Our links with the British film industry, organisations and screening facilities in the capital, mean we are able to offer WGGB members screenings and/or Q&As of upcoming film releases.
Members will be informed of full details of screenings via email/the weekly ebulletin.
All the screenings are offered by third parties, and are not WGGB-organised events, or offered exclusively to our members. We always check with the event organiser whether the screenings venues are fully accessible before we advertise them to members. On occasions where this is not possible (for example, where screenings are held in listed buildings), we will make a decision on whether to extend the invitation to our members.
Examples of a selection of screenings (both in-person and online) we have offered in the past are below.
Io Capitano (14 and 15 February 2024)
Io Capitano (Me Captain) tells the adventurous journey of two young men, Seydou and Moussa, who leave Dakar to reach Europe. A contemporary odyssey through the pitfalls of the desert, the horrors of detention centres in Libya, and the dangers of the sea.
All Of Us Strangers (7 February 2024)
One night in contemporary London, Adam encounters a mysterious neighbour, altering the rhythm of his life. As their romantic bond grows, he returns to his suburban childhood home to confront memories of his past, where his parents appear to be living, exactly as they did when they died 30 years ago.
Saltburn (11 December 2023)
A student at Oxford University finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate, who invites him to his eccentric family’s sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten. The in-person screening is followed by a Q&A with writer, director and producer Emerald Fennell.
Wish (12 December 2023)
A young girl named Asha wishes on a star and gets more than she bargained for when a trouble-making star comes down from the sky to join her. This is an in-person screening.
Oppenheimer (13 December 2023)
The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. This is an in-person screening.
Earth Mama (14 November 2023)
A pregnant single mother, with two children in foster care, embraces her Bay Area community as she fights to reclaim her family. The in-person screening is followed by a Q&A with writer/director Savanah Leaf.
She Said (8 February 2023)
New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor together break one of the most important stories in a generation – a story that shatters decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood and altered American culture forever. The in-person screening is followed by a Q&A with screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz.
Women Talking (30 January 2023)
In 2010, the women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling a brutal reality with their faith. The in-person screening was followed by a Q&A with writer/director Sarah Polley.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (22 January 2023)
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reinvents the classic tale of the wooden marionette who is magically brought to life in order to mend the heart of a grieving woodcarver named Geppetto. The in-person screening was followed by a Q&A with writer/director Guillermo del Toro.
The Fabelmans (5 December 2022)
The Fabelmans is a coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery of a shattering family secret and an exploration of the power of movies to help us see the truth about each other and ourselves. The screening is followed by a Q&A with screenwriter and producer Tony Kushner.
Emancipation (4 December 2022)
Inspired by the gripping true story of a man who would do anything for his family – and for freedom. When Peter, an enslaved man, risks his life to escape and return to his family, he embarks on a perilous journey of love and endurance. The screening includes a Q&A with director and production crew.
My Policeman (15 November 2022)
My Policeman follows three young people – policeman Tom, teacher Marion and museum curator Patrick as they embark on an emotional journey in 1950s Britain. The screening includes a Q&A with director and crew.
Slow Horses (7 November 2022)
The Season 2 premiere of Slow Horses, hosted by Appletv+, is followed by a Q&A with Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Chris Chung, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar and Dustin Demri-Burns, and is hosted by Stephen Armstrong. The film follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve as a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes.
Empire of Light (1 November 2022)
Set in and around a faded old cinema in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, Empire of Light follows Hilary, a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen, a new employee who longs to escape. The screening is followed by a Q&A with writer and director Sam Mendes, producer Pippa Harris, production designer Mark Tildesley, costume designer Alexandra Byrne, hair and makeup designer Naomi Donne and casting director Nina Gold.
Bad Sisters (20 October 2022)
The tight-knit Garvey Sisters have always looked out for each other. When their brother-in-law winds up dead, his life insurers launch an investigation – and set their sights on the sisters. The virtual screening is followed by a Q&A with Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Sarah Greene, Eva Birthistle, Anne-Marie Duff and Claes Ban.
