“If this ever gets weird, promise me we can just stop, as nothing is more important than loving you.”
These were the words of Omar Rodríguez-López to his childhood friend Cedric Bixler-Zavala in January 2000, on the eve of recording a breakthrough album that would change their lives forever. For a decade they stayed true to this pact, until it was spectacularly broken in a haze of deception, Scientology, death and betrayal. The friends then spent the following ten years trying to heal those wounds. This is a documentary film about the artistic and personal relationship between Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (At the Drive-In / The Mars Volta). It is also the story of two immigrant outsiders and their desire to create their own place in the world. Told almost entirely through a selection culled from hundreds of hours of intimate footage filmed by Rodríguez-López over the last 40 years, the documentary charts the duo’s intense and profound journey of friendship, brotherhood, love, fame, self-discovery, and sacrifice. A story like no other, the film unflinchingly tackles the greater themes of success, addiction, death, grief, tragedy, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption head on. An intimate portrait of a lifelong friendship and a look at the world through a whole new creative prism.

A loyal dog named Indy moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

Washed-up revolutionary Bob (DiCaprio) exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Infiniti). When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.

Directed by Benny Safdie (Good Time/Uncut Gems), The Smashing Machine stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt. In what is already being described as a transformative performance, Johnson plays legendary UFC fighter Mark Kerr as he battles intense personal struggles at the height of his career. 'The most raw and vulnerable that Johnson has ever been onscreen' - The Independent

TRON: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings. This is the third entry in the ground-breaking TRON series that started back in 1982, and follows the events of TRON: Legacy. TRON: Ares contains several sequences with flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photo sensitivities.

Urchin is the stunning directorial debut from Harris Dickinson, powered by an outstanding, award-winning performance from Frank Dillane. Mike (Dillane), a rough sleeper on the streets of London, is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction as he attempts to turn his life around. Moving between short-term jobs and small-time hustles, he must balance the hopeful rush of a fresh start with a past that is holding him back. By turns exhilarating and poetic, Urchin is a bold, vibrant and utterly unmissable portrait of life on the margins.

D(e)ad is a film written by Izzy Roland, directed by Claudia Lonow (her mom!) and starring her family and Dropout favorites Brennan Lee Mulligan, Vic Michaelis, and more! About D(e)ad: Tillie (Isabella Roland), a floundering young woman and her charismatic, alcoholic father (Craig Bierko), struggle to resolve their fractured relationship in the weirdest possible way: after he dies, his ghost appears in mirrors to haunt everyone in the family but Tillie. Tillie’s sister, Violet (Vic Michaelis), mother (Claudia Lonow), grandparents (Mark Lonow and Joanne Astrow), stepfather (Jonathan Schmock), and even Violet’s free-spirited baby daddy (Nick Marini), must do everything they can to make Tillie see her father… even employing a very reform rabbi (Eddie Peppitone) to exorcize him… or else they will be plagued by this ghost forever.

A loyal dog named Indy moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

Washed-up revolutionary Bob (DiCaprio) exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Infiniti). When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.

TRON: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings. This is the third entry in the ground-breaking TRON series that started back in 1982, and follows the events of TRON: Legacy. TRON: Ares contains several sequences with flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photo sensitivities.

Urchin is the stunning directorial debut from Harris Dickinson, powered by an outstanding, award-winning performance from Frank Dillane. Mike (Dillane), a rough sleeper on the streets of London, is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction as he attempts to turn his life around. Moving between short-term jobs and small-time hustles, he must balance the hopeful rush of a fresh start with a past that is holding him back. By turns exhilarating and poetic, Urchin is a bold, vibrant and utterly unmissable portrait of life on the margins.

A black doctor develops a pioneering serum and tests it on himself, turning him into a white monster with a diabolical lust for murder.

"A MONSTER HE CAN'T CONTROL... HAS TAKEN OVER HIS VERY SOUL!"

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

In William Crain’s infamous blaxploitation schlocker — DR. BLACK, MR HYDE aka ‘Decision For Doom’ (1976) — black scientist Dr. Henry Pryde (Bernie Casey) perfects a serum that has the potential to reverse liver damage. Beginning an unorthodox series of experiments, Pryde tests the serum on himself. The results are disastrous… transforming him into a hulking, white-skinned murdering lunatic!

