32nd Chichester International Film Festival Brochure

9-25 August 2024

We understand that family is the most important thing in your life. So it’s good to know that, with the right advice, protecting them can be easy should the unthinkable happen. Together we can understand your needs, discuss all the options and most importantly, find the protection solutions that are right for you reflecting your circumstances and aspirations. We can’t prevent the unexpected from happening, but we can make sure you’re fully prepared to face the future if it does. Let’s start a conversation today!

Spread the cinema love

WALTER FRANCISCO

Festival Director Introduction

I am delighted – and humbled – to be taking on the responsibility of programming the 32nd Chichester International Film Festival. A Festival that has garnered so much attention and praise from both the UK and abroad, due mainly to Roger Gibson’s tireless work as Artistic Director since the inaugural Festival in 1992. I thank Roger for everything he has taught me since my arrival in Chichester in 2003.

My initial focus is to spread this love of film that I see on a day-to-day basis at Chichester Cinema, and by going out to more venues in the region, this Film Festival can be the vehicle to achieve this objective. This year we are collaborating with The Spring Arts Centre (Havant), The Havana Bar (Chichester), The Windmill Cinema (Littlehampton), St. Paul’s Church (Chichester) and El Matador (Chichester), all for the first time, and we will be returning to St. John’s Chapel (Chichester) and Priory Park (Chichester) for one of our silent films and open air screenings respectively. As for new film choices, you can expect many premieres and previews from Europe especially, as well as a great selection from the rest of the world. Many films may not be screened here in the UK – so make the most of your opportunity this August, as you may not get it again. In the same vein, look out for the visiting filmmakers whom we are delighted to host, and do join us in giving them a very warm Chichester welcome.

Most of our past visiting filmmakers have made a point of saying how much they enjoyed their visit, and how an audience with so much love and knowledge of film gives them a rewarding and refreshing experience. The retrospective part of the Festival is made up of a focus on the work of three giants (in their own way) of cinema. Marlon Brando, who would have been 100 this year, needs no introduction. Greta Gerwig exploded last year with ‘Barbie’, and we will focus on her work not only as a director, but also as a writer and actress – she truly is the “modern-day triple threat”. We also present five films from Aki Kaurismäki, the master of droll cinema who gave us ‘Fallen Leaves’ at the end of 2023. You must excuse my indulgence, but I have also chosen strands focusing on music films (Sound & Vision), a genre I have always loved, as well as the cinema of Spain and Portugal, a vibrant and passionate selection that is very close to my heart. Our final strand is another centenary celebration, not of a person, but of the two giants of golden-age Hollywood –MGM and Columbia Studios - between them, responsible for countless classics that we will all be aware of, and frequently even be able to recite whole scenes from memory.

I truly hope that you will enjoy this year’s Chichester International Film Festival, an event of immense scale staged by a skilful and extremely dedicated team of film lovers. Just as I keep saying (to anyone who will listen!), that film is the most collaborative of all art forms, everyone involved in producing this event (cinema staff, trustees, volunteers, patrons, sponsors, partner venues, and also you, the viewers) hope that it will not only be a huge success, but will also spread the love of this art form to which we are all addicted.

See you at the Cinema Walter Francisco, Festival Director July 2024

OPENING GALA

Wed 14 Aug 18:30

Dinner from 18:30 / Film from 20:30

Tickets £39

UK Premiere THE CRIME IS MINE

MON CRIME

Sat 17 Aug 13:15

Film Only – Tickets £11

François Ozon’s latest film is a joyous comedy set in 1935 Paris, which sees a young actress acquitted of murdering a famous French producer. However, this is where the story just begins. Madeleine (Nadia Tereszkiewicz), a pretty, young, penniless and talentless actress, is accused of murdering a famous producer (Jean-Christophe Bouvet). Helped by her best friend Pauline (Rebecca Marder), a young unemployed lawyer, she is acquitted on the grounds of self-defence. A new life of fame and success begins, until the truth comes out. French A-listers Isabelle Huppert (a silent movie queen), Fabrice Luchini (the pedantic magistrate) and Danny Boon (a suave bon vivant) complete the cast. This is a funny, beautifully charismatic film, full of brilliant characters, gorgeous costumes and captivating production design. It is a delicious bit of feel-good French farce from master director François Ozon. (Subtitles)

FRANCE 2023 FRANÇOIS OZON 102M

CLOSING GALA

Sun 25 Aug 18:30

Dinner from 18:30 / Film from 20:30

UK

Premiere

BOLÉRO

The boundary-pushing Ida Rubinstein selects Maurice Ravel to compose the music for her next ballet, leading to the creation of his greatest and most timeless success ever – Boléro. 1927 Paris: Insomniac Ravel (the excellent Raphaël Personnaz), a composer famous the world over but also criticised for a style deemed unemotional, is commissioned to write a composition for a ballet by the impetuous choreographer Ida Rubinstein (a scene-stealing Jeanne Balibar) – a woman of turbans and cigarette holders and theatrical exhortations that the music be “Carnal! Bewitching! Erotic!”. Ravel’s genius masked a single-minded faith in his own perfectionist process, so exacting that the critiques of others did not mean that much. Emerging after Boléro’s successful 1928 debut, Ravel even acknowledges to his friend Cipa (Vincent Perez) that it will probably become his masterwork, adding dryly, “Pity it lacks music”. We are delighted to screen the UK Premiere of this elegantly framed period portrait of the man behind the famous piece, which helps us appreciate the music anew – its rustling snare drums, its snake-charmer woodwinds, its revving, roundabout rhythms. (Subtitles)

FRANCE 2024 ANNE FONTAINE 120M

Tickets £39

UK & US CINEMA

Premieres, Previews & New

Fri 16 Aug 18:00 – Auditorium Sat 17 Aug 15:30 – Auditorium

FIREBRAND

Wed 21 Aug 19:30 – Windmill, Littlehampton

Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, is named regent while the tyrant battles abroad. When the king returns, increasingly ill and paranoid, Katherine finds herself fighting for her own survival.

One woman managed to live through and survive the tumultuous sovereignty of King Henry VIII (Jude Law): that woman was Catherine Parr (Alicia Vikander). Director Karim Aïnouz brings her story to life with conviction and style in this historical period drama based on the 2013 novel ‘Queen’s Gambit’ by Elizabeth Fremantle. Parr possessed a certain strength and dedication. She spent time perfecting her craft of writing and spreading her modern religious views while ruling as regent queen when her husband went off to handle military affairs. However, Catherine’s passion for tolerance leads her down a dangerous path when she begins to make frequent visits to Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), a protestant radical who calls for the end of Henry VIII’s rule. Such an act would be treason, and should she get caught, Henry would have no difficulty resorting to old measures. This is a survival tale as good as any, when her back was pushed against the wall, Parr had to pursue desperate measures. The two leads provide stellar memorable performances with Oscar-winner Vikander being quietly compelling in every scene, while Law revels in playing the decaying king.

UK/USA 2024 KARIM AÏNOUZ 121M

STARVE ACRE

The idyllic rural family life of a couple is thrown into turmoil when their son starts acting out of character. An excellent addition to the English folk-horror genre.

1970s Yorkshire. Richard (Matt Smith) and Juliette’s (Morfydd Clark) seemingly idyllic family life is thrown into turmoil when their son Owen (Arthur Shaw) starts acting out of character, creating an insurmountable wedge between the once happy couple. Especially when he claims to hear strange sounds that include whistling from ‘Jack Grey’, a wood sprite according to local lore. This densely atmospheric folk-horror fantasy by ‘Apostasy’ (2017) director Daniel Kokatajlo has the great virtue of capturing a certain poetic drabness that is inseparably bound with cinematic memories of 1970s Britain. It has a stylistic finesse that makes it very much an art chiller; and listen out for the brilliant score by British composer Matthew Herbert.

UK 2023 DANIEL KOKOTAJLO 98M

JUST ONE LAST THING

This charming and unique film is both amusing and thought-provoking and tugs at the heartstrings.

Etta (Georgiana Gillespie) takes a job managing a half-way house between life and death, where newly deceased guests have the chance to do one last thing before crossing over. When her murdered friend arrives in breach of all the rules, she must juggle her responsibilities to the guests, help her friend get justice and not get caught by her interfering boss. This is a superb film with engaging performances and excellent direction. All the characters are real people which touch your heart and make you smile, making you really care that they achieve what they’re seeking. The two central performances are marvellous. There are rare talents at work here.

UK 2024 ALEXANDRA GILLESPIE 99M Sat 17 Aug 20:15 – Auditorium Fri 16 Aug 16:30 – Studio

UK & US CINEMA

Preview

CLOSE TO YOU

Already garlanded with accolades over some 25 years in front of the camera actor Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page - ‘Inception’ and ‘Juno’) launches a new phase of his big-screen career with this highly personal project that emerges from his own experience coming out as a trans man. Sam (Page) is due for his first visit home in four years to celebrate his father’s birthday, but he dreads the reunion, feeling that they failed to support him in his transitioning. On the train there, Sam exchanges glances with a young woman, Katherine (Hillary Baack), who turns out to be an old close friend, and it is apparent that their former closeness had a romantic element and that old feelings are being stirred up. When back at home, how will his family accept him? The film boasts a soul-baring performance from Page in a drama that has the mark of undeniable integrity. In his first male film role, the actor brings palpable personal investment and empathy to director Dominic Savage’s study of a strained family reunion.

USA 2023 DOMINIC SAVAGE 100M

THE UNDERTAKER

In this British indie, an undertaker makes the wrong choice at a moral crossroads as he is made to dispose of the victims of a gangster’s power grab.

