subtitling, played a crucial role in bringing Jia’s work to international attention. Caught by the Tides, a… Read More
Our screening on Saturday 31 January will be introduced by Tom Cunliffe (UCL), and will be followed by a post film discussion group in the Atrium Bar. The Kobayashi family finally are able to move out of their tiny, cramped Tokyo apartment… Read More
This film was proposed by members Sally O'Neill, Kitty Robertson, Stephen Burns, and Molly Thomas. Molly writes: 'For LGBT+ History Month, I’d love to see a screening of the iconic Desert Hearts. It is a queer film made by queer creatives –… Read More
The screening is part of a double bill with Still Life and will be introduced by Sabrina Yu (Chinese Independent Film Archive, CIFA). Dong is the second chapter in Jia Zhangke's documentary trilogy about artists in China, alongside Useless (2007) and Swinning Out till the… Read More
Our screening on Thursday 5 February will be introduced by Irene González-López (Birkbeck), and will be followed by a post film discussion group in the Atrium Bar. Conceived by Shohei Imamura, Kazuo Hara’s infamous and audacious documentary follows Kenzo Okuzaki, an ageing… Read More
Set in an enchanted town in the Colombian mountains, Encanto charts the lives of The Madrigal family. They live in a large, magical house, with each family member possessing a unique power – ranging from speaking to animals to super strength. The young… Read More
A magical journey through sound and vision, Disney's classic Fantasia consists of eight pieces of classical music, each set to its own piece of animation. More than 60 years after the film was made, each section has its own appeal, with moods ranging… Read More
This film was proposed by, and on Sunday 8 February will be introduced by, independent film curator Jaison Washington. He writes: 'One of the most tragic and beautiful films of all time. Fassbinder himself as “Fox” the carney, and his newfound bourgeois… Read More
The royal ice-drama phenomenon that spawned a franchise, it is no surprise it went on to become the fifth highest-grossing film of all time and the Oscar-winner for Best Animated Feature (it also won Golden Globe and Bafta for the same category).… Read More
1580 England. Impoverished Latin tutor William Shakespeare meets free-spirited Agnes, and the pair, captivated by one another, strike up a torrid affair that leads to marriage and three children. Yet as Will pursues a budding theatre career in far-away London, Agnes anchors… Read More
The Handmaiden will screen in the extended director's cut version and was proposed by our members Cathy Lee and Sofia Canhoto. No Other Choice director Park Chan-wook turns to the past for a sensual, florid adaptation of Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith. 1930s Korea is… Read More
Our screening on Thursday 19 February will be introduced by season curator George Crosthwait, and will be followed by a post film discussion group in the Atrium Bar. Nobuhiko Obayashi (Hausu) takes on the Bōsōzoku (youth bike gang) genre with a poetic and… Read More
This family-friendly adventure is a remake of a 1963 film about three pets who go to extraordinary lengths to be reunited with their owners. When a family temporarily leave their golden retriever, bulldog and cat at a friend's farm, the animals grow… Read More
The screening on 5 April will be introduced by Chris Berry (KCL). After exploring China's social and historical transformations for over a decade, Jia Zhangke turns his lens to Shanghai in this compelling documentary. I Wish I Knew is a vivid portrait of… Read More
With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Rose Byrne) attempts to navigate her child's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist (Conan O'Brien). Sharply funny and deeply resonant, If I Had Legs… Read More
Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino received the Cannes Jury Prize for his biopic of the fabled Italian politician Giulio Andreotti (Toni Servillo). The film covers a large portion of Andreotti's seven terms as prime minister of Italy, and concerns itself with the inner machinations… Read More
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex and Tess Novak find themselves at a crossroads, both collectively and individually. Facing middle age and the spectre of impending divorce, Alex seeks renewed purpose in the New York stand-up comedy scene, while Tess confronts the… Read More
The screening on 10 April will feature a recorded introduction by the director Walter Salles. Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang is a rare, feature-length documentary devoted to the Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke, directed by Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles. Viewed today, it stands… Read More
Mailys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, 2025, France, Belgium
Little Amélie is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Oscars and BAFTAs. Born in Japan to Belgian parents, little Amélie sees the world as a place of endless wonder. With her beloved friend and companion Nishio san by her side, every… Read More