Blaxploitation films — “black-cast or black-themed films “ that were “heavily promoted to young, inner-city, black audiences” — hail from a short-lived era in the 1970s that film historian Josiah Howard calls “America’s one and only African-American motion picture boom” (Blaxploitation Cinema). DR. BLACK, MR HYDE is one of the few films made by a black director, William Crain, who also directed another of the sub-genre’s stand-out horror titles, BLACULA (1972). Blaxploitation films remain controversial for stereotypical representation of black lives, frequent misogyny and homophobia. You have been warned!

Featured special makeup effects artist: Makeup and special effects legend Stan Winston’s iconic creations can be seen in blockbusters like the TERMINATOR series, the first three JURASSIC PARK films, BATMAN RETURNS and EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. But every career starts somewhere, and DR. BLACK, MR HYDE is among his early career credits.

Polite notice: We are projecting DR BLACK, MR HYDE without subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

A loyal dog named Indy moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

Washed-up revolutionary Bob (DiCaprio) exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Infiniti). When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.

Directed by Benny Safdie (Good Time/Uncut Gems), The Smashing Machine stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt. In what is already being described as a transformative performance, Johnson plays legendary UFC fighter Mark Kerr as he battles intense personal struggles at the height of his career. 'The most raw and vulnerable that Johnson has ever been onscreen' - The Independent

TRON: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings. This is the third entry in the ground-breaking TRON series that started back in 1982, and follows the events of TRON: Legacy. TRON: Ares contains several sequences with flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photo sensitivities.

Urchin is the stunning directorial debut from Harris Dickinson, powered by an outstanding, award-winning performance from Frank Dillane. Mike (Dillane), a rough sleeper on the streets of London, is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction as he attempts to turn his life around. Moving between short-term jobs and small-time hustles, he must balance the hopeful rush of a fresh start with a past that is holding him back. By turns exhilarating and poetic, Urchin is a bold, vibrant and utterly unmissable portrait of life on the margins.

A loyal dog named Indy moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

Presented by Cult Classic Collective the screening is followed by a panel discussion with Nick Walker. An unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover; demons are pursuing him after he escaped their sadomasochistic underworld.

Washed-up revolutionary Bob (DiCaprio) exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Infiniti). When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.

TRON: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings. This is the third entry in the ground-breaking TRON series that started back in 1982, and follows the events of TRON: Legacy. TRON: Ares contains several sequences with flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photo sensitivities.

Urchin is the stunning directorial debut from Harris Dickinson, powered by an outstanding, award-winning performance from Frank Dillane. Mike (Dillane), a rough sleeper on the streets of London, is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction as he attempts to turn his life around. Moving between short-term jobs and small-time hustles, he must balance the hopeful rush of a fresh start with a past that is holding him back. By turns exhilarating and poetic, Urchin is a bold, vibrant and utterly unmissable portrait of life on the margins.

Kartik & Aman's relationship is tested when one of them has a fling which leads to a domestic spat. Kartik's parents' relationship breaks apart when Damodar and Vasudha have a tiff. Will these two couples ever be able resolve their differences? Will their relationships stand the test of time? Kuch Sapney Apne is a sensitive heartwarming film about relationships, queer or not, and what happens when relationships are challenged by uncomfortable truths.

Under The Open Sky is a beautifully-crafted observational documentary that offers a rare, intimate portrait of a nomadic camel-herding family in the desert lands of Western India. Spanning five years, the film follows Ahmed and his family, as they face an existential dilemma: to continue their traditional way of life or to adapt to a rapidly modernising world. The film traces their quiet but powerful struggle to hold onto their ancestral way of life as they are increasingly displaced by industrialisation, climate shifts, and economic pressures.

In a sedate corner of Massachusetts circa 1970, an unemployed carpenter turned amateur art thief plans his first big heist. When things go haywire, his life unravels. Preview offered as part of BFI London Film Festival

The UK premiere of American feature film, Water Girl.