Arthur Morel (Paul McGann from ‘Withnail & I’) has dedicated his life to ushering the deceased from the world of the living to the world of the dead, so when local gangster Finlay Unsworth (Roger Barclay) makes Arthur an offer he can’t refuse, Arthur believes he can handle the extra workload. With retirement on the horizon, Arthur looks the other way and takes the money but as Finlay’s killing spree spirals out of control, Arthur realises he’s out of his depth. In fact, he’s drowning. Realizing he knows too much and will be the next one in a body bag, Arthur’s only option is to turn ‘amateur vigilante’ and attempt to end the brutal reign of terror. As Arthur is forced to face his own demons and confront Finlay, he knows that the funerals are not over and that he may well soon be heading to his own. Includes a nice turn from Tara Fitzgerald as an embittered nightclub singer who adds sparkle to the film’s darker tones.

UK 2023 MICHAEL WRIGHT 90M

We are delighted to welcome director Michael Wright for a Q&A following the film.

English Premiere – Special Q&A Event

THE OLD MAN AND THE LAND

PLUS Q&A WITH RORY KINNEAR, NICHOLAS PARISH AND TOM JOYCE

Filmed in West Sussex, and focuses on a farmer who works all alone to maintain his ancestral land, as his children prove to be at once both remote and controlling.

David (Rory Kinnear) and Laura (Emily Beecham) are in their early forties and tearaway underachievers who grew up on a still-lucrative family farm run by their father (Roger Marten). With David’s addictions plaguing the majority of his adult life and Laura working on farms in sunnier climes, their eyes are drawn homeward as their father enjoys his final years of work, as they each proffer their case to inherit the land. The unique way this story is told is nothing less than inspired – we only ever see one of the characters, the farmer, although we never see him speak. Instead, the camera follows him as he goes about his business on the farm. Filmed close to Pulborough, West Sussex.

UK 2023 NICHOLAS PARISH 93M

We hope to welcome actor Rory Kinnear (pending filming schedule), Nicholas Parish (Director) and Tom Joyce (Sound Editor) for a Q&A after this English Premiere screening. Wed 21 Aug 13:00 – Auditorium

UK & US CINEMA

Fri 23 Aug 18:15 – Auditorium Sun 25 Aug 17:45 – Auditorium

English Premiere

THE OUTRUN

Sat 24 Aug 19:30 – Windmill, Littlehampton

Saoirse Ronan astounds as a young woman searching for grace in the face of addiction. After living life on the edge in London, Rona (Ronan) attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. She returns to the wild beauty of Scotland’s Orkney Islands (where she grew up but left more than a decade ago) hoping to heal. As she reconnects with the dramatic landscape where she grew up, memories of her childhood merge with the more recent challenging events that have set her on the path to recovery. This is that rare, effective addiction film with a potent, if simple, message: if you persevere with curiosity and awe of the world, you will open the door to loving yourself as a part of it all. Adapted from Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir.

UK 2023 NORA FINGSCHEIDT 118M

Tue 20 Aug 20:15 – Studio

Special Q&A Event BONNIE & CLIVE

Three young adventurers take a road trip of a lifetime, venturing from London to Lands’ End along one of the longest historical routes in Britain (300 miles).

Bonnie (Eleanor May Blackburn), a young woman with a dark secret, Clive (Michael Kodi Farrow), a young London busker singing for change and Wilco (James Jip), a young superman, of sorts, venture from London to Lands’ End. Along the way, between taking in some iconic landmarks, Clive and Wilco suffer the shocking uncovering of Bonnie’s secret, before arriving at the Cornish coast clifftops to sing their song of peace and freedom. Local filmmaker Kevin Short says: “For me, having dreamed up the idea of three young lost souls finding one another, during Covid, and joining forces to make their bid for freedom, I couldn’t have wished for more. We are indebted to each and every one. ‘Bonnie & Clive’ is an example of what can be achieved if there’s love for a common cause”.

UK 2024 KEVIN SHORT 80M + Q&A

We hope to welcome director Kevin Short and some of the cast for a Q&A after the screening. Kevin’s earlier film ‘Speed Love’ starring Elaine Paige was part of the 25th celebration of the festival in 2016.

Fri 23 Aug 20:30 – Auditorium

Sun 25 Aug 19:30 – Windmill, Littlehampton

SING SING

Imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he did not commit, an inmate finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity and the transformative power of art. Oscar tipped, this is a remarkable film that soars, and is justly hailed by film critics around the world.

Divine G (Colman Domingo) finds purpose at Sing Sing Prison by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men, including a wary newcomer (Clarence Maclin). When the curtain rises on the beauty they’ve all built, what we witness is a work of art that never papers over the injustices, just as we see the men who are fighting for their humanity in a world that doesn’t value it. This isn’t simply a movie about one man experiencing the power of the arts, but about how such a programme acts as a consistent source of sanctuary for everybody involved. Kwedar’s deft direction works in tandem with fine-tuned drama to craft naturalistic mosaics, drawn from a patchwork of real prison experiences. This film will break your heart and rebuild it stronger than before.

USA 2024 GREG KWEDAR 105M

Sat 24 Aug 18:15 – Studio

BLUE

Set in the Southwest of England, this moving and sensitively filmed story delves into the lives of two fishermen as they grapple with the hardships of sustaining their livelihood on a small commercial fishing boat.

John Winter (Paul Breen) and his son Charlie (Alfie Noble) have a relationship which is undergoing profound challenges, and both must navigate the obstacles in their own distinct ways. A huge loss in their lives leads to a front-on confrontation with emotions neither are equipped to deal with. This is a fine film that handles a difficult subject extremely well; how we deal with grief and when reality kicks in, only then does the healing process start.

UK 2023 DAVID SMITH 73M

UK & US CINEMA

World

Premiere – Special Q&A Event

PORTRAITS OF DANGEROUS WOMEN

PLUS Q&A WITH ANNETTE BADLAND AND ABIGAIL CRUTTENDEN

An ensemble comedy drama shot in Sussex with a great indie British sensibility, where a group of strangers’ lives collide in a bizarre road accident only to discover unexpected kinship.

A bored teacher (Tara Fitzgerald), bold caretaker (Jeany Spark), passionate art dealer (Mark Lewis Jones) and young maverick (Yasmin Monet Prince) meet through a bizarre road accident. After the initial turmoil, they decide to handle the aftermath without involving the police. At first, they don’t seem to have much in common, but they soon develop a genuine interest in each other, and as their pasts unravel, forge odd alliances and friendships, unexpectedly discovering a deep sense of kinship. Cast also includes Annette Badland, Abigail Cruttenden, Sheila Reid and Joseph Marcell.

UK 2023 PASCAL BERGAMIN 93M

We hope to welcome with Annette Badland and Abigail Cruttenden for a Q&A after this World Premiere screening.

REAWAKENING

PLUS Q&A WITH VIRGINIA GILBERT AND JULIET STEVENSON.

Ten years after the disappearance of their teenage daughter, a couple is confronted by a young woman claiming to be their lost child.

John (Jared Harris) and Mary (Juliet Stevenson) have lived with desolating grief and the agony of uncertainty for the past ten years. Their only child, Clare, ran away from home when she was fourteen and no trace of her whereabouts has ever been found. When Clare (Erin Doherty) returns, now a young woman of twenty-four, Mary is overjoyed. But John comes to believe that Clare is not who she claims to be. As old tensions resurface, deceptive motivations and thrilling suspense culminate in a gripping search for the truth. Harris and Stevenson deliver exceptional performances. Doherty subtly delivers nervous looks and hesitations which make her character a believable prodigal daughter but leave enough doubt about her to sustain the mystery. This is an absorbing and affecting tale beautifully told by director Gilbert.

UK 2024 VIRGINIA GILBERT 90M

We are delighted to welcome director Virginia Gilbert and actress Juliet Stevenson for a Q&A following the film. Jared Harris may attend depending on filming schedule.

EUROPE CALLING

Premieres, Previews & New Releases of

Sat 17 Aug 18:00 – Auditorium

PARTY OF FOOLS

CAPTIVES

In Paris 1894, a young woman voluntarily allowed herself to be locked up in a psychiatric hospital in order to look for her mother… and get them both out. Who is Fanni (Mélanie Thierry), who claims to be voluntarily locked up in a women-only mental institution? Searching for her mother among the multitude of so-called “madwomen”, Fanni discovers a community of modern heroines who defy expectations, along with the unexpected friendship of fellow patients. The annual sumptuous and renowned “Party of Fools” of the asylum is in preparation. Politicians, artists and socialites flock to this ball, and this will be Fanni’s last hope of escaping the closing trap. With echoes of ‘Girl, Interrupted’, this is a beautifully filmed drama with Yolande Moreau (you may remember her from 2008’s ‘Séraphine’) as the mother, being absolutely captivating. (Subtitles)

FRANCE 2023 ARNAUD DES PALLIÈRES 111M

Sun 18 Aug 18:30 – Auditorium

Preview

PARADISE IS BURNING

PARADISET BRINNER

Three sisters live alone after their mother’s prolonged absences. When social services demand a family meeting, oldest sister Laura plans to find a stand-in for their mother. A superb and quietly powerful film.

Sisters Laura (16) (Bianca Delbravo), Mira (12) (Dilvin Asaad) and Steffi (7) (Safira Mossberg) are left to their own devices, and with no parents around, life is wild and carefree, vivacious and anarchic. But when social services call a meeting, Laura has to find someone to pretend to be their mother, or the girls will be taken into foster care and separated. Director Gustafson cleverly frames all the adults through the children’s eyes, making them mostly one-dimensional, whilst the girls are seen as totally full of life. Delbravo delivers a striking performance, balancing Laura’s spiky teenage defiance with the vulnerability of a character who is struggling under the weight of responsibility. Winner of the Best First Feature prize at the 2023 London Film Festival. (Subtitles)

SWEDEN 2023 MIKA GUSTAFSON 108M

THE GOLDMAN CASE

LE PROCÈS GOLDMAN

Chronicles the trial of Pierre Goldman, a French left-wing revolutionary who was convicted of several robberies and later mysteriously murdered.