TILL (14 and 15 October 2022)
A profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who, in 1955, was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. In Mamie’s poignant journey of grief turned to action, we see the universal power of a mother’s ability to change the world. Each screening includes a Q&A with writer, director, producer and cast.
After Love (27 February 2022) – at the BFI in London
Mary Hussain, who converted to Islam when she married her husband Ahmed, discovers after his death that Ahmed had a secret life in Calais. Plus Q&A with writer, director and cast.
Last Night in Soho (17 February 2022) – at the Soho Hotel in London
An aspiring fashion designer is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer. But the dreams of the past start to splinter into something far darker. Plus Q&A with writer and director.
Belfast (15 February 2022)
A nine-year-old boy must chart his path towards adulthood through a world that has suddenly turned upside down during the Northern Ireland conflict of the late 1960s.
Parallel Mothers (26 January 2022)
Two women, and soon to be single mothers – Janis and Ana – meet in a hospital ward where they are waiting to give birth. This chance encounter will create a close link between the two. The screening is preceded by a live introduction with writer and director Pedro Almodóvar and star Penélope Cruz, hosted by Cate Blanchett.
The Power of the dog (21 January 2022, 24 February 2022 and 6 March, plus Q&As with the film’s star Benedict Cumberbatch and writer/director Jane Campion)
Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love. The screening is introduced by the film’s star Benedict Cumberbatch.
tick, tick…BOOM! (19 January 2022 and 17 February 2022)
This adaptation of the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, who revolutionised theatre as the creator of Rent, is followed by a live virtual Q&A with the film’s star Andrew Garfield.
Cyrano (8 December 2021)
Director Joe Wright and writer Erica Schmidt re-imagine Rostand’s timeless love story in a sublime symphony of music, poetry and romance. Followed by a Q&A with writer, director and cast members including Peter Dinklage.
Belfast (8 December 2021)
A nine-year-old boy must chart his path towards adulthood through a world that has suddenly turned upside down during the Northern Ireland conflict of the late 1960s.
No Time To Die (29 November 2021 and 27 February 2022 at BAFTA, with Q&A and drinks reception)
Joining forces with his MI6 team and a new generation of agents, James Bond faces the highest stakes of his espionage career and emotionally explores the sacrifices of heroism. The screening is followed by a Q&A with writers, directors and other members of the creative team.
Red Rocket (23 November 2021)
The audacious new film from writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine), starring Simon Rex in a magnetic, live-wire performance, Red Rocket is a darkly funny, humane portrait of a uniquely American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him. The screening is followed by a Q&A with Sean Baker.
The Power (23 November 2021)
London, 1974. Trainee nurse Val arrives for her first day at the crumbling East London Royal Infirmary. Forced to work the night shift in a dark, empty building, Val must face her own traumatic past in order to confront the malevolent force that’s intent on destroying everything around her. The screening is followed by a Q&A with writer-director, producers and cast member.
Landscapers (30 November 2021)
Mild-mannered husband and wife Susan (Olivia Colman) and Christopher Edwards (David Thewlis) have been on the run for over 15 years. When Christopher makes a startling call home, their role in a terrible crime that remained undiscovered for over a decade begins to emerge. The screening is followed by a Q&A with cast and creative team.
Passing (9 November 2021)
Based on the novel by Nella Larsen, the film follows two Black women, Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga) who choose to live on opposite sides of the colour line in 1929 New York.
The Mitchells vs The Machines (30 October 2021)
An old school father and his filmmaker daughter struggle to relate as their family embarks on a road trip to her new college. Their drive is interrupted by a machine apocalypse that threatens to tear these unlikely heroes apart unless they can find a way to join forces and save humanity. The Q&A was followed by a Q&A with producer and director.
Flee (16 October 2021)
Recounted mostly through animation to director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Flee tells the story of Amin Nawabi as he grapples with a painful secret that threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon to be husband.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (23 September 2021)
We were delighted to welcome WGGB members back to the first in-person free film screening in over 18 months, which took place in London.
Lupin: Part 2 (8 June 2021)
Assane’s quest for revenge against Hubert Pellegrini has torn his family to pieces. With his back to the wall, he now has to think of a new plan, even if it means putting himself in danger.