These screenings will be in the English language dub. You can find our original language (subtitled) screenings here. Little Amélie is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Oscars and BAFTAs. Born in Japan to Belgian parents, little Amélie sees the world… Read More
These screenings will be in French with English subtitles. You can find our dubbed screenings here. Little Amélie is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Oscars and BAFTAs. Born in Japan to Belgian parents, little Amélie sees the world as a… Read More
Various Directors, Various Countries, Various Years
Like childhood, animation is full of wonder and simple pleasures. This carefully chosen programme for our littlest and most special audience contains 13 of the best, wonderful short animated films, full of joy, from all around the world. There’ll be talking animals,… Read More
“Practically Perfect In Every Way” Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) flies out of the windy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children. With the help of a carefree chimney sweep named Bert (Dick Van Dyke), the spirited nanny turns every… Read More
The screening on 16 April will be introduced by Lu Xiaoning (SOAS). As one of Jia Zhangke’s most ambitious works, Mountains May Depart spans three decades, tracing China’s rapid transformations through the intimate lens of a family drama. Set primarily in Jia’s native… Read More
The UK’s Best International Feature Film entry to the 98th Academy Awards and recipient of the Caméra d’Or Special Mention at Cannes, Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father's Shadow is a poetic, tender portrait of father-son bonds. Framed by the political landscape of 1993… Read More
In his wickedly incisive new thriller, Park Chan-wook delivers a brutal allegory of modern work culture, starring Lee Byung Hun as a devoted family man driven to violence after losing his job. When esteemed paper specialist Yoo Man-soo is suddenly laid off,… Read More
This is the story of Godard making Breathless, told in the style and spirit in which Godard made Breathless. The Garden Cinema View: Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague is a stylish and playful tribute to the pioneers of the French New Wave and the… Read More
Jia Zhangke, 2000, Hong Kong, China, Japan, France
The screening on 15 March will be introduced by season curator Millie Zhou. Platform, the second chapter of Jia Zhangke’s 'Hometown Trilogy' (alongside Xiao Wu and Unknown Pleasures), is shot on 35mm and marks Jia’s first collaboration with Zhao Tao, beginning a partnership… Read More
The screening on 13 February at 18:00 will be introduced by Iraqi journalist Arwa Haider. Lamia, a young girl from Iraq’s Mesopotamian Marshes, is chosen to bake a cake celebrating Saddam Hussein’s birthday, which she must do or face the consequences. A… Read More
One of the most important and influential film makers in cinematic history, Akira Kurosawa directed 30 films in a career spanning 57 years. His final masterpiece, Ran, is a reimagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear set in feudal Japan. Ran tells the story of Lord… Read More
This screening will be followed by an online Q&A with the director Bi Gan, moderated by Victor Fan (KCL). With his senses-ravishing third feature, visionary director Bi Gan takes his deepest plunge yet into the realm of pure cinematic dreamscape. In a… Read More
Kleber Mendonça Filho, 2025, Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands
From acclaimed director Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent is a gripping, mischievous political thriller that entertains as much as it provokes. Wagner Moura stars in a Best Actor–winning performance as Marcelo, a father on the run from a mysterious past amid the… Read More
Joachim Trier, 2025, Norway, France, Germany, Denmark
Following the success of global phenomenon The Worst Person in the World, Academy Award-nominee Joachim Trier reunites with BAFTA nominee Renate Reinsve for their universally acclaimed follow-up, Sentimental Value. Winner of the prestigious Cannes Grand Prix award, and featuring career-best performances from… Read More
Twenty years after his first appearance, Wallace and Gromit’s cheeky sidekick finally gets his own big screen adventure in this delightful comedy from British animation studio Aardman. Life on the farm is pretty carefree for Shaun and his friends. Bored of the… Read More
The screening on 27 March is part of a double bill with Dong and will be introduced by Sabrina Yu (Chinese Independent Film Archive, CIFA). Still Life stands as one of Jia Zhangke’s most celebrated works and a defining achievement of his career. Awarded… Read More
The screening on 18 April will be introduced by Kiki Yu (Queen Mary). Ten years after his last documentary I Wish I Knew (2010), Jia Zhangke returns to non-fiction with Swimming Out till the Sea Turns Blue, the final chapter in his trilogy… Read More
The tale of an eccentric band of culinary ronin who guide the widow of a noodle-shop owner on her quest for the perfect recipe, this rapturous 'ramen western' by Japanese director Juzo Itami is an entertaining, genre-bending adventure underpinned by a deft… Read More
Our screening on Thursday 26 February will be introduced by Mark Player, author of Japanese Cinema and Punk, and will be followed by a post film discussion group in the Atrium Bar. A strange man known only as the 'metal fetishist', who seems… Read More