November 1975, and a second trial begins of French leftist radical Pierre Goldman (Arieh Worthalter), who was subject to police prejudice and antisemitism, and accused of several armed robberies and the death of two chemists. As the trial proceeds, it becomes fairly evident, at least to the viewer, that the man is innocent. The question is therefore whether the French state will return a ‘not guilty’ verdict. The trial caused a media frenzy, and was attended by philosopher Régis Debray and actress Simone Signoret, elevating Goldman to cause célèbre status in the wake of May 1968 with the government, especially the criminal justice system, pitted against the left. Alongside the recent ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ and ‘Saint Omer’, this continues a recent trend for quality French indie courtroom dramas. (Subtitles)

FRANCE 2023 CÉDRIC KAHN 115M

Sun 18 Aug 20:45 – Auditorium

Mon 19 Aug 16:15 – Auditorium Wed 21 Aug 20:15 – Auditorium UK Premiere – Georgia FROM LIFE

TO

LIFE PLUS Q&A WITH THE FILMMAKERS

A doctor has to make the ultimate choice between his own family and the lives of others in this moving and thought-provoking film.

Set in 1990s Georgia, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Luka (Beka Sikharulidze) is a surgical doctor who saves the lives of people in need – for free. He is a committed, dedicated and honest individual navigating through a country plagued by corruption and injustice. He struggles to adapt to a ruthless new system, while trying to maintain a delicate balance between personal obligations, his family and professional integrity. A thought-provoking film depicting the difficulties of life in post-Soviet Georgia, where corruption had been the norm. An honest doctor trying to remain true to his profession and at the same time keeping his family fed. A very moving film. (Subtitles)

GEORGIA 2023 BEKA SIKHARULIDZE 92M

We hope to welcome the filmmakers – including director Beka Sikharulidze – for a Q&A following the screening.

EUROPE CALLING

Tue 20 Aug 12:45 – Auditorium Sat 24 Aug 15:45 – Studio

Wed 21 Aug 18:00 – Auditorium

France

SUGAR AND STARS

À LA BELLE ÉTOILE

Raised in various foster homes, a young man attempts to make his dream come true: to work with the greatest pastry chefs and become the best. Based on the life of celebrated pastry chef Yazid Ichemrahem. From an early age, Yazid (Riadh Belaïche) was passionate about baking. But to succeed in the elitist world of pastry-making, the young man had to learn self-control whilst being moved from one foster home to another. From Épernay to Monaco to Paris, he will work with the greatest pastry chefs en route to competing in the World Pastry Championship. The exquisite desserts look almost too divine to eat. That their creator was once homeless, orbiting between a French Riviera luxury hotel kitchen and sleeping rough beneath the stars that continued to inspire him, is the paradox that underscores his defiantly ascendent life. Tulard’s camera is agile and dynamic, and his film flows between documentary and a dash of magical realism that idealises the work of the chef. (Subtitles)

FRANCE 2022 SÉBASTIEN TULARD 110M

English Premiere – France MAKING OF

Cedric Kahn’s droll comedy goes behind the scenes during a fraught film shoot. Simon (Denis Podalydès), a well-known French filmmaker, starts shooting his latest film; a story about workers fighting to protect their factory from being relocated. But nothing goes as planned… His producer Viviane wants to rewrite the ending and is threatening to cut the budget; his own crew goes on strike; his personal life is in shambles; and to make things worse, his lead actor Alain (Jonathan Cohen) is an egocentric jerk. Joseph (Stefan Crepon), an extra who wants to get into the film industry, is recruited to shoot the ‘making of’ featurette. Capturing all the mess, he proves that sometimes the ‘making of’ can be far better than the film itself! Gradually and rather cleverly, Kahn fuses the two tales into one: the striking workers in the movie begin to mimic Simon’s overworked and underpaid crew, who eventually need to decide whether they’ll stick around out of love for the art, or quit. Director Cédric Kahn is equally adept as a fantastic actor (‘After Love’, ‘Cold War’) as he is a director; he also directs the biopic ‘The Goldman Case’ in this Festival. (Subtitles)

FRANCE 2023 CÉDRIC KAHN 119M

Switzerland UNREST

UNRUEH

In this fascinating dive into 1877 Switzerland, a watch factory worker becomes involved with the rising anarchist movement as new technologies begin to transform money, time and labour.

Nestled cosily beside the Jura Mountains is a picturesque industrial town where young watchmaker Josephine (Clara Gostynski) and her co-workers meticulously assemble watches by hand, setting the tiny balance wheel, known as an ‘unrueh’ (unrest), with the type of scientific precision for which the Swiss are famous. But the real unrest is happening all around them, as the burgeoning anarchist movement takes hold of the factory. Real- life Russian anarchist Pyotr Kropotkin (Alexei Evstratov) arrives as the film hints at Western Europe on the brink of transformation, with seeds being firmly planted for the labour and feminist movements that would explode during the next century. This marvellous look at the craft of watchmaking, one that is seldom shown on screen, is done with a keen eye for photography. (Subtitles)

SWITZERLAND 2022 CYRIL SCHÄUBLIN 93M

TAKING THE FESTIVAL FAR & WIDE

In our bid to make our rich and diverse Festival reach as many people as possible, we have collaborated with a number of venue partners this year, to enable you to access our films in both Sussex and Hampshire and experience our special events in new ways!

CHICHESTER CINEMA

New Park Road, Chichester PO19 7XY

Located in the Community Centre, the Festival’s home is in the Chichester Cinema and during the Festival, we also present films in the Centre’s Studio and shepherd’s hut, The Picture Palace. Our state-of-the art Auditorium includes Dolby sound, both digital and 35mm projection and the comfiest seats in town! For access and parking details see pg81. chichestercinema.org

ST JOHN’S CHAPEL

St John’s Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1UR

This beautiful Georgian proprietary chapel will play host to ‘Underground’, accompanied by HarmonieBand (pg70)

Parking: There is no dedicated parking for St John's but the Cattle Market car park is a 5 minutes’ walk away with plenty of space.

Access: The chapel is fully accessible via a ramp at the main entrance stjohnschapelchichester.co.uk

WINDMILL CINEMA

Windmill Rd, Littlehampton BN17 5LH

Open again after a year of refurbishment following the fire in 2024, this much loved local cinema will play host to five Festival films.

Parking: There is a pay-and-display car park in front of the cinema. The car park is FREE after 6pm every day. There are a number of disabled parking bays near the cinema entrance & parking is free for Blue Badge holders

Access: 4 wheelchair spaces which can be booked in person and online. The wheelchair spaces at both ends of the front row on a flat floor. Access flat throughout. Disabled toilet. Induction loop in auditorium. windmillcinema.co.uk

THE SPRING ARTS & HERITAGE CENTRE

56 East Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1BS

The beating cultural heart of the community, this lovely, welcoming café bar, museum and intimate yet spacious auditorium will present this year’s silent classic Sherlock Junior accompanied by Buster Plays Buster (see pg72)

Parking: Pay and Display. Spaces are limited so allow extra time to secure a space.

Access: All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors. Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors. Guide Dogs Permitted thespring.co.uk

ST PAUL’S CHURCH

Churchside, Chichester, PO19 6FT

As part of our MGM/Columbia centenary celebrations, the Chichester City Band will present a concert here, celebrating 100 years of film music.

Parking: Free parking for church users. Additional parking is just across the road in the pay & display

Access: Ramped entrance to the church & full accessible toilet stpaulschichester.org

THE HAVANA

3 Little London, Chichester PO19 1PH

This atmospheric Chichester venue will host the screening of ‘Purple Rain’ followed by an evening of dancing.

Parking: Parking available in adjoining pay & display Little London car park.

Access: No wheelchair access. thehavana.co.uk

Thu 22 Aug 15:30 – Auditorium

UK Premiere – Bulgaria

BLAGA’S LESSONS

UROTCITE NA BLAGA

When a retired teacher falls victim to a phone scam that robs her of her life savings, she decides to turn the tables as she transforms into a scammer herself. When Blaga (Eli Skorcheva) falls prey to a phone scam, she is left without any money for her late husband’s gravestone. Her life turns upside down when she realises that there is no way of getting her money back, until an alluring, yet suspicious work offer appears. In this eerie suspense drama, director Komandarev chronicles the journey of a woman swirling into the vicious cycle of the dog-eat-dog reality outside her window. The film has won multiple awards around Europe, including Best Film and Best Actress at the prestigious Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 2023. (Subtitles)

BULGARIA 2023 STEPHAN KOMANDAREV 114M

Thu 22 Aug 13:15 – Studio

France

THE MOUNTAIN

A Parisian engineer is irresistibly attracted by what surrounds him, camping out alone high in the Alps and leaving behind his everyday life. A visually ravishing film. Mild-mannered Pierre (Thomas Salvador) quits his job on a whim, pitches his tent amidst the glaciers above Chamonix and feels no desire to return to civilisation. He strikes up a tentative friendship with Léa (Louise Bourgoin), the chef of the cable car station restaurant, who agrees to bring him provisions as they slowly build a relationship. This gorgeous and pensive film features stunning Alpine photography and a delicate love story nestled at its heart, but also benefits from the most delightfully unexpected plot twist. Actor-director Salvador gives a beautifully understated performance against the majesty of Mont Blanc. (Subtitles) FRANCE 2022 THOMAS SALVADOR 113M

Thu 22 Aug 20:30 – Studio

Sat 24 Aug 20:30 – Auditorium

UK Premiere – Russia

TIMIR

A tragi-comic tale of a boy’s struggles through his life in a remote village where he has lost his mother, is being bullied, his dead-beat father is no help, and he meets a strange friendly spirit.