To Olivia (13 January 2021)
It’s 1962 and Roald Dahl, an eccentric, burgeoning children’s author, and his wife Patricia Neal, a glamourous Hollywood movie star, have retreated to the English countryside to bring up their expanding young family. Tragically, their lives are turned upside down by the devastating death of their daughter Olivia, and as the couple struggle through the unimaginable loss, their shared grief becomes a source of redemption and strength which changes their lives forever.
Radioactive (12 January 2021)
In the male-dominated society of late 19th-century Paris, Marie is a fiercely passionate scientist, who struggles to progress her ground-breaking research, despite her obvious brilliance. After joining forces with fellow scientist and future husband, Pierre Curie, they take her exploration of radioactivity forward, discovering not one, but two new elements: radium and polonium. The genius of the Curies’ discoveries and the ensuing Nobel prize propels the devoted couple into the international limelight. But after a tragic accident Marie must continue to advance her work alone, resulting in revolutionary discoveries that have dramatic consequences for the modern world.
Supernova (15 December 2020)
It is deep autumn and Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci), partners of 20 years, are on holiday. They are travelling across England in their old campervan visiting friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with young-onset dementia two years ago, their lives have had to change. Jobs have been given up and plans put on hold. Their time together is now the most important thing they have. As the trip progresses, however, their individual ideas for their future begin to collide. Secrets are uncovered, private plans unravel and their love for each other is tested like never before. Ultimately, they must confront the question of what it means to love one another in the face of Tusker’s irreparable illness. Includes a live virtual Q&A with writer/director Harry Macqueen, director of photography Dick Pope, composer Keaton Henson and production designer Sarah Finlay.
Another Round (15 December 2020)
There is an obscure philosophical theory that humans should have been born with a small amount of alcohol in our blood, that modest inebriation opens our minds to the world around us, diminishing problems and increasing creativity. Intrigued, Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) and three of his friends, all weary high school teachers, embark on a risky experiment to maintain a constant level of intoxication throughout the workday. Initial results are positive, but as the units are knocked back and stakes are raised, it becomes increasingly clear that some bold acts carry severe consequences. Includes Q&A with lead actor Mads Mikkelsen, writer/director Thomas Vinterberg and writer Tobias Lindholm.
Saint Maud (various dates, December 2020)
Live-in nurse Maud (Morfydd Clark) arrives at the home of Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a famous dancer now frail from illness and trapped in her grand, isolated house. At first Amanda is intrigued by this religious young woman, who provides distraction from her failing health. Maud, in turn, is bewitched by her new patient. But Maud is not all that she seems. She is tormented by a violent secret from her past and by ecstatic messages she believes are directly from God. She becomes convinced she has been sent to Amanda not simply as a nurse, but to serve a divine purpose. As her grip on reality slides out of control, Maud’s care turns into a deadly mission to save Amanda’s soul, by any means necessary. Saint Maud is written and directed by Rose Glass.
Little Women (22 January 2020)
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the classic novel draws on the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig’s take, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on her own terms – is both timeless and timely. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen as the sisters, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbour Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March. The film is followed by a Q&A with Saoirse Ronan and costume designer Jacqueline Durran.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood (19 December 2019)
Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Rogers, he overcomes his scepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbour. Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. The film is followed by a Q&A with director Marielle Heller and actors Matthew Rhys and Tom Hanks (nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role)
Downton Abbey (10 December 2019)
Downtown Abbey becomes a grand motion picture as the beloved Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives. A royal visit from the King and Queen of England will unleash scandal, romance and intrigue that will leave the future of Downton hanging in the balance. Starring the original cast. The screening is followed by a Q&A with screenwriter/producer Julian Fellowes, and actors Phyllis Logan, Michael Fox and Sophie McShera.
Spies in Disguise (8 December 2019)
This comedy animation, adapted for screen by Brad Copeland and Lloyd Taylor, features super spy Lance Sterling (Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland). Lance is smooth, suave and debonair, while Walter is… not. But what Walter lacks in social skills he makes up for in invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. When events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can’t learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril. After the film there is a Q&A with directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane.