From spooky screams to donut dreams, join us upstairs at the bar for an evening in Springfield! Dr. Nick will be on hand to keep you laughing louder than Krusty’s cackle, cheering like it’s Duff Happy Hour, and scheming like Sideshow Bob with a vendetta.

Expect Flaming Moe cocktails, delightfully dark episodes, a Simpsons quiz with awesome prizes up for grabs, and a game that’s sure to make Chief Wiggum turn up. Whether you’re a Lisa-level genius, a Bart-style prankster, or just here to yell “D’oh!” with the crowd, this night will be more fun than a monorail ride.

Tickets are FREE (with just a £1.50 booking fee) — woohoo!

Photographer and activist Misan Harriman, documents the global impact of protest movements, capturing the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice in the year he's nominated for an Oscar.

Shoot The People (directed by Andy Mundy-Castle) is a documentary capturing photographer and activist Misan Harriman’s journey documenting global protest movements that drive social change. Following Harriman as he highlights the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice, the film showcases the intersectionality of these movements and their collective power. With historical context, interviews with activists, and explorations of digital activism, the documentary reveals how Harriman's lens brings the world's activism to light, inspiring viewers to recognize their own power in shaping a more just society.

Andy Mundy-Castle is a BAFTA and RTS-winning producer whose credits include the critically acclaimed 'White Nanny, Black Child' (Channel 5/BFI) and The Fade (Netflix) - both previously screened as BUFF official selections.

Where is home for you? Home is… family, language, memory, and the places we fight to belong. This strand brings together stories of resilience and identity, asking what home means when it’s fragile, lost, or reimagined.

Films featured:

THE PROFESSIONAL PARENT
Where are you really from?
Brumdog
Two Breaths
LARGO

The double UK Premiere of American documentary ‘How to Sue the Klan’ and Ugandan Documentary ‘HOPE - a future beyond rape, murder and war crimes’

Stories of queer love — new, hidden, and forbidden — showing that desire and discovery cross every border.

Films featured:

MAGID / ZAFAR
Arman
Silver Static
Pulling Away
The Lime Green
Shirt
Homecoming
No Place For A
Kid

Filmed over three nights at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre in 2024, Mitski: The Land captures the artist at the height of her musical powers, showcasing music from “The Land Is Inhospitable snd So Are We” alongside re-workings and re-imaginings of songs from her expansive career.

Drawing on 20 years of home videos, this blend of fact and fiction follows three horror-obsessed friends on an ecstatic journey into their personal and supernatural fears when they find themselves embroiled in a real-life scary movie.

The screening of UK Feature Film: Heavyweight. A gripping sports drama where a young boxer must confront past traumas and inner demons before stepping into the ring.

Intimate settings become pressure cookers in these films, where characters face buried secrets, shifting identities, and the turning points that reshape their lives.

Films featured:

Shrapnel
Last Resort
Odette
THAT DOOR
The Last Dance

From the boxing ring to the running track and the skatepark, these films capture the grit, sacrifice, and determination it takes to chase a dream—and the personal battles faced along the way

Films featured:

On The Ropes
Stride
Skategoat

Introducing the London Premiere of Skategoat:

Leandre Sanders was born in Venice Beach, LA, into a world of gangs and crime.
While his older brothers joined the family gang life, Leandre spent his time at Venice Beach skatepark with his younger brother Leontay. He caught the eye of filmmaker Van Alpert.
Over twelve years, Van documented Leandre’s struggle to perfect his skating and to survive. At 14-years old, Leandre was forced to leave his family, and lived 'homeless' at the skate park. Despite this adversity, Leandre never lost his drive to skate…
Set against the visually palpable decline of LA, Van charts Leandre’s journey to fame.
The result is a gritty reflection of what it takes to make it in the skating world – and what it takes to survive as a disadvantaged kid in the United States.
SKATEGOAT is a story about the streets told from the streets, that proves anyone can seize their dream.

From viral scandals to virtual love, artificial intelligence to the end of Earth itself, this strand explores how technology reshapes who we are, how we connect, and where we might be headed next.

Films featured:

Smokescreen
Wish You Were Here
Alleged
Iris
Last Night in Irl
OK/NOTOK
The Launch
How The World Is Going To End

A kidnapped diver is taken to an island inhabited by a mad scientist and his half-animal, half-human creations.