A boy named Timir (Algis Danilov) is going through some tough times in his life. At one moment, he loses his dearest person – his mother. The child welfare department directs him to his biological father in the village, hoping that he will find support there. However, from the first days in this new village, Timir cannot connect with anyone. Moreover, he is being bullied at school, especially by a classmate who lives next door to him. One day on his way home, Timir encounters a strange man with whom he strikes up a conversation. During this conversation, he learns that he is a lost spirit caught between two worlds. Director Koryakin was born in the village of Magaras, Gorny District (Republic of Sakha, Yakutia). His film brings to the world a community that is very rarely seen on our cinema screens.

(Subtitles)

RUSSIA 2023 NIKOLAY KORYAKIN 90M

Preview - Iceland/UK

TOUCH

A romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents; following one man’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out.

Kristopher (Egill Ólafsson) is a widower who is in the early stages of dementia. Realizing there isn’t a lot of time left before his memories are gone completely, he leaves Iceland and ventures to London, hoping to find his lost love. Flashbacks build up the story of how young Kristopher (Pálmi Kormákur) dropped out of school, got a job washing dishes at a Japanese restaurant, and fell in love with the owner’s daughter, Miko (Kōki). The film cleverly builds suspense in two directions simultaneously. We watch old Kristopher trying to find Miko and wondering if he’ll succeed, and we also wait with nervous anticipation to learn why the two were separated decades ago. Director Baltasar Kormákur masterfully weaves a story that encapsulates the human experience with poetic honesty and emotional depth. This is one of the most genuinely romantic movies of the past few years, not lightweight romantic, but rather romantic in a deep, human way that you can feel in your soul. (Some subtitles)

ICELAND 2024 BALTASAR KORMÁKUR 121M

THE BABY

LA PETITE

When his son and son’s partner die in a car accident, Joseph must learn how to be a grandfather to the baby they were expecting with the help of a fierce, young Flemish surrogate. Joseph (Fabrice Luchini) is faced with a unique crossroads in his life. His son and partner were expecting a child via a surrogate mother (Rita Vandewaele) when tragedy struck. There is no textbook for such a situation. Carried by the promise of a birth which will prolong the existence of his son, the sexagenarian decides to meet the young, fierce and indomitable Flemish surrogate. The two are your typical odd couple, but their bond is stronger than any differences they may naturally have. Luchini – as is customary for him – hits every right note in this funny and moving story, which is beautifully paced and includes some gorgeous Ghent scenery. A must-watch for any grandparent. (Subtitles) FRANCE 2023 GUILLAUME NICLOUX 93M

An attractive development of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes in Yapton by Seaward Homes

WINDOW

ON THE WORLD

Premieres, Previews & New Releases of World Cinema

Thu 15 Aug 10:30 – Auditorium

Turkey – New Release ABOUT DRY GRASSES

KURU OTLAR ÜSTÜNE

A young teacher hopes to be transferred to Istanbul after four years of mandatory service in a remote village, but an accusation may derail his work and private life.

Nestled away in wintry East Anatolia, public- school art teacher Samet (Deniz Celiloğlu) yearns to leave the sleepy village for cosmopolitan Istanbul. Further disenchanted when he and colleague Kenan (Musab Ekici) come under public scrutiny, Samet fears circumstances will keep his dreams of a new life permanently out of reach. A silver lining is a budding relationship with fellow teacher Nuray (Merve Dizdar) who develops connections with both Samet and Kenan. As with all of Ceylan’s films, this features compelling patient storytelling, it is often mesmerising and is filled with an undeniable atmosphere. (Subtitles)

TURKEY 2023 NURI BILGE CEYLAN 197M

+ INTERVAL

Thu 15 Aug 16:00 – Auditorium

Pakistan/Canada

THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS

Against the backdrop of a shared obsession with Bollywood fantasy, a Pakistani Muslim woman, and her Canadian-born daughter come of age in two different eras. A colourful and fun story of a fraught mother-daughter relationship.

Azra (Amrit Kaur), a Pakistani woman living in Toronto, is worlds apart from her conservative Muslim mother Mariam (Nimra Buchar). When her father suddenly dies on a trip home to Pakistan, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined, from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming-of-age in rural Canada. The film glows with colour, music and imagination, and a lively lead character we are delighted to follow. We are presented with a heart-warming story of the bond between a mother and daughter, with an intergenerational dual-stranded narrative beautifully woven together. An astounding debut feature by a female writer-director with flair. (Some subtitles)

PAKISTAN/CANADA 2023 FAWZIA MIRZA 97M

WINDOW ON THE WORLD

Fri 16 Aug 15:30 – Auditorium

Sun 18 Aug 10:30 – Auditorium

India GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS

This compelling film follows the journey of 16-year-old Mira, whose sexy, rebellious coming-of-age is disrupted by her young mother who never got to come-of-age herself.

In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, 16-year-old Mira (Preeti Panigrahi) is chosen as the first-ever female head pupil. She meets new student Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron) and it stirs an interest she’s never had before. Soon, she’s spending as many stolen moments as she can with the new boy, threatening her social and academic standing, and her relationship with her mother Anila (Kani Kusrati). This film has far more on its mind than a simple coming-ofage narrative, and it’s hard to believe that this is director Schuchi Talati’s debut feature, as she handles the subject matter and cast with great skill and subtlety. We are delighted to present this rare screening in Chichester after the film was recently presented at Sundance London. (Subtitles)

INDIA 2024 SHUCHI TALATI 118M

Australia – New Release

SHAYDA

A young Iranian mother and her six-yearold daughter find refuge in an Australian women’s shelter during the two weeks of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz). Critically acclaimed, from a new filmmaker to keep your eyes on.

Over the Persian New Year, brave Shayda (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) and her daughter Mona (Selina Zahedenia) take solace in Nowruz rituals and new beginnings, but when her estranged husband Hossein (Osamah Sami) re-enters their lives, Shayda’s path to freedom is jeopardised. Noora Niasari’s incredible debut slowly builds into a thriller, and Ebrahimi’s enthralling performance coaxes us to lean in. Tension is cleverly sustained in this film with a fearlessness that makes it such a compelling experience. (Some Subtitles)

AUSTRALIA 2023 NOORA NIASARI 117M

Tue 20 Aug 17:30 – Auditorium

THE BRAID LA

TRESSE

Three women from different parts of the world who have never met, are bound by something intimate and unique. A beautiful, epic drama filled with empathy and intelligence. Colombani’s anthology is an adaptation of her award-winning 2017 novel tying together three women in Italy, Montreal and India. Smita (Mia Maelzer) is an Indian Untouchable living in extreme poverty with her husband and daughter Lalita. They live on handouts and have no human rights due to their caste, and so escape on a tortuous train journey, seeking a better life. In Italy Giulia (Fotinì Peluso) works in the human hair wig factory owned by her father, until he is stricken ill. She discovers the business is in ruins so jumps into action, discovering her strength and business nous. Sarah (Kim Raver) is a Montreal lawyer climbing the executive ranks and suddenly facing a determined new employee with eyes on her job, when bad personal news arrives. Colombani pays tribute to the determination of women to overcome every manner of obstacle to keep life moving forward; it is inspiring, powerfully familiar, and elegantly made, enriched by the performances, united by a traditional symbol of womanhood (Some subtitles).

CANADA/FRANCE/ITALY/INDIA 2023 LAETITIA COLOMBANI 121M

Mon 19 Aug 19:45 – Studio

Kazakhstan/Russia

ERA

The story of a mother and her invalid son unfolds on a steep cliff by the sea, where they come to live in an empty house after the death of their grandmother and at the same time begin a new life.

Here, among the scorched hot steppe and salty sea winds, on the fragments of a lost life of a forgotten coastal village, Era (Marianne Schultz) and Andrei (Gennadiy Blinov) settle in a small house. They encounter a variety of people who affect their life, with hope and despair, strength and weakness, truth and lies, freedom and slavery. It is a very original and entertaining film, with a narrative that uses the different characters to flesh out everyday life. Director Ilyassov’s work is deeply rooted in the rich cinematic history of his native Central Asia, while equally formed by both the European New Wave and the underappreciated Soviet and post-Soviet film traditions. (Subtitles)

KAZAKHSTAN/RUSSIA 2023 VENIAMIN ILYASSOV 107M

Preview - Palestine/UK THE TEACHER

A Palestinian schoolteacher struggles to reconcile his risky commitment to political resistance with the chance of a new relationship with a volunteer-worker and his emotional support for one of his students. Basem (Saleh Bakri) is a compassionate teacher in Palestine’s West Bank, taking a special interest in his student Adam (Muhammad Abed El Rahman), who is suffering under the stifling pressure of Israeli occupation. When Adam’s house is selected for demolition by Israeli authorities, it leads to an outburst with fatal consequences. At the same time, an American soldier is being held prisoner by a Palestinian resistance force. Basem becomes ensnared in the soldier’s ordeal and as a result, Basem will become reacquainted with his past self. Matters are further complicated by a budding romance developing between him and Lisa (Imogen Poots), a British volunteer at his school who has no idea about what he did before. A riveting story; and made all the more relevant today. (Some subtitles)

PALESTINE/UK 2024 FARAH NABULSI 155M

Tue 20 Aug 20:00 – Auditorium

Tickets £16

Special Film & Show Event

Canada

SOLO

A young man deals with two impossible loves: a passionate crush on fellow drag artist Oliver and a distant and cold relationship with his opera diva mother Claire.