Skin (1 December 2019)
A destitute young man, raised by racist skinheads and notorious among white supremacists, turns his back on hatred and violence to transform his life, with the help of a black activist and the woman he loves. The film is inspired by the remarkable true story of Bryon Widner, who endured over a year of painful operations to his face and body to remove the tattoos that tied him to his terrible past. It is written and directed by Israeli-born filmmaker Guy Nattiv and there is a Q&A after the screening with producer Trudie Styler.
Wild Rose (1 December 2019)
Rose-Lynn Harlan, 24, is bursting with raw talent, charisma and cheek. She is also fresh out of jail and has two young kids to support. All she wants to do is get out of Glasgow and make it as a country singer. Rose-Lynn thinks her only chance of happiness lies in the Country capital of the world – Nashville, Tennessee. Marion, Rose-Lynn’s mother, wants her to settle down, accept her life, and take responsibility for herself. But when a chance encounter brings Rose-Lynn closer to her dreams of Nashville, she faces a choice between family and stardom. Wild Rose is winner of three BAFTA Scotland Awards. The film is followed by a Q&A with screenwriter Nicole Taylor, lead actress Jessie Buckley and director Tom Harper.
The Aeronauts (28 November 2019)
In 1862, daredevil balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) teams up with pioneering meteorologist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) to advance human knowledge of the weather and fly higher than anyone in history. While breaking records and furthering scientific discovery, their voyage to the very edge of existence helps the unlikely pair find their place in the world they have left far below them. But they face physical and emotional challenges in the thin air, as the ascent becomes a fight for survival. The screening is followed by a Q&A with director and producer Tom Harper.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (21 November 2019)
Written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, and nominated for three British Independent Film Awards, the film follows 13-year-old William Kamkwamba (newcomer Maxwell Simba), who is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. Sneaking back into the school library, he finds a way, using the bones of the bicycle belonging to his father Trywell (Chiwetel Ejiofor), to build a windmill which then saves his Malawian village from famine. The event is run by Netflix and hosted by Thandie Newton with an extended introduction by Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Blinded by the Light (23 October 2019)
Inspired by the life of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, who wrote the script with Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges, Blinded by the Light is set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain. The film is a coming-of-age story about a teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the words and music of Bruce Springsteen. The screening is followed by a Q&A with Chadha, who is also the director.
Harriet (11 October 2019)
Based on the life of an iconic American freedom fighter, the film tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history. The screening is followed by a Q&A with writer and director Kasi Lemmons and actors Cynthia Erivo and Joe Alwyn.
Waves (11 October 2019)
Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida, the film traces the journey of a suburban African-American family – led by a well-intentioned but domineering father – as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the aftermath of a loss. Waves is a story about finding compassion even in the darkest of times. The screenings is followed by a Q&A with writer/director/ producer Trey Edward Shults and actors Sterling K. Brown, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Taylor Russell.
Official Secrets (10 October 2019)
As politicians in Britain and the US angle to invade Iraq in 2003, GCHQ translator Katharine Gun leaks a classified email that urges spying on members of the UN Security Council to force through their resolution to go to war. Charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act, and facing imprisonment, Katharine sets out to defend her actions. With her life, liberty and marriage threatened, she must stand up for what she believes in. The film is followed by a Q&A with writer/director Gavin Hood and producer Ged Doherty. Written by Sara and Gregory Bernstein and Gavin Hood (and based on the book The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell).
Le Mans ’66 (10 October 2019)
Written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller, the film is based on the true story of US car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British-born driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who together battled corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company to take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966. The screening is followed by a Q&A with director and producer James Mangold.
How to Train Your Dragon: the Hidden World (6 October 2019)
What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives.
The movie is followed by a Q&A with writer/director Dean DeBlois, producer Bonnie Arnold, author Cressida Cowell and head of character animation Simon Otto.
The King (5 October 2019)
Hal (Timothée Chalamet), wayward prince and reluctant heir to the English throne, has turned his back on royal life and is living among the people. But when his tyrannical father dies, Hal is crowned King Henry V and is forced to embrace the life he had previously tried to escape. Now the young king must navigate the palace politics, chaos and war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life — including his relationship with his closest friend and mentor, the ageing alcoholic knight John Falstaff (Joel Edgerton). Written by Joel Edgerton and David Michod.
