Press room

This autumn the Barbican launches Our Screens Bring You Closer, a major campaign celebrating what makes our Cinema unique. At the heart of the campaign is of course the programme, and this October is no different. Barbican Cinema brings us Closer to Each Other with programmes such as Family Film Week and our Senior Community Screenings; Brings the World Closer with Film Africa and Rewriting the Rules, a major season of Indian Cinema from the 70s to the 90s; and Closer to the Unmissable with programmes for committed cinephiles including Cinema Restored and Doc’n’Roll Film Fest.

Festivals, Seasons and Special Events:

• Rewriting the Rules: Pioneering Indian Cinema after 1970 – Thu 3 Oct – Thu 12 Dec 
• Family Film Week 2024 – Sat 26 Oct – Sun 3 Nov 
• Doc’n Roll Film Fest – Thu 24 Oct – Sat 2 Nov   
• Film Africa – Wed 30 Oct – Sun 3 Nov

Regular Programme strands:

• Family Film Club – every Sat
• Cinema Restored: Der Kampf um den heiligen Baum/ The Battle of the Sacred Tree [35mm] – Thu 31 Oct 
• Senior Community Screenings: Evil Does Not Exist – Mon 14 Oct 
• Relaxed Screenings: Kensuke's Kingdom – Mon 14 Oct + Oska Bright: Animations – Mon 28 Oct
• Pay What You Can Screenings – Every Fri

Event Cinema:

• Royal Opera House Live: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland – Sun 20 Oct 

   

The October programme begins with Rewriting the Rules: Pioneering Indian Cinema after 1970, a three-month film season which explores the impact of Indian Parallel Cinema, one of South Asia’s first post-colonial film movements. Curated by Dr Omar Ahmed, this is an integral part of the Barbican’s major exhibition The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975-1998 (5 Oct ‘24 – 5 Jan ’25) and explores a period of significant cultural and political change in India’s recent history. 

The ever-popular Family Film Week returns during October half term, inspiring the next generation of film lovers with an international programme for children of all ages. Highlights include the recent hit animation Kensuke's Kingdom, and a 10th anniversary screening of the Oscar nominated Boy and the World, a touching coming-of-age animation from Brazil. 

The eleventh edition of Doc’n Roll Film Fest, the UK-wide premier Music Documentary Festival, also returns to the Barbican in October, with a lineup of six feature-length documentaries that delve deep into the world of alternative music and trailblazing artists. 

Further highlights this month also include Cinema Restored, which presents Der Kampf um den heiligen Baum(The Battle of the Sacred Tree), in which traditional African beliefs conflict with missionary domination in a rural Kenyan village; and Film Africa, London’s biggest biennial festival celebrating the best in African cinema, present two screenings at the Barbican as part of their UK-wide programme. 

Relaxed Screenings include Oska Bright: Animations and the compelling Kensuke's Kingdom, based on the best-selling children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo. 

Festivals, Seasons and Special Events 

Rewriting the Rules: Pioneering Indian Cinema after 1970 
Thu 3 Oct – Thu 12 Dec

Cinema 1 & 3

The documentary, narrative and experimental works (including many rarities) showcased in Rewriting the Rules are made by filmmakers who were not afraid to make bold aesthetic choices, often opting for a creative hybridity and experimentation that fused together aspects of Indian art and culture. Their works also gave agency to themes, narratives and groups who had often been rendered invisible or marginalised on screen, including women, Muslims, the lower castes, and LGBTQ people.  

Opening on 3 October with Interview (1971), with an introduction by season curator Dr Omar Ahmed, Mrinal Sen’s politically radical film about a young man whose job interview is thrown into chaos due to a strike; this follows with Yash Chopra’s major box-office hit The Wall (1975), one of the most significant and influential socio-political films of its time. 

Further screenings in October include Awatar Krishna Kaul’s noirish and naturalistic 27 Down (1974), a key work in the foundational years of Parallel Cinema, and This Bit of India, a programme of experimental films that map the post-colonial experience through the artist’s lens, with an introduction by curator Shai Heredia.

Over the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October, to mark the eve of the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali, and the Sikh celebration Bandi Chhor Divas, visitors can enjoy a focus on Indian culture with free entry to The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975-1998 in the art gallery. In the Cinemas curator Shai Heredia will introduce (in a pre-recorded video message) a special programme of experimental shorts This Bit of India, exploring youth culture, feminist solidarities and urbanization.

To view the full season press release: 
www.barbican.org.uk/our-story/press-room/rewriting-the-rules-pioneering-indian-cinema-after-1970 

 

Family Film Week 2024
Sat 26 Oct – Sun 3 Nov
Cinema 2 & 3 

The Barbican’s Family Film Week returns for another edition, featuring the best children’s films from around the world, new releases, special previews, activities, introductions and special events. 

Programme highlights include a special 10th Anniversary screening of the Oscar nominated coming of age story, Boy and the World. This dialogue free animation is a visually captivating journey from director Alê Abreu, with themes that will resonate with children and adults alike. 