“TEST TUBE TERRORS. HALF BEAST... ALL MONSTER!”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

Eddie Romero was THE great midnight movie auteur of the Philippines. After completing his infamous Blood Island trilogy, he melded THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1932) and ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932) into a scandalously manimalistic amalgamation of both that’s somehow like nothing else you’ll ever see. With imaginative makeup effects by another Filipino exploitation industry stalwart — Tony Artieda — the island’s subhuman menagerie includes an airborne man-bat (Tony Gosalvaz) and the incomparable Pam Grier as Ayesa, The Panther Woman, in one of her earliest movie appearances. This is also one of the best alternative uses of Neil Grant Richardson’s library music “Approaching Menace” which you’ll probably better know as the opening theme for TV quiz show MASTERMIND!

“While the plot rarely rises above its schlocky parameters, Tony Artieda’s creature designs survive on sheer gusto and energetic performances from the cast, with future star Grier’s full-tilt inhabitation of the feral cat-woman and Tony Gosalvaz’s laughter/cheer-inducing flight lodging firmly in the memory banks.” (Horror 101)

Featured special makeup effects artist: Tony Artieda (occasionally credited as ‘Antonio’) worked in the Filipino exploitation film industry across 5 decades including cult classics THE BLOOD DRINKERS (1964), BEAST OF BLOOD (1970), BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT (1971), BEYOND ATLANTIS (1973), and DRIVING FORCE (1989).

Polite notice: We are projecting the English language dub of THE TWILIGHT PEOPLE with subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

Blending the personal and the fantastical, these animated tales trace the moments of change that define us, offering glimpses into identity, resilience, and the many ways we learn to be.

Films featured:

Cave
THE NAME
Bubble Boy
Mother’s Child
Hot Mess
Consumed
A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m A Lesbian
Two Black Boys In Paradise
Gardening
The 12 inch Pianist
The Eating of an Orange

The screening of Ghanaian feature film ‘ The Fisherman’. A whimsical and heartwarming story of a retired Ghanaian fisherman whose life is turned upside down by a talking fish, leading to laughter, chaos, and a quest to reclaim his dreams.

These films explore the bonds, burdens, and legacies passed between generations—fathers, grandfathers, and children navigating love, loss, and the courage it takes to heal and let go.

Films featured:

Violin Boy
Sunshine
Sins of a Father
Sugar Dumplin
Father’s Son
Irpinia

The Screening of UK Short Film ‘Under The Gun’ a crime film starring David Haye with his acting debut - and Documentary: The Banjo Boys. A vibrant documentary tracing Madalitso Band’s journey from Malawian street corners to the world stage, capturing their struggles, resilience, and the unifying power of music.

The climax to BUFF's 20th anniversary - be part of the UK’s premier celebration of diversity and representation at the annual British Urban Film Festival Awards. Enjoy the legendary BUFF experience, including full red carpet, live ceremony and official after party.

Guests attending the event help support the legacy of the British Urban Film Festival as it enters its 3rd decade and consolidate its place at the heart of the global creative community.

Ceremony host: Linda E ("This is My House")

Stage guests: Aml Ameen ("Rustin", "Boxing Day"), Femi Oyeniran (BUFF honorary recipient)

Afterparty (23:00 - 01:00)

Dress code: Black & Gold/Black or Gold
Gentlemen: Black Tie/Tuxedo
Ladies: Evening Dress/Ball Gown

General public
Ceremony tickets (inclusive of afterparty)
Standard (Doors, 18:00): £20
Drinks reception ticket (Doors, 18:00): £30
VIP ticket (Doors, 18:00): £40

Event is subject to change. All sales are non refundable unless the event is cancelled, or there was a complete failure to deliver the advertised event that was purchased by the participant.

Filmed over three nights at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre in 2024, Mitski: The Land captures the artist at the height of her musical powers, showcasing music from “The Land Is Inhospitable snd So Are We” alongside re-workings and re-imaginings of songs from her expansive career.

The London 48 Hour Film Project returns for its 20th edition, presenting 22 brand-new short films — each conceived, written, shot and edited in just one weekend.