When Tigger declines to help Pooh and his friends build a home for Eeyore the donkey, they suggest he leave them to spend some time with other tiggers. Convinced he's the only tigger in the world, the ever-bouncing one goes in search… Read More
Both screenings will be video introduced by Victor Fan (KCL). Jia Zhangke’s bold and most genre-inflected work, A Touch of Sin (an homage to King Hu’s A Touch of Zen), offers a shocking reflection on capitalist China. Structured around four characters living in four… Read More
After meeting in a twin bereavement support group, Roman (Dylan O'Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney) develop an unlikely bromance as they both search for solace and an identity without their better halves. They soon become inseparable, but old wounds reopen that will… Read More
Our screening on 12 February will be introduced by Alexander Jacoby (Oxford Brookes), and will be followed by a film discussion group in the Atrium Bar. Newly restored, Shinji Somai’s beloved cult film Typhoon Club is widely heralded as the director’s seminal feature… Read More
The screening on 2 Apriil will be introduced by Kiki Yu (Queen Mary). The second film in Jia Zhangke’s documentary trilogy looking into arts and creative labour in China - alongside the Venice award-winning Dong (2006), about painter Liu Xiaodong, and Swimming Out… Read More
Get into the chocolate-eating spirit with this iconic and scrumdiddlyumptious version of Roald Dahl's much-loved classic, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. The story of Charlie Bucket, a little boy with no money and a good heart, who dreams wistfully of being able… Read More
The screening on 22 March will be introduced by Maurizio Marinelli (UCL). The World is Jia Zhangke’s fourth feature and his first officially approved, studio-backed film to receive theatrical release, marking a decisive transition from underground status to a new phase of filmmaking,… Read More
The screening on 29 March will be followed by an online Q&A with the lead actor Wang Hongwei (Xiao Wu, Platform, Unknown Pleasures). A rare chance to be seen with English subtitles, Xiao Shan Going Home is the film that launched Jia Zhangke’s… Read More
The screening on 17 March will be introduced by Chris Berry (KCL). In 4K Restoration. As the first installment of Jia Zhangke’s acclaimed 'Hometown Trilogy' (alongside Platform and Unknown Pleasures), Xiao Wu represents a pivotal moment in the director’s early career, establishing his distinctive… Read More
The Garden Cinema presents the UK’s first-ever comprehensive retrospective dedicated to one of the best and most important auteurs in the world – Jia Zhangke. Over eight weeks, the retrospective situates Jia’s films…
The 1980s were the zenith of Japan’s bubble economy, an era which saw the accumulation of vast wealth, alongside rapid technological and commercial growth. City centres sprouted neon-emblazoned shrines to multinational capitalism, built upon the…
Keeping with tradition, throughout February The Garden Cinema is celebrating LGBT+ History Month! Join us for a compelling selection picked by our members, alongside exciting partnership events! We open with British coming-out 90s…
Join us every Saturday & Sunday morning and on weekdays during the school holidays for some of our favourite family classics. For cinema lovers of all ages. On Sundays the films are followed…
Events for members only, including free bi-weekly screenings for Garden Cinema Members with films chosen for members, by members. Selected films are added regularly, so keep an eye on this page for updates.…
A chance for parents and carers with babies of twelve months and under to see the latest releases in a relaxed environment. These screenings will have raised lighting, reduced volume levels, and captions/subtitles…
The Garden Cinema’s new strand of nature and environment-focused screenings. We have curated a selection of international films that span many genres, themes and countries to tell stories of resilience and resistance…
Dear Italy is The Garden Cinema’s love letter to Italian Cinema. We are delighted to showcase films not only widely considered classics but also the most beloved by audiences and critics alike. This…
Select Japan is an initiative from The Garden Cinema to showcase the best of Japanese cinema, classic and contemporary, with a focus on titles and filmmakers which have been rarely screened in the…
Composing Cinema celebrates the bespoke musical contributions made by composers to the world of film – with an initial focus on British artists. Hosted by Oscar-nominated composer Gary Yershon. …
The Chinese Cinema Project is an exhibition initiative presented by The Garden Cinema. It showcases works from emerging and under-represented Chinese filmmakers via regular screenings, exploring auteurship and cinematic beauty in its various…
In Edhi Alice, director and queer activist Ilrhan Kim interrogates how documentaries about trans communities are made: the creative decisions, relationships,…
Screen Cuba celebrates Cuba’s pioneering homegrown cinema industry, looking at the achievements and challenges of the Cuban people through the decolonising…