There’s also the UK Premiere of The Pinchers' High VoltageHeist, this zany Swedish comedy-adventure is based on the popular children’s book by Anders Sparring and is packed with larger-than-life characters, jokes, intrigue and mystery, plus the quirky costumes and production design dazzle on the big screen. 

The full programme will be announced on Thu 26 Sep. 

Doc’n Roll Film Fest 2024: The UK’s Music Documentary Festival
Thu 24 Oct – Sat 2 Nov
Cinema 1 & 2

This year’s program includes one World, two UK, and three London premieres, accompanied by engaging post-screen Q&As. The spotlight shines on diverse and influential figures, including Peaches, Chris Gollon, Jackie Shane, Dory Previn, DEVO, and Barbara Dane.

From the boundary-pushing performances of Peaches in Teaches of Peaches (Germany 2024) to the vibrant life of British artist Chris Gollon in Chris Gollon: Life in Paint (UK 2024), this year’s films cover a rich tapestry of creative minds. Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (Canada 2024) brings to light the extraordinary journey of the Black trans soul singer, while Dory Previn: On the My to Where (US 2024) explores the life of the 1970s cult artist and Hollywood lyricist. The radical spirit of DEVO is captured in DEVO (US & UK 2024), and Barbara Dane’s groundbreaking artistry and activism are celebrated in The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane (US 2023).

These documentaries explore themes of gender identity, social justice and artistic rebellion, offering audiences a powerful glimpse into the lives of musicians and artists who have reshaped cultural norms and left an indelible mark on the music world.

For further information: www.docnrollfestival.com/ 
 

Film Africa
Wed 30 Oct – Sun 3 Nov

Cinema 2  

Film Africa is London’s biggest biennial festival celebrating the best African cinema from across the continent and diaspora, presented by the Royal African Society. Established in 2011, the festival brings diverse London and UK audiences a high quality and a wide-ranging film programme.

The full programme will be announced shortly. 

Regular Programme Strands

Family Film Club 

Every Sat, 11 am 
Cinema 2  

Barbican Cinema’s regular family strand takes place every Saturday morning. The programme includes new releases, archive classics, short films and international gems as well as live events, activities and a free monthly workshop at the end of the month. In October there’s the chance to catch up with popular summer titles audiences may have missed, including My Neighbour Totoro and Inside Out 2, as well as rarely seen international releases. 
The full programme will be online mid-September. 

Cinema Restored:

Der Kampf um den heiligen Baum (The Battle of the Sacred Tree) [35mm]

Germany 1995, Dir Wanjiru Kinyanjui, 82min
Thu 31 Oct, 6.45pm
Cinema 3 

Based on Barbara Kimenye's short story, the film follows Mumbi as she escapes her abusive husband in Nairobi and returns to her ancestral home. 

There, she clashes with a Christian women's group intent on wiping out pre-colonial beliefs, particularly setting their eyes on a revered tree believed to have supernatural powers. The film’s dialogue alternates between English and Kiswahili, enriched by the soundtrack of Senegalese musician Mamadou Mbaye. Shot entirely in Kenya with a local cast, Der Kampf um den heiligen Baum celebrates African storytelling and invites viewers to explore cultural identity and tradition.

Senior Community Screenings 
Welcoming 60+ cinema goers to watch the latest new releases every other Monday morning: 

Evil Does Not Exist
Japan 2023, Dir Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, 106min 
Mon 14 Oct, 11am
Cinema 3 

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi follows up his Oscar-winning film Drive My Car with a modern eco-fable that provides a compelling meditation on humanity’s relation to nature and an unnerving commentary on the price of progress.

 

Relaxed Screenings
Relaxed screenings take place in an environment that is specially tailored for a neurodiverse audience, as well as those who find a more informal setting beneficial:

Kensuke's Kingdom 
UK 2023, Dirs Neil Boyle & Kirk Hendry, 84min
Mon 14 Oct, 6.30pm 
Cinema 3 

A young boy finds himself washed ashore on an island in the Pacific, in this animated adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel. Starring Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins, Raffey Cassidy and Ken Watanabe.

 

Oska Bright: Animations
Mon 28 Oct, 6.30pm
Cinema 3 

Oska Bright's Animation Strand is back with a diverse range of styles and themes. Highlights include a paper cut-out that comes to life, bubble baths, and miniature model wonderlands. 

With less than 5% of disabled people working in the UK film industry, Oska Bright Film Festival is driven to make change happen. 

Working internationally with industry partners and funded by the BFI, our team produces the BAFTA and BIFA qualifying Oska Bright Film Festival, promotes accessible screenings, runs training for venues and develops skills for aspiring filmmakers. 

Pay What You Can Screenings
Every Friday one of the new release film screenings is priced Pay What You Can. 
This is for customers where ticket price may be a barrier, or for those who want to help others enjoy a visit to the cinema; audience members are invited to pay between £3-£15.

Event Cinema 

Royal Opera House Live:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (12A)

Sun 20 Oct, 2pm
Cinema 3 
Tumble down the rabbit hole in this ballet adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s famous family story in Christopher Wheeldon’s unique theatrical interpretation.