Fuelled by creativity, collaboration, and caffeine, filmmaking teams rose to the ultimate challenge, delivering bold, inventive work bursting with talent.

From laugh-out-loud comedies and powerful dramas to imaginative thrillers and daring experiments, this premiere showcases a dazzling spectrum of storytelling from London’s vibrant independent film scene.

Experience all 22 films on the big screen, celebrate the filmmakers’ incredible achievements, and see which teams claim top honours and the chance to represent London on the international stage at Filmapalooza.

Led by Victor, a versatile Artist and passionate African drummer, this workshop invites you to experience the joy of rhythm in a fun and welcoming space. With years of experience performing and teaching, Victor makes drumming accessible through play, experimentation, and community spirit.

There are two sessions to choose from:
Family Session (all ages welcome) – a lively experience perfect for children and adults to enjoy drumming together.
16+ Session – an energetic class for teens and adults to explore African rhythms and learn exciting djembe patterns.

Led by Victor, a versatile Artist and passionate African drummer, this workshop invites you to experience the joy of rhythm in a fun and welcoming space. With years of experience performing and teaching, Victor makes drumming accessible through play, experimentation, and community spirit.

There are two sessions to choose from:
Family Session (all ages welcome) – a lively experience perfect for children and adults to enjoy drumming together.
16+ Session – an energetic class for teens and adults to explore African rhythms and learn exciting djembe patterns.

This is Hollywood baby! The promise of finding fame under the lights of one of its sound stages, finding a good night out in West Hollywood, and finding a ripped vers surfer on a Santa Monica beach has lured many a gay man. Just as in mainstream culture, California has long been dominant in the production and dissemination of gay pornography, selling the state not just as the site of beautiful bodies, but promising a lifestyle of liberation and community.

But where do you go when that utopian image you’ve been sold doesn’t come true, whether you’re consuming those images or hoping to be featured in them? What happens when you’re spent and tossed aside, like a tissue in a teenage bedroom? The films in this programme both draw on the hold California has had over gay media, in particular gay porn, and use this to create a critical discourse around how this media is created and consumed.

Victim of Circumstance sees Scott and Brandon meet in the 1980s at an orphanage. Lured by a magazine, they make their way, some months apart, to the California they see depicted in its pages.Told through a hi-intensity assemblage of found material from gay porn videos and magazines of the period, some things altogether more unsettling come to emerge from amongst the images of the Sunshine State’s sun-kissed twinks.

William E Jones’ essay film Finished is a detective story and a love story, a film noir bathed in the sunlight of tapes. An unseen narrator looks into what happened to Alan Lambert, a porn performer who he’s taken rather a liking to. A proto-parasocial relationship forms as they discover Lambert’s suicide shortly after being told he was finished in the industry, aged 25. Through clips of Lambert’s appearances and footage related to his life, a portrait of two obsessions emerges: Lambert’s almost messianic visions of grandeur and Jones’ searching desire to re-animate his subject.

Films that Fuck is an irregular screening series organised by Siavash Minoukadeh exploring uses of pornographic material in moving image practices. Taking place in cinemas and away from the restrictions of the Online Safety Act, the series creates a space for critical discussions around pornography as artistic medium.

Thanks to: Ana Lopez Masek, María Palacios Cruz, Tony Nguyen, Mark Webber

Victim of Circumstance | Kalil Haddad | Canada | 2024 | 22’ | Digital | Courtesy of the filmmaker
Finished | William E. Jones | USA | 1997 | 75’ | 16mm, transferred to digital | courtesy of the filmmaker and David Kordansky Gallery

Content warning: This programme contains intense, sustained strobe lighting and flashing images. Contains full-frontal nudity and sexual scenes.