Simon (Théodore Pellerin) is a rising star in Montreal’s drag scene. Friendly with his fellow drag queens and supported by his sister, who delights in designing increasingly elaborate and beautiful costumes for his act, Simon vibrates with the passion of his adopted artistic community. When he meets Oliver (Félix Maritaud), the alluring new recruit at the club, their irresistible chemistry sparks an electric romance and a fulfilling creative collaboration. When Simon’s mother – a bona fide opera diva – returns after years on the road, he immediately withdraws under the shadow of her influence? Beautifully charting the highs and lows of falling in love and finding oneself in one’s art, writer and director Sophie Dupuis’s film is a passionate feat of character-driven storytelling and visual extravagance, celebrating the drag world in all its splendour and heartache. A triumph! (Subtitles)

CANADA 2023 SOPHIE DUPUIS 101M

We are delighted to welcome Chichester Cabaret Club and Dickie Bows & Petticoats Mistress of Ceremonies Dawn Gracie together with larger-than-life drag act The Madame for a 45-minute show directly after the film. From Ms Gracie you can expect a warm welcome and some quick wit ahead of the film. Afterwards, The Madame brings comedy that is on the pulse with current affairs and parody songs that will be ruined, for you, by her, for years to come.

WINDOW ON THE WORLD

Fri 23 Aug 16:00 – Auditorium

Fri 23 Aug 13:45 – Auditorium

Israel/Palestine ABU OMAR

Two people who live extremely different ways of life unite on a very unusual road trip. Given the current situation between Israel and Palestine, this film gives hope that opposites can unite for the greater good.

Under a military curfew, grieving Palestinian father Salah (Kais Nashif) sets out on the road to cross the Israeli border into the West Bank carrying his dead son Omar, who did not survive a heart operation in a Tel Aviv hospital. Left to wander the streets carrying his son, dazed and unable to find help, Miri (Shany Verchik), a single pregnant Israeli woman, takes him in and makes it her mission to get across the border. What follows is a unique road movie, as the two end up in different places that show nearly every facet of Israeli life. The movie is symbolic on many levels and finds black humour in some of the absurdities of life here. This film was made in 2020 but only released recently, and considering the current conflict, is extremely relevant and important. (Subtitles)

ISRAEL/FRANCE 2020 ROY KRISPEL 113M

Reunion/Indonesia SWEET DREAMS

In this strangely spellbinding and satiric examination of the Dutch colonial history in Indonesia, a sugar plantation owner causes havoc when he leaves his Indian Ocean island estate to his young illegitimate son. Imperious patriarch Jan (Hans Dagelet) suddenly dies after one of his nightly visits to the room of Siti (Hayati Azis), his Indonesian housekeeper. With the disorder in the household further compounded by a workers’ protest, his widow Agathe (Renée Soutendijk) demands the return from Europe of Jan’s pompous son Cornelius (Florian Myjer) and heavily pregnant daughter-in- law Josefin (Lisa Zweerman). When they all learn of Jan’s decision to bequeath his estate to his son with Siti, the ensuing power struggles add a further degree of turbulence. The demise of European colonialism has never been captured in a more vibrant and aesthetically exuberant manner (much like a Dutch Master’s painting) than in this delightfully cynical film. (Subtitles)

REUNION/INDONESIA/NETHERLANDS 2023 ENA

SENDIJAREVIC 102M

Preview - Guatemala CADEJO BLANCO

PLUS Q&A WITH DIRECTOR JUSTIN LERNER

A working-class girl from Guatemala City travels to a small coastal town to infiltrate a gang in order to find her missing sister. A nail-biting thriller with gritty authenticity. Sarita (Karen Martínez) goes out dancing one night at the insistence of her free- spirited sister, Bea (Pamela Martínez).

Uncharacteristically, Sarita dances the night away, heading home alone when the party drags on too late. The next morning, after calling friends and neighbours, Sarita begins to panic when she realises that Bea never made it home. The police are indifferent and unhelpful, but Sarita suspects that Bea’s disappearance has something to do with Andrés (Rudy Rodriguez), her sister’s dangerous ex. Realising she must take matters into her own hands, Sarita finds a way to befriend Andrés and infiltrate his gang. The cinematography somehow makes this dangerous world look inviting, even appealing at times (think ‘City of God’). With a cast of almost entirely non-professional actors (Karen Martínez is a revelation), this is an intense film in the vein of ‘Sin Nombre’ and ‘Maria Full of Grace’, that digs deep into the underbelly of gang culture. (Subtitles)

GUATEMALA 2021 JUSTIN LERNER 125M

We hope to welcome director Justin Lerner for a Q&A following the screening.

English Premiere - Iran MY FAVOURITE CAKE

KEYKE MAHBOOBE MAN

A septuagenarian, solitary for many years, chooses to revive her love life. A chance encounter becomes an unforgettable evening. A lovely film that keeps up Iran’s reputation as a powerhouse of quality storytelling.

70-year-old Mahin (Lili Farhadpour) has lived alone in Tehran since her husband’s death and her daughter’s departure for Europe, until an afternoon tea with friends leads her to break her solitary routine and revitalise her love life. What begins as an unexpected encounter quickly evolves into an unpredictable, unforgettable evening. She meets Faramarz (Esmaeel Mehrabi), a modest, personable single man of her age, who himself is of Mahin’s independent frame of mind: he got into trouble with joyless authorities for playing a musical instrument in a wedding band. The Iranian government prevented the film’s two directors from travelling to Berlin to attend their own premiere, most probably because of a scene in which police drive self-importantly around Tehran, intimidating women who are allegedly not wearing their hijabs with enough modesty. Our 70-year-old heroine –who wistfully remembers a time when hijabs were not required at all – stands up to these uniformed bullies and rescues a woman from their clutches. Unmissable cinema. (Subtitles)

IRAN 2024 MARYAM MOGHADAM & BEHTASH SANAEEHA 97M

FOCUS ON THE DOCUMENTARY

Premieres, Previews & New Releases

Sun 18 Aug 12:00 – Studio

Special Q&A Event RED HERRING

PLUS Q&A WITH HANNAH BUSH BAILEY

Faced with a terminal diagnosis, a filmmaker enlists his family on an intimate and darkly humorous journey to help them come to terms with his illness.

When he was 24, film-maker Kit Vincent was diagnosed with a brain tumour; doctors said that he could expect to live four to eight years. In this documentary that walks the line between humour and grief, Vincent hangs out with his parents (who divorced when he was a teenager), all of them falling into deep, soul-searching conversations that most of us spend a lifetime avoiding having with our family. Lawrence (Kit’s father) has found ways of dealing with what’s happening – he has converted to Judaism, started painting and turns the spare room into a farm to grow medicinal cannabis. This is a very good film by a very talented filmmaker exploring the rarely documented nuances of living with a terminal illness.

UK 2023 KIT VINCENT 94M

We are delighted to welcome Executive Producer from BFI Documentary Society Hannah Bush Bailey for a Q&A after the screening.

Germany I LIVE ALONE IN MY HEAVEN ICH LEB´ ALLEIN IN MEINEM HIMMEL

A revealing portrait of opera singer Günther Groissböck. We see and hear him, and in turn, we learn more about the search for the right path that preoccupies most people.

Bass singer Groissböck traverses the opera houses of the world playing kings, scholars, philosophers, priests, mythical creatures and gods. The characters he plays on stage are always deeply moving… you might call him an expert at playing lonely characters. We follow Günther from the Austrian town of Waidhofen an der Ybbs for two years, capturing key moments: from his return to work after the pandemic, to his debut as King Philip in Verdi’s ‘Don Carlo’ at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The result is a very personal portrait depicting a unique attitude to life, epitomised in two lines from one of Mahler’s RückertLieder: “I live alone in my heaven, in my love, in my song”. A great documentary for opera novices and veterans alike, revealing what goes on behind the stages of the great opera productions. (Subtitles)

GERMANY 2023 ASTRID BSCHER 65M

Sun 18 Aug 12:45 –

Q&A Event

HOLST: IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

PLUS Q&A WITH DIRECTOR TONY PALMER

To commemorate Gustav Holst’s 150th anniversary, we present Tony Palmer’s enlightening documentary on this extraordinary composer.

Born on 21 September 1874, Holst was no ordinary man. He taught himself Sanskrit; lived in a street of brothels in Algiers; cycled into the Sahara Desert; allied himself during WW1 with a ‘red priest’; and hated the words used to his famous “I Vow to Thee My Country”; his music – especially ‘The Planets’ – owed little or nothing to anyone, but he was an exceptional composer who died broken and disillusioned, before he was 60. With this being his 150th anniversary, alongside his special connection with Chichester Cathedral (Holst’s memorial stone is in the Cathedral), we are pleased to screen this very important film, the first ever, about this extraordinary man.

UK 2011 TONY PALMER 137M + Q&A

We are delighted to welcome the film’s director – and Chichester favourite – Tony Palmer, for a Q&A after the screening.

Tue 20 Aug 15:30 – Auditorium

THE MOUNTAIN WITHIN ME

After suffering a catastrophic and almost fatal spinal cord injury, professional rugby player Ed Jackson’s world changed forever. We follow Ed’s journey on his recovery as he achieves the mental and physical heights of Snowdonia, the Alps and Himalayas to the life-altering challenges closer to home.

This is an inspiring, thought-provoking documentary about unexpected change, hope and finding renewed purpose in life. Ed Jackson played Rugby Union at the highest level, but in April 2017 he was involved in a serious accident in which he broke his neck and suffered a serious spinal cord injury. This left him paralyzed from the neck down and doctors told him he would never walk again. When faced with life-changing injuries, Jackson harnessed his determination to create a future for himself, his wife and his family that most thought impossible. This story follows Ed and his wife Lois as they undertake an extraordinary journey through the past and present, and honestly discuss their future and the impact of living with a disability.