I Lost my Body (J’ai Perdu mon Corps) (5 October 2019)
In a Parisian laboratory, a severed hand escapes its unhappy fate and sets out to reconnect with its body. During a hair-raising escapade across the city, the extremity fends off pigeons and rats alike to reunite with pizza boy Naoufel. Its memories of Naoufel and his love for librarian Gabrielle may provide answers about what caused the hand’s separation, and a poetic backdrop for a possible reunion between the three. The movie is based on the novel Happy Hand by Academy Award nominee Guillaume Laurant (Amélie). Winner of the Critics’ Week Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the movie is followed by a Q&A with screenwriter and director Jeremy Clapin, screenwriter and author Guillame Laurant and producer Marc du Pontavice.
Atlantics (Atlantique) (4 October 2019)
Along the Atlantic coast, a soon-to-be-inaugurated futuristic tower looms over a suburb of Dakar. Ada, 17, is in love with Souleiman, a young construction worker. But she has been promised to another man. One night, Souleiman and his co-workers leave the country by sea, in the hope of a better future. Several days later, a fire ruins Ada’s wedding and a mysterious fever starts to spread. Little does Ada know that Souleiman has returned.
Winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and co-written by Mati Diop and Olivier Demangel, the film is followed by a Q&A with Mati Diop (who also directed the movie).
Avengers: Endgame (30 September 2019)
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to 22 films. Written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The screening is followed by a Q&A with the screenwriters and networking drinks.
Pain & Glory (24 September 2019)
Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, the film centres around Salvador Mallo (Antonio Banderas), a film director in physical decline who experiences a series of encounters with his past. Some of these are in the flesh, others in his memories: his childhood in the 1960s and the first stirrings of desire, his first love and the pain of breakup in Madrid of the 1980s, his writing as therapy to forget the unforgettable, his discovery of cinema, and his experience of the void that blocks him from carrying on making films.
Roma (8 February 2019)
Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the film follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young domestic worker for a family in the middle-class neighbourhood of Roma in Mexico City. Cuarón draws on his own childhood to create a portrait of domestic strife and social hierarchy amid the political turmoil of the 1970s. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Cuarón, producer Gabriela Rodriguez, and actors Aparicio and Marina de Tavira.
The Favourite (12 February 2019)
In the early 18th century, England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne occupies the throne, and her close friend, Lady Sarah, governs the country in her stead, while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail sees a chance to return to her aristocratic roots. Written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, the screening is followed by a Q&A with director Yorgos Lanthimos.
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (20 December 2018)
Adapted by Callie Kloves from the All Mowgli Stories by Rudyard Kipling, the screening is introduced by director Andy Serkis.
If Beale Street Could Talk (12 December 2018)
Based on the James Baldwin novel, and adapted and directed by Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk is set in early-1970s Harlem. The film is a timeless and moving love story of a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Followed by a Q&A with lead actors KiKi Layne and Stephan James.
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse (6 December 2018)
The creative minds behind 21 Jump Street and the BAFTA and Annie-Award winning feature The LEGO Movie bring a groundbreaking visual style to the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where anyone can wear the mask. Plus Q&A with producer and co-writer Phil Lord and producer Christopher Miller.
On the Basis of Sex (2 December 2018)
Inspired by a true story, this film follows young Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a new mother and attorney struggling in a field dominated by men. When Ruth (Felicity Jones) takes on a groundbreaking case with her husband Marty (Armie Hammer), she knows it could forever change the way the courts and the US view gender discrimination. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Mimi Leder and actors Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer.
Stan & Ollie (23 November 2018)
Stan & Ollie, written by Jeff Pope and directed by Jon S Baird, is the heart-warming story of what would become the triumphant farewell of movie icons Laurel & Hardy when they embarked on a variety hall tour of Britain and Ireland. The screening is followed by a Q&A with leading actors Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, supporting actor Shirley Henderson, director Jon S Baird and producer Faye Ward.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (8 November 2018)
Melissa McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, the best-selling celebrity biographer (and cat lover) who made her living in the 1970s and 1980s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estée Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee finds herself unable to get published because she has fallen out of step with the marketplace, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant).