TFF Short Film Competition:

A Phone Call by Kunchok Rabten (India), 14:14
A Night Garden by Tenzin Gyaphel (Belgium), 4:55
Butter Tea by Tenzin Wangchuk Tasur (USA), 10:42
Lobsang on Camera by Migmar Jannot (France), 14:40
My Sister by Phakpa Kyap (Tibet), 3:24
The Curse by Tenzin Gurmey (Belgium), 7:32
Shabnam by Tenzin Kuntse Gyephel (USA), 9:10
We Run For Tibet by Dominik Kelsang Erne (Switzerland), 6”

My Sweet Pala
Directed by Tao Okamoto (USA), 22”

The Tibet Film Festival returns to the Genesis Cinema! Following successful screenings in Zurich and Dharamsala, we're bringing you an unmissable program of eight preselected films from our Short Film Competition. The Tibet Film Festival Short Film Competition is a vital, bi-annual event that serves as the premiere platform for emerging Tibetan filmmakers to share their stories with the world. Join us to watch all eight films and cast your vote for the London Audience Award. At this screening we will also announce the 2025 Jury Award winner.

This screening will also host the UK Premiere of Tao Okamoto's compelling short film, My Sweet Pala. Born to Tibetan immigrants in the United States, eleven-year-old Pema grows up in a sheltered, close-knit community, constantly cared for by her overprotective father. But an unexpected event shatters her familiar world and reveals the harsh realities from which her father has protected her.

We will also be joined by special guest Wangpo Tethong, co-founder of the Tibet Film Festival in Zurich in 2009.

For more information on the short films please visit: https://www.tibetfilmfestival.org/2025-preselection
Follow Tibet Film Festival on Instagram @tibetfilmfestival

Led by Victor, a versatile Artist and passionate African drummer, this workshop invites you to experience the joy of rhythm in a fun and welcoming space. With years of experience performing and teaching, Victor makes drumming accessible through play, experimentation, and community spirit.

There are two sessions to choose from:
Family Session (all ages welcome) – a lively experience perfect for children and adults to enjoy drumming together.
16+ Session – an energetic class for teens and adults to explore African rhythms and learn exciting djembe patterns.

Led by Victor, a versatile Artist and passionate African drummer, this workshop invites you to experience the joy of rhythm in a fun and welcoming space. With years of experience performing and teaching, Victor makes drumming accessible through play, experimentation, and community spirit.

There are two sessions to choose from:
Family Session (all ages welcome) – a lively experience perfect for children and adults to enjoy drumming together.
16+ Session – an energetic class for teens and adults to explore African rhythms and learn exciting djembe patterns.

Seasonal Affective Cinema is a quarterly film club screening films that aesthetically and thematically reflect the changing of the seasons. Join us for a sumptuous induction into autumn with a screening of Todd Haynes’ homage to Hollywood melodrama, Far From Heaven.

Julianne Moore plays Cathy Whitaker, a 1950s housewife with the “perfect” life: she has a successful husband (Dennis Quaid), lives in a beautiful suburban home, and is the pinnacle of her New England social scene. But Cathy’s carefully constructed world is shattered when her husband’s secret desires are exposed and she finds herself falling for her gardener, Raymond (Dennis Haysbert). Confronted by prejudice, gossip, and rigid social codes, Cathy has to choose between the comfort of conformity and the risk of desire.

Haynes (Carol, Safe) crafts a stunning homage to the lush melodramas of Douglas Sirk, filling the film with saturated autumnal hues, heightened emotions, and a gorgeously stylised production design. But beneath the beauty is a portrait of repression, longing, and change. Amongst the falling leaves, Cathy’s world shifts too — turning seasonal imagery into a poignant metaphor for personal transformation.

Follow us on Instagram and Substack: @seasonalaffectivecinema

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! — a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

MYSTERY HORROR FILM night is always popular at BAR TRASH where we only reveal the title when we press play! What celluloid atrocity will Token Homo unveil this time…? All we can say is that it will be an exploitation movie linked to our season theme… But that doesn’t help much does it?

What we can say is that we will be joined by Geremi So, a Hong Kong-born creative with over five years experience as a freelance makeup and prosthetics artist based in London. They are skilled in costume design, propwork, and visual art through their decade long of experience in cosplay and fine art, as well as their recent foray into cabaret and drag artistry under the pseudonym Ren Carnation. They have a passion for work focused on queer and global majority stories, and finding spaces in film and theatre for those who often aren’t seen in their field.

Polite notice: We are projecting our MYSTERY HORROR FILM with subtitles from the best available digital source. No refunds if you’ve already seen it (or just don’t fancy it).

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london

A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast.