UK 2023 POLLY STEELE 89M

FOCUS ON THE DOCUMENTARY

18 Aug 16:15

Special Q&A Event

CANNES UNCUT

PLUS Q&A WITH PRODUCER MARK ADAMS AND CANNES REGULAR ROGER GIBSON

Let’s revel in the glamour, red carpets, movies, craziness, stunts, deals, parties and personalities that have been part of the Cannes Film Festival over the last eight decades, and let’s also look to the future. The glorious excesses, triumphs and failures of Cannes is a story that demands to be told. For two weeks every year on the French Riviera, the cream of film festivals offers an exciting high-adrenaline, roller-coaster experience. This documentary dives into what the festival has come to represent over the years and what it might offer in the future. With insight from the head of the Festival, Thierry Frémaux; Cannes regulars Tilda Swinton, Juliette Binoche and Léa Seydoux; filmmakers such as Oliver Stone, Lynne Ramsay, Mike Leigh, Quentin Tarantino, Sean Baker, Ken Loach and Wim Wenders; and a cast and crew including producers, journalists, photographers, executives, Festival programmers, fashion designers, party organisers and hotel managers.

UK 2023 RICHARD BLANSHARD & ROGER PENNY 90M

We are delighted to welcome the film’s producer Mark Adams alongside Cannes regular Roger Gibson for a Q&A after the screening.

Sun 18 Aug 17:00 – Studio

US/Palestine WHERE OLIVE TREES WEEP

A window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. Through evocative, breathtaking, ancient landscapes, we travel to the occupied West Bank, the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.

Following internationally recognised activist Ahed Tamimi, journalist and therapist Ashira Prem Rachana and others, the film explores themes of loss, trauma and the quest for justice. It recounts their experiences of imprisonment, confiscation of ancestral lands, attacks by settlers and the military, denial of water rights and cruel humiliation, as well as their attempts to heal themselves and their community, placing these stories in their historical and socio-political context. We follow Dr. Gabor Maté as he offers his insights into intergenerational trauma and provides support to a group of women seeking understanding and healing. Ultimately, the film celebrates the unwavering strength and resilience of the Palestinian people in their fight for freedom. (Some subtitles)

US/PALESTINE 2024 MAURIZIO BENAZZO & ZAYA BENAZZO 100M

Wed 21 Aug 18:15 - Studio

UK/USA

THE CONQUEROR: HOLLYWOOD FALLOUT

The unique and unbelievable true story of one of the great environmental disasters to befall the United States, and the terrible movie that helped bring the catastrophe to light.

Howard Hughes’ notorious 1956 debacle with John Wayne as Genghis Khan (gasp!) and Susan Hayward as his Mongolian lover (really?) was justly reviled for its offensive “yellowface” and deplorable line reading from Wayne – who many in this film say was drunk during filming. The real tragedy occurred after many who worked on the outdoor set – 135 miles downwind of atomic bomb testing in Nevada – developed terminal illnesses. This thorough, illuminating documentary looks at the deadly toll the filming took on the cast and crew as well as on communities near St. George, Utah where it was shot. The film calls out the military and other agencies for assuring the public that everything was safe when it wasn’t. This is riveting viewing.

UK 2023 WILLIAM NUNEZ 116M

Wed 21 Aug 11:15 – Studio

UK Premiere – South Africa SCULPTING THIS EARTH

We follow internationally acclaimed artist Strijdom van der Merwe over four consecutive seasons as he travels to remote locations in the southern African interior to make beautiful land artworks in a striking range of spectacular natural settings.

Featuring 25 fleeting artworks, the film shows the artist at work in the landscape and sharing his thoughts as he finds his canvases in nature – in verdant valleys and forests, on the shore of a lagoon, in the vast expanses of the arid semi-desert. With stunning cinematography and an extraordinary soundtrack including 11 pieces of music composed for the film, this is a meditative and powerful experience. Shot over a period of more than a year, this is a profoundly moving reflection on life and transience. This rare documentary on land art is beautifully photographed, mesmeric at times and constantly providing the viewer with delights in a dramatic landscape.

SOUTH AFRICA 2023 VICTOR VAN ASWEGEN 95M

Thu 15 Aug 14:15 – Auditorium

Fri 16 Aug 12:00 – Studio

Sat 17 Aug 10:45 – Auditorium

THE WILD ONE

Two rival motorcycle gangs terrorise a small town after one of their leaders is thrown in jail. Johnny (Marlon Brando) and his motorcycle gang roll into Carbonville for a biker competition and raise enough hell to get kicked out of town. They repair to nearby Wrightsville and continue their reign of terror. The local sheriff (Robert Keith) is helpless to stop them, but when a rival gang arrives, he manages to arrest their leader, Chino (Lee Marvin). Meanwhile, Johnny finds himself attracted to the sheriff’s daughter, Kathie (Mary Murphy), and decides to stick around. Brando turns in a tremendously powerful performance as the inarticulate, frozenfaced, truculent outlaw who heads the gang of motorcycle hoodlums. This film’s status as a cultural marker remains undeniable.

USA 1954 LASLO BENEDEK 79M

JULIUS CAESAR

Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s (‘Guys and Dolls’) 1953 Shakespeare adaptation exploring the life and death of larger-than-life Julius Caesar is a triumph, benefitting from a super ensemble cast.

Brutus (James Mason) is convinced by a scheming band of Roman senators, led by Caius Cassius (John Gielgud), that his dear friend Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) intends to dissolve the republic and install himself as monarch, and he joins a conspiracy to assassinate him. Brutus stirringly defends his actions, but when Mark Antony (Marlon Brando) responds with a speech that plays upon the crowd’s love for their fallen leader, a battle between the two factions is assured. Brando delivers a mix of grief, rage, cunning and ferocity, all with a naturalistic approach that was ground-breaking at the time.

USA 1953 JOSEPH L. MANKIEWICZ 120M

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

The sweltering New Orleans heat plus Marlon Brando’s physique and titanic performance fuel the raging emotions of this Hollywood landmark.

Based on the play by Tennessee Williams, this renowned drama follows troubled former schoolteacher Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh) as she leaves small-town Mississippi and moves in with her sister, Stella Kowalski (Kim Hunter), and her husband, Stanley (Marlon Brando), in New Orleans. Blanche’s flirtatious Southern-belle presence causes problems for Stella and Stanley, who already have a volatile relationship, leading to even greater conflict in the Kowalski household. Vivian Leigh’s performance easily matches that of Brando, further emphasising the skills of director Elia Kazan.

USA 1951 ELIA KAZAN 122M

BRANDO’S REBEL YELL

Sun 18 Aug 14:30 - Windmill Cinema, Littlehampton

Wed 21 Aug 10:45 – Auditorium

GUYS AND DOLLS

1954

Based on the popular 1950 Broadway musical of the same name, this is a hugely entertaining musical with some of the brightest stars of its day, including Marlon Brando in his only musical role. Neatly fits into both the Brando and MGM/Columbia strands of this year’s Festival.

1950s New York: all the hot gamblers are in town, and they’re depending on Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra) to set up the next game. The only problem? He needs money, and to get it, bets inveterate gambler Sky Masterson (Brando) that he can’t get a date with virtuous, demure Sarah Brown (Jean Simmons). Meanwhile, Nathan’s long-time fiancée Adelaide (Vivian Blaine) is desperate for him to marry her so they can finally settle down. With serious star power, crackling dialogue and phenomenal songs, ‘Guys and Dolls’ is a five-star entertainment and a real joy to watch. Showing in a gorgeous new restoration of the film.

USA 1955 JOSEPH MANCIEWITZ 149M

ON THE WATERFRONT

1954

Marlon Brando gives one of the screen’s most electrifying performances as Best Actor in this 1954 Academy Award winner for Best Film. This is a new 4K restoration. Ex-fighter Terry Malloy (Brando) could have been a contender but now toils for boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) on the gangridden waterfront. Terry is guilt-stricken, however, when he lures a rebellious worker to his death. But it takes the love of Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint), the dead man’s sister, to show Terry how low he has fallen. When his crooked brother Charley the Gent (Rod Steiger) is brutally murdered for refusing to kill him, Terry battles to crush Friendly’s underworld empire. Directed by Elia Kazan (‘A Streetcar Named Desire’) with Leonard Bernstein’s superb score, this unforgettable drama about Terry’s redemption is among the most acclaimed of all films.

USA 1954 ELIA KAZAN 108M

Thu 22 Aug 15:45 –

BURN!

1969

A British mercenary helps the revolting slaves of an Antilles island colony gain independence from Portugal, but later returns to hunt down a local rebel leader and former protégé. During the 1840s, Britain sends secret agent Sir William Walker (Marlon Brando) to break up Portugal’s sugar monopoly on the fictional Caribbean island of Queimada. Walker incites the slaves to revolt under the leadership of a dock worker, José Dolores (Evaristo Márquez), while simultaneously convincing plantation owners to turn against the government. A decade later, however, Walker must return to Queimada to confront his one-time pupil, Dolores, who now leads a revolt to throw out the British. Another wonderful collaboration between a master actor and a ground-breaking director, this time in the shape of Gillo Pontecorvo who had only three years earlier directed ‘The Battle of Algiers.’ (Some subtitles) ITALY/FRANCE 1969 GILLO PONTECORVO 112M

A DRY WHITE SEASON 1989

A White middle class South African suburbanite with no interest in politics agrees to help his Black gardener find his jailed son. Includes one of Marlon Brando’s best performances of his later career. Teacher Ben du Toit (Donald Sutherland) mostly ignores the problems of apartheid in South Africa until he discovers that the son of a gardener (Winston Ntshona) at his school has been killed by corrupt policeman Stolz (Jürgen Prochnow). Du Toit persuades human rights attorney Ian McKenzie (Marlon Brando), to try the long-shot case against Stolz. During the trial, Du Toit’s transformation into an advocate for justice is so absolute that it distances him from his family. This is a gripping film, finely counterbalancing a fierce sense of moral outrage with an inexorably unfolding human tragedy. This is political cinema that is so deeply felt, capturing the ugly truths of South African Apartheid, and hopefully shining a light on its failings so that it doesn’t happen again.