July 22 (26 October 2018)
The film tells the true story of the aftermath of Norway’s deadliest terrorist attack. On 22 July 2011, 77 people were killed when a far-right extremist detonated a car bomb in Oslo before carrying out a mass shooting at a leadership camp for teens. 22 July uses the lens of one survivor’s physical and emotional journey to portray the country’s path to healing and reconciliation.
Quincy (27 October 2018)
Written by Alan Hicks and directed by Rashida Jones, the film is an intimate look into the life of Quincy Jones. A force of nature in music and popular culture for 70 years, Jones has transcended musical and racial boundaries; his story is woven into the fabric of Black America. Beyond his own acclaim as a trumpeter, producer, conductor, composer and arranger, Jones has discovered some of the biggest talents of the past half century.
If Beale Street Could Talk (19 October 2018)
Adapted from James Baldwin’s novel by Barry Jenkins and starring Colman Domingo, If Beal Street Could Talk is set in early-1970s Harlem, and is a timeless, moving love story of a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.
The Hate U Give (15 October 2018)
Adapted by Audrey Wells from the New York Times critically acclaimed bestseller by Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give centres around Starr Carter who is constantly switching between two worlds – the poor, mostly black neighbourhood where she lives and the wealthy, mostly white prep school that she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and decide to stand up for what’s right.
Shirkers (7 October 2018)
In 1992, teenage VHS-bootlegger Sandi Tan and her fellow film-geek pals, Jasmine Ng and Sophie Siddique, shot Singapore’s first road movie with their enigmatic American mentor Georges. Sandi wrote the script and played the lead, a 16-year-old assassin collecting and then eliminating her own tribe. After shooting wrapped, Georges absconded with all of the footage…The 16mm Kodak cans are recovered 20 years later, sending Tan, now a novelist in Los Angeles, on a personal, singular odyssey across two continents in search of Georges’ vanishing footprints and her own. The screening was followed by a Q&A with writer and director Sandi Tan.
Lady Macbeth (13 December 2017)
It’s rural England, 1865. Katherine (Florence Pugh) is stifled by her loveless marriage to a bitter man twice her age, and his cold, unforgiving family. When she embarks on a passionate affair with a young worker on her husband’s estate, a force is unleashed inside her so powerful that she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Followed by a Q&A with Florence Pugh and producer Fodhla Cronin.
God’s Own Country (11 December 2017)
Johnny Saxby works long hours on his family’s farm in the north of England. He numbs the daily frustration of his lonely existence with nightly binge-drinking at the local pub and casual sex. But when a handsome Romanian migrant worker arrives to take up temporary work on the family farm, Johnny suddenly finds himself having to deal with emotions he has never felt before. This Writers’ Guild Award 2018-nominated film will be followed by a Q&A with writer and director Francis Lee, lead actor Josh O’Connor and supporting actor Alec Secareanu.
I, Tonya (7 December 2017)
Written by Steven Rogers, I, Tonya tells the story of American figure-skating champion Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie), who was involved in a vicious attack on her rival skater, team mate Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver), just before the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
Battle of the Sexes (23 November 2017)
In the wake of the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s world champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s champ Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more complex battles. Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court. Followed by a Q&A with writer Simon Beaufoy.
Detroit (16 November 2017)
Detroit is set in the summer of 1967. As rioting and civil unrest starts to tear the city apart, a report of gunshots prompts the Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Army National Guard to search and seize an annex of the nearby Algiers Motel. Several policemen start to flout procedure by forcefully and viciously interrogating guests to get a confession. By the end of the night, three unarmed men are gunned down while several others are brutally beaten. Written by Mark Boal, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Will Poulter. Screening followed by Q&A with Mark Boal and Will Poulter, plus drinks reception.