A rare screening of the extended cut of Halloween (1978). Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

ReelIn UK presents a theatrical showcase of shorts, featuring three bold, multiple award-winning short films that explore the emotional landscapes of modern India.

Anchoring the event is Harij Weds Sajili, a darkly satirical and emotionally charged film about a young bride who fakes her suicide, with the help of a sex worker, to escape a violent arranged marriage, executive produced by British Actor Nitin Ganatra and Oscar Winner Nani Sahra Walker.

Oscar Qualifying, The Golden Cage unfolds in a crumbling Kolkata mansion in 1989, where the last members of a once-affluent family grapple with the decision to sell their ancestral home.

Shera, directed by Arun Fulara, offers a tender counterpoint: in a remote Himalayan village, 11-year-old Monu fears he’ll never see the elusive leopard that haunts his dreams as his family prepares to migrate to the city. His best friend Raju sets out to give him one last glimpse, as a parting gift.

The screening will be followed by an in-depth Q&A and audience interaction with visiting filmmaker Prataya Saha, director of Harij Weds Sajili and The Golden Cage.

A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR GENESIS AUDIENCES !

In a pioneering collaboration, The Run interactive film will have a 2 month residency at the Genesis Cinema, London from October 31st to December 31st

From Halloween to the New Year.

Directed by Paul Raschid, one of the leading voices in interactive filmmaking, The Run breaks new ground in horror storytelling. The film stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Strike Back) and George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles) with cameos from Dario Argento (the master director of horror films) and Franco Nero (the Italian screen legend) in a high-stakes, immersive experience where the audience plays a pivotal role in determining the protagonist’s fate.

The Run is set on a remote running trail in the stunning Lake Garda region of Northern Italy, where a famous fitness influencer’s morning run becomes a race for survival when she is hunted by seemingly motiveless killers. The audience must choose her next move by majority vote using glowsticks. Each decision shaping the story’s outcome in real time.

The Run is thrilling film festival audiences at Raindance London, Motelx Lisbon, Dinard Brittany and Imagine Amsterdam before taking up residence at the Genesis which is in Jack the Ripper’s backyard of Whitechapel!!

This is the third collaboration between Paul Raschid and Genesis Cinema after The Gallery in 2023 and Hello Stranger in April 2025.

The Genesis team believe that “the interactive film is not a gimmick but potentially a film movement that offers an exciting new experience for the film fan”.

KEY CREDITS.
Cast : Roxanne Mckee, George Blagden, Franco Nero, Dario Argento.
Writer & Director : Paul Raschid.
Production Company : Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions.
Distributor : Paul Raschid Media (PRM) Ltd.

In a Sudan torn apart by years of war, become immersed in the daily fight of young Sudanese activists, yearning for freedom and reform. Both harrowing and rousing, their fight reminds us of the human ability to find hope in the most oppressive of circumstances. ‘Sudan, Remember Us’ bears witness to a lost revolution and within it unearths a tribute to the power of creativity as a tool of survival and resistance.

The Palestine Exception unfolds as a story of college campuses as sites of both rebellion and repression, places where personal and collective histories converge in unexpected ways.

The largest anti-war movement since the 1970s unfolds on U.S. college campuses in 2023–24: The Palestine Exception traces a new wave of student activism, as long-silenced taboos on critiquing Israel’s policies – “Palestine exception” – are shattered. Students and scholars demand divestment from companies linked to Israel and call for a ceasefire in Gaza, facing waves of crackdown from administrators, the media and the police and politicians.

This session will be followed by a screen talk with director Janice Haaken.

About the festival:

London Palestine Film Festival (LPFF) presents its 2025 edition showcasing some of this year’s most anticipated new releases reflecting on Palestine. LPFF aims to present stories of political realities as experienced by Palestinians at home and in the diaspora through the creative lens of cinema.
https://www.palestinefilm.org.uk

Filmed a decade apart, two powerful titles trace the rise of skateboarding in Palestine, from its grassroots birth under occupation to one athlete’s journey of resistance on the road to the Olympic qualifiers.