USA 1989 EUZHAN PALCY 106M

Summer

OPEN AIR THEATRE

28 JULY TO 1 SEPTEMBER

Book online and Save! Use code CHIFF10 at the checkout to receive 10% o yourtheatretickets.

Come and enjoy live theatre performances set against the backdrop of our open air site. Please see our website for more information on dates and performances, including...

Sunday, 28 July – The Comedy of Errors

Monday, 29 July – The Secret Diary of Henry VIII

Friday, 9 August – Great Expectations

Thursday, 29 August – As You Like It

Visit wealddown.co.uk/theatre for more information

BRANDO’S REBEL YELL

LISTEN TO ME MARLON 2015

A documentary utilising audio and video that Marlon Brando recorded over the course of his life to tell the screen legend’s story. Brando – who remained deliberately mysterious to the press and the world at large for his entire professional life – created a vast archive of personal audio and visual materials over the course of his lifetime, often deeply confessional and completely without vanity or evasion. Charting his exceptional career as an actor and his extraordinary life away from the stage and screen, the film reveals the complexities and contradictions that were Marlon Brando by telling the story in his own words – and only his own words, revealing a man more humane and compelling than anyone ever could have imagined. This is a one-of-a-kind film about a one-of-a-kind screen legend, a man who transformed acting without ever really knowing what he thought of it.

UK 2015 STEVAN RILEY 103M

A GENIUS METHOD: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF MARLON BRANDO

To celebrate the centenary of Brando’s birth, this talk by Ian Haydn Smith, illustrated with a selection of clips, heralds a Brando strand at this year’s Film Festival. Work long enough as an actor and you see generations embrace you differently. To some, Marlon Brando was the fiery presence who lit up ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘On the Waterfront’. To others, he was the greatest of all cinematic crime lords in ‘The Godfather’, a doyen of European Arthouse cinema in ‘Last Tango in Paris’ and a terrifying study in madness in ‘Apocalypse Now’, while younger audiences identified him as Jor-El, the father of Superman. What all these roles highlight is the versatility of an actor who, for 40 years, was a magnetic presence on the screen and no less a volcanic one off it. This talk accompanies a selected retrospective of Brando’s achievements, discussing how he helped change the very art of screen acting, resuscitated his wayward career time and time again, and remained an enigmatic and sometimes troubled presence upon the cinematic landscape. Ian Haydn Smith is a writer and editor who has previously given talks at Chichester International Film Festival on Lindsay Anderson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Kristen Scott Thomas, Theo Angelopoulos and the cinema of China, Italy and Iran.

100M (INC 10M Q&A)

Thu 15 Aug 17:00 – Studio

Sat 17 Aug 15:45 – Studio

Mon 19 Aug 15:15 – Studio

FRANCES HA

An exhilarating black-and-white seriocomedy from Noah Baumbach, with a stellar star turn by co-writer Greta Gerwig in Woody Allen vein.

Baumbach’s terrific film looks at the life of an adorable misfit in 2012 New York City with the verve of French New Wave film from 1962. Gerwig plays a bright, scatty 27-yearold who’s still living as though it’s her first year out of college. Whether she’s spouting genuinely amusing dialogue or making a fool of herself, Gerwig is embraceable, unpredictable and possessed of gifts for physical comedy that can be simultaneously graceful and bumbling. She can behave lamentably and embarrassingly, and you can still love her for it. This is probably Gerwig’s defining acting performance. The film is a delight!

USA 2012 NOAH BAUMBACH 86M

20TH CENTURY WOMEN

A coming-of-age comedy-drama about three women (including Greta Gerwig in actress mode), who explore love and freedom in late 1970s Southern California. It’s 1979, and everything is in flux. Ayatollah Khomeini assumes power in Iran; Margaret Thatcher becomes British Prime Minister; and Dorothea Fields (a never-better Annette Bening) invites a squad of firemen to a party… as her son Jamie points out, only she would do such a thing. Her one concern is if he will become a good man. She has tried to give him a father figure (Billy Crudup) without success, so asks two women (Elle Fanning and Greta Gerwig) to help guide the boy to adulthood. You may find yourself itching to dance along with the people on screen as they cut loose to songs from the distant past or from their rapidly spinning present.

USA 2016 MIKE MILLS 118M

MISTRESS AMERICA

This unique, creative and simply on point film sees a lonely college freshman’s life turned upside down by her impetuous, adventurous soon-to-be stepsister (Greta Gerwig).

Noah Baumbach’s film sees Tracy (Lola Kirke), a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke’s alluringly mad schemes. Baumbach has a gift in that he can somehow make characters that on the surface are selfish and insufferable, somehow compelling and lovable.

USA 2015 NOAH BAUMBACH 84M

FEEL ALL THE

FEELINGS:

THE CINEMA OF GRETA GERWIG

This talk will look back at the career of writer/ director Greta Gerwig, who this year became the first American female director to act as Jury President at the Cannes Film Festival. From her years as the ‘Mumblecore Queen’ of American indie cinema in the noughties, to directing 2023’s blockbuster triumph ‘Barbie’, Greta Gerwig has brought her distinctive style out of the arthouses and into the heart of the mainstream. She was this year’s Cannes Jury President, has been nominated for four Oscars, and so they say, caused a global shortage of pink paint. From ‘Frances Ha’ to ‘Lady Bird’ and beyond, the actor-writer-director has specialised in witty, emotional stories of singular young women coming of age, which made her feminist, self-reflexive takes on ‘Little Women’ and the best-selling doll of the 20th century so satisfying, rich and empowering for audiences of all ages. As she prepares her two-part cinematic adaptation of the ‘Narnia’ stories, this illustrated talk by freelance film critic and film historian Pamela Hutchinson will look back at her brilliant career, her transformative cinema of girlhood, and her infectiously enthusiastic approach to her life and work.

100M (INC 10M Q&A)

LADY BIRD

Greta Gerwig’s first serious attempt at direction sees an artistically inclined seventeen year-old come of age in Sacramento, California, in the early 2000s. Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong- willed mum (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird’s father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. ‘Lady Bird’ is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home. It is all about watching Lady Bird learn to fly and leave the nest; familiar though that sounds, this film is so funny and so moving (and so smart) that it’s fair to say you’ve never seen anything quite like it before. Gerwig revealed herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with this film, creating a coming-of-age story that is wry, funny and touchingly real.

USA 2017 GRETA GERWIG 94M

Fri 23 Aug 11:30 – Studio

LITTLE WOMEN

Greta Gerwig brought to the screens this 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 literary classic.

Four teenaged sisters (Amy – Florence Pugh, Meg – Emma Watson, Jo – Saoirse Ronan, Beth – Eliza Scanlen) and their mother, Marmee (Laura Dern), live in a new neighbourhood in Massachusetts in genteel poverty. Having lost all his money, their father is acting as a pastor, miles from home, involved in the American Civil War. The women face their first Christmas without him, and their fortunes fluctuate from literary success to love, to chronic illness. Gerwig could well be the perfect director to bring this femaledriven story to our modern-day screens, especially following her previous successes ‘20th Century Women’ and ‘Lady Bird’.

USA 2019 GRETA GERWIG 135M

Open Air Screening

BARBIE

The juggernaut of 2023 that saw millions of people around the world rejoice in the fantasy of cinema. Greta Gerwig co-wrote and directed this cult classic in-the-making which garnered eight Oscar nominations.

USA 2023 GRETA GERWIG 114M

See pg 66 Fri 9 Aug 20:15 – Priory Park

15 Aug 14:30 – Studio

VALLEY OF SHADOWS

VALLE DE SOMBRAS

A mix of adventure and thriller taking place in breathtaking landscapes and unknown civilisations which demands to be seen on the big screen to enjoy the stunning cinematography. Himalayas, 1999. Quique (Miguel Herrán from ‘Money Heist’), Clara (Susana Abaitua) and little Lucas (Iván Renedo) enjoy their first holiday together in Northern India. After an attack by local bandits, Quique is rescued by a native and transferred to a remote village in the mountains. There, without the possibility of returning to civilisation until winter when the river freezes over, he lives with locals and finds a friend and teacher in local monk, Prana (Alexandra Masangkay). Director Salvador Calvo drew from classics of travel literature such as Verne and Twain, which were part of the readings of his earliest childhood. From there was born his fascination for travelling and the magnetism that the encounter with other cultures exerts on all of us. Ultimately, this is a story that speaks of guilt, courage to face fears, friendship, solidarity and redemption, without losing any of the adventure of travel. This film has been selected as part of the Alma Ibérica strand in tribute to the Spanish and Portuguese explorers of the ‘New World’ in the 1400 and 1500s. (Some subtitles)

SPAIN 2024 SALVADOR CALVO 120M

CRÍA

CUERVOS

RAISE RAVENS

A haunting Spanish tale of innocence lost and one that stays with you long after you have watched it. Critically acclaimed when it was first released, it has gone on to become a classic of Spanish cinema.

After the discovery of her father’s dead body and a fleeting exchange of glances with his fleeing lover, the eight-year-old melancholic Ana (Ana Torrent) begins to merge the real with the imaginary, in this political and psychological masterpiece. She begins to scrutinise her bourgeois family after her father’s death, a philandering army officer, and her mother (Geraldine Chaplin), whom he has destroyed. This film brilliantly captures the thoughts and feelings of a young girl and her family as they go through turbulent times amid the backdrop of the Franco regime. Torrent has produced two of the very best child performances on film: first in Víctor Erice’s ‘Spirit of the Beehive’ (1973), and then in this film, three years later. (Subtitles)

SPAIN 1975 CARLOS SAURA 110M

ALMA IBÉRICA IBERIAN SOUL

Fri 16 Aug 19:00 – Studio

VIRIDIANA

OPEN OPEN DAY! DAY! OPEN OPEN DAY! DAY!