Darkest Hour (27 October 2017)
During the early days of World War II, Britain faces its darkest hour as the threat of Nazi invasion looms. The fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of the newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman). Written by Anthony McCarten and directed by Joe Wright. Featuring a Q&A with Anthony McCarten, Joe Wright, Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Read a review by WGGB member Angela Elliott
Jawbone (24 October and 15 November 2017)
This brutal, poetic movie is inspired by the world of amateur boxing. It features Johnny Harris, Ray Winstone, Michael Smiley and Ian McShane, is written by Johnny Harris and directed by Thomas Napper.
The Florida Project (14 October 2017)
Directed by Sean Baker, co-written with Chris Bergoch and starring Willem Dafoe, the film tells the story of Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), a precocious six-year-old and her ragtag group of friends. The children’s summer break is filled with wonder, mischief and adventure, while the adults around them struggle with hard times. Followed by an audience Q&A.
Fire at Sea (15 February 2017)
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards 2017, Fire at Sea (directed by Gianfranco Rosi) focuses on the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have landed on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, a crucial stopover for refugees between Africa and Europe. On the same island, Italian families, like Samuele Pucillo’s, live quiet lives, seemingly untouched by their temporary neighbours’ trauma. Rosi places these realities side by side, creating a new narrative.
Nocturnal Animals (17 January 2017)
Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal star in this thriller, written and directed by Tom Ford, in which an art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband’s novel, which she interprets as being a veiled threat and act of revenge.
Loving (11 January 2017)
Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, Loving celebrates the real-life courage of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving (portrayed in the film by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga), who fell in love and were married in 1958. Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry.
Jackie (4 January 2017)
Jackie is a portrait of one of the most important moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Natalie Portman). Known for her dignity and poise, here we see a portrait of the First Lady after her husband’s assassination, as she struggles to maintain his legacy and the world of ‘Camelot’ that they created. Screenplay by Noah Oppenheim.
Fences (12, 17, 19 December 2016)
An African-American father struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life. Screenplay by August Wilson (adapted from his play). Directed by Denzel Washington.
Lion (23 November 2016)
Five-year-old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home. Screenplay by Luke Davies.
Hidden Figures (16 November 2016)
The incredible untold story of Katherine G Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanised the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. Screenplay by Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder.
The Crown (1 November 2016)
The Crown traces the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to the present day. Broadcast on Neflix it is due to run for an epic 60 episodes over six seasons. Written by Peter Morgan.
The Big Short (22 February 2016)
Exploring the financial crisis of 2007/8, The Big Short stars Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Steve Carrell and Ryan Gosling. It is based on the book by Michael Lewis and was adapted for screen by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, both of whom won a recent BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.
A Bigger Splash (7 February 2016)
The vacation of a famous rock star is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of an old friend and his daughter (screenplay by Dave Kajganich).
Brooklyn (5, 17 February 2016)
Brooklyn tells the story of a young Irish immigrant (Saoirse Ronan) arriving in Brooklyn in the 1950s, where she falls in love with an Italian plumber (Emory Cohen). As her past catches up with her, she has to make a choice between the two countries and lives that she exists within. The screenplay was written by Nick Hornby, adapted from the novel by Colm Toibin. It won Outstanding British Film at the 2016 BAFTAs.
Bridge of Spies (1 February 2016)
Bridge of Spies, written by Matt Charman, Ethan and Joel Cohen, is the story of James Donovan, an insurance claims lawyer from Brooklyn, who finds himself thrust into the centre of the Cold War when the CIA enlists his support to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan and Alan Alda, Bridge of Spies has been nominated for the 2016 Oscars (Best Picture). Read WGGB member Angela Elliott’s feature about the screening and Q&A.
Trumbo (14 January 2016)
Trumbo, written by John McNamara, tells the story of American screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, the most famous of the ‘Hollywood 10’ during the Communist witch hunts of the 1950s.
Starred Up (3 September 2015)
Writers’ Guild Award-winning Starred Up (Best New Screenplay) received a special screening at the Shortwave Cinema in London, followed by an ‘in conversation’ event with its writer Jonathan Asser and WGGB President Olivia Hetreed. Starred Up tells the story of Eric Love, a 19-year-old who is so violent he has been ‘starred up’ (moved to adult prison) where he finds the father he hasn’t seen since he was put into care at the age of five.
Photo: shutterstock.com/KEN226