Epicly Palestine’d
United Kingdom, 2015, Phillip Joa and Theo Krish, 27’

Filmed in 2015 primarily on phones, with zero budget, Epicly Palestine’d is a short documentary capturing the birth of Palestine’s skate scene. With no equipment, no facilities and no blueprint, a small group of teenagers make history by becoming Palestine’s first skateboarders. Despite the challenges of living under military occupation, they set out to build a community from scratch – planting the seeds for what, nearly a decade later, would lead to Palestine’s first Olympic skateboarder.

EXIST
Sweden, 2025, Markus Bengtsson and Viktor Telegin, 40’

EXIST follows Palestinian skateboarder, Aram Sabbah, in the weeks leading up to the Olympic qualifiers in Dubai. Leaving his war-torn homeland, Aram isn’t chasing medals, he’s carrying the mantle for Palestine with a drive to send a message – Palestine exists beyond media headlines and nameless statistics. Through skateboarding, Aram defines the forces that seek to silence and erase his people, offering instead resilience and a quiet resistance built on presence, passion and hope.

This session will be followed by a screen talk with Nora Lagström Jebara, Theo Krish (SkatePal) and Viktor Telegin, hosted by Manal Massalha. 

About the festival:

London Palestine Film Festival (LPFF) presents its 2025 edition showcasing some of this year’s most anticipated new releases reflecting on Palestine. LPFF aims to present stories of political realities as experienced by Palestinians at home and in the diaspora through the creative lens of cinema.
https://www.palestinefilm.org.uk

This double bill explores Palestinian resilience: from daily resistance under occupation to a family’s return to their ancestral home, showing how their bond with the land nurtures heritage and ensures survival of all life on its soil.

‘48: Resisting the Big Settlement
Greece, 2025, Team 218, 78’
Filmed in the occupied West Bank in 2022, 48: Resisting the Big Settlement documents the everyday realities of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Through interviews with men, women and children in Nabi Saleh, Hebron, Jenin, and Sheikh Jarrah, the film captures stories of land seizures, bans on free movement, checkpoints, imprisonment and killings of their loved ones. What emerges is a collective narrative of Palestinian resistance as a daily, lived practice of survival and defiance.

Where the Wind Blows
Palestine, 2024, Hana Elias, 18'
After 50 years in New York, Nassib Elias returns to his Palestinian hometown of Shefa-’Amr to revive his ancestral garden. Filmmaker Hana Elias intimately captures her family’s search for belonging as they restore the land and tend the garden using traditional agricultural methods during their first olive harvest. Over one seasonal cycle, Where the Wind Blows uncovers the nuanced social ties that bind the family to the land, showing how this connection sustains both their heritage and the survival of all living things intertwined with the soil.

About the festival:

London Palestine Film Festival (LPFF) presents its 2025 edition showcasing some of this year’s most anticipated new releases reflecting on Palestine. LPFF aims to present stories of political realities as experienced by Palestinians at home and in the diaspora through the creative lens of cinema.
https://www.palestinefilm.org.uk

Genesis Cinema and SwingdanceUK invite you along to our monthly Swing dance night!
Learn the steps Swing Dance Class 7.30-8.30pm with Simon!
Followed by dancing led by resident DJ Simon Selmon & guest DJs playing great dance music of the 30s, 40s & 50s & beyond for Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Shag & Balboa dancers!
A chilled atmosphere where you can meet friends, relax, enjoy a drink or a tasty pizza and dance the night away!

7.30pm Beginners Lindy Hop Class Pre-booking recommended
8.30pm Dancing with resident DJ Simon 'Mr Kicks' Selmon & special guest DJs - all welcome!

Last Entry 9.30 pm

Website: https://swingdanceuk.com/socials/some-like-it-swing/

CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.

CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.

Silents Synced pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music to bring audiences a unique big screen experience. Buster Keaton’s 1924 comedy classic is reimagined with R.E.M. 's alt-rock masterpieces Monster (1994) and New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). In this sublime comedy teetering between reality and illusion, Buster Keaton stars as a film projectionist who dreams of becoming a detective. He uses his limited skills when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend’s father’s pocket watch. Keaton reportedly broke his neck performing one of the many dangerous practical stunts in the film. Whether you’re a movie lover or a rock music fan this is an experience you won’t want to miss!!