A young nun about to take her final vows pays a visit to her widowed uncle at the request of her Mother Superior. Quintessential Buñuel: a masterpiece against the grain, designed to shock and create awe.

Viridiana (Silvia Pinal) is preparing to start her life as a nun when she is sent, somewhat unwillingly, to visit her aging uncle Don Jaime (Fernando Rey). She has secretly despised this man all her life and finds her worst fears proven when Jaime grows determined to seduce his niece. Buñuel was undoubtedly a genius who had the capacity to offend and delight at the same time. He returned to his native Spain (from exile in Mexico) to create this film, a scorching anti-clerical masterpiece which won the 1961 Palme D’Or at Cannes and marked his rebirth as a filmmaker of international repute. (Subtitles)

SPAIN 1961 LUIS BUÑUEL 91M

Sat 17 Aug 18:30 – Studio

LISBON STORY

Summoned to Portugal by a filmmaker friend, a sound engineer travels to the city and falls in love with a singer. A dreamy philosophical travelogue made in poetic style by German director Wim Wenders. The director Friedrich Monroe (Patrick Bauchau) is having trouble finishing a silent black and white film about Lisbon. He calls his sound engineer friend Phillip Winter (Rudiger Vogler) for help, who arrives in Lisbon weeks later, with no sign of Monroe, and an unfinished film. Winter becomes fascinated by the city and the Portuguese singer Teresa (Teresa Salgueiro of the band Madredeus), so decides to stay, and it is there that he starts to record the sound of the film. At the same time, Monroe cruises through the city with a camera, capturing moments of the beautiful city. Wenders became enthralled by the haunting music of Madredeus – do immerse yourself in it – and made their sound integral to his film. This is a postcard to the enchanting city of Lisbon, placing front and centre the ancient crooked cobbled lanes, extraordinary colours and lyrical sounds of the Portuguese capital. (Some subtitles) PORTUGAL/GERMANY 1994 WIM WENDERS 100M

ALMA IBÉRICA IBERIAN SOUL

ALMA VIVA

LIVING SOUL

Winner of Best Film at the 2023 Sophia Awards (Portuguese Film Academy Awards), this is a beautifully told story about a family who have lost their matriarch, but soon after, a young girl starts seeing the deceased grandmother.

Mon 19 Aug 18:30 – Auditorium

Thu 22 Aug 18:15 – Studio

Returning home as she does every summer, youngster Salomé (Lua Michel) starts her vacation like any other. She spends the long, hot days enjoying her time with her clan, most of all her grandmother, Alma – the fiery matriarch and their spiritual anchor. When Alma suddenly passes away the family are torn apart. The adults argue, while young Salomé gradually comes to understand the gravity of the situation, and comes to believe she is seeing the grandmother. Meira’s direction is nothing short of incredible; she homes in on the emotional core of the family’s ordeal, and perfectly illustrates the relatives’ interactions. And being portrayed primarily from the perspective of the young girl, viewers will understand events from a child’s eyes in a journey that spans wonder, fear and confusion. You will be amazed to find out that this is a first feature. Cristèle Alves Meira’s marvellous film etches out a portrait that is intimate, joyous and utterly heartbreaking. Throw in a touch of mystique and an eye-widening setting, and ‘Alma Viva’ is an astonishing marvel of visual creativity. (Subtitles)

PORTUGAL 2022 CRISTÈLE ALVES MEIRA 85M

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

MUJERES AL BORDE DE UN ATAQUE DE NERVIOS

In this breakout comedy noir by Pedro Almodóvar, a television actress encounters a variety of eccentric characters after embarking on a journey to discover why her lover abruptly left her. When Pepa Marcos’ (Carmen Maura) lover Ivan (Fernando Guillén) suddenly leaves her without any explanation, she embarks on a strange journey to discover why. On the way she meets a variety of eccentric characters, including Ivan’s son from a previous relationship (Antonio Banderas), his fiancée Marissa (Rossy de Palma) and a Shiite terrorist cell who have been secretly holding her best friend Candela (María Barranco) hostage. This is a film noir take on the romantic comedy, expertly balanced between farce, absurdism and tragedy. Almodóvar had already created ‘Matador’ and ‘Law of Desire’ by this stage, but it was this film, full of colour and humour, that brought him to the international audience. (Subtitles)

SPAIN 1988 PEDRO ALMODÓVAR 88M

Wed 21 Aug 15:45 – Auditorium (film)

Lunch at 13:00 or Dinner at 18:00

– Viento de Levante (PO19 7LT)

Tickets £48 (Film, Flamenco & Food)

Special Event: Film, Flamenco & Tapas

A CHEF FOR DALI

ESPERANDO A DALÍ

Our Surprise Film from the 2023 Film Festival is the perfect choice for this special Film, Flamenco & Tapas event in association with Chichester’s best tapas restaurant – El Matador, formerly known as Viento de Levante.

Set in the 1970s during the dying days of the Franco regime, Fernando (Ivan Massagué), a talented chef and political activist, is hiding from the authorities after an anti-Franco demonstration is ambushed by the authorities. He and his political comrades take refuge in the village of Cadaqués, also home to internationally renowned surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (Gal Soler). As a cover, Fernando takes on the role of head chef for ‘El Surreal’ – a restaurant dedicated to the art of Dalí – owned by an obsessive fan who wants nothing more than for Dalí to dine there. Soon, the paths of the chef and the artist will cross and cause the birth of a new culinary genius. Inspired by the original story of the restaurant El Bulli, director David Pujol has created a delightful, sunny comedy that correlates the passion for food (depicted here in mouth-watering detail) and the drive to create a lasting legacy, be it through, art, food or social justice. “It sweetens the audience’s eyes, makes people fall in love with a passion for cooking, and connects us with the love for ideas.” – Crónica. (Subtitles)

SPAIN 2023 DAVID PUJOL 114M

We are delighted to partner with Chichester’s prime tapas restaurant – El Matador (formerly Viento de Levante) – for a very special Film, Flamenco & Food event where you can see last year’s Festival Surprise Film ‘A Chef for Dali’ and enjoy a tapas banquet accompanied by some live Flamenco at this atmospheric restaurant. When booking, choose either lunch followed by the film, or film followed by dinner. Both lunch and dinner tapas banquets are the same. You won’t find a deal as good as this anywhere!

ALMA IBÉRICA IBERIAN SOUL

Wed 21 Aug 20:30

TABU

In this romantic film about lost love and classic cinema, a retired woman teams up with her neighbour’s maid to seek out a man who has a secret connection to her past life in the foothills of Mount Tabu. Considered by many to be the best Portuguese film of this Century.

The eccentric Aurora (Laura Soveral and Ana Moreira) lives out her twilight years in Lisbon with her trusted African maid Santa (Isabel Cardoso) perpetually at one side, with haunting memories of the past seemingly hanging on the other. When Aurora is admitted to hospital, neighbour Pilar (Teresa Madruga) takes it upon herself to uncover the melancholies that have blighted Aurora’s later life. Pilar uncovers a longlost love affair between Aurora and a mysterious Italian suitor, whom she courted beneath the shadows of Mount Tabu in Africa. Mysterious and visually striking (shot in beautiful black and white), ‘Tabu’ rewards viewers with a swooning romance shot with experimental flair, distinguishing the two time periods with exemplary use of both 35mm and 16mm film – with sumptuous results. (Subtitles)

PORTUGAL 2012 MIGUEL GOMES 118M

CLOSE YOUR EYES

CERRAR LOS OJOS

A near-masterpiece for director Víctor Erice, this film ends his long gap between films with a moving meditation on memory, identity and cinema itself. Received 5-star reviews from most respected critics.

A famous Spanish actor, Julio Arenas, disappears during the filming of a movie. Although his body is never found, the police conclude that he has suffered an accident at the edge of a cliff. Many years later, the mystery is brought up once more by a TV programme that tries to evoke the actor, offering as a scoop, images of the last scenes in which he participated, shot by his close friend, director Miguel Garay (Manolo Solo). This is Erice’s first feature in 31 years – and only his fourth overall – arriving as something between a desert oasis and a mirage: a shimmery, nourishing culmination of ideas and ellipses in a career so elusive as to have taken on a mythic quality, to the point that his latest film feels almost dreamed into being. Nominated for an amazing 11 Goya Awards – the Spanish film industry’s highest accolade. You may not get another chance to see one of the best films of the year on the big screen – so take advantage of this opportunity. (Subtitles)

SPAIN 2023 VÍCTOR ERICE 169M Fri 23 Aug 10:30 –

Sun 25 Aug 17:15

BLANCANIEVES

A twist on the Snow White fairy tale set in 1920s Seville and centred on a female bullfighter. A gloriously entertaining rumination on families, film history, fairytales and Spanish folklore.

Carmencita (Macarena García) is the newborn daughter of celebrated matador, Antonio Villalta (Daniel Giménez Cacho), but her flamenco-singer/dancer mother did not survive the birth. Grief-stricken, Villalta rejects the newborn and falls into the open arms of her nurse, Encarna (Maribel Verdú), who will eventually become Carmencita’s cruel, power-crazed stepmother. The film examines the more populist elements of Spanish film history and reflects in a personal and refreshingly nostalgia-free manner on the country, its history and its traditions through the prism of international film history. You may recognise the writer-director Pablo Berger as he recently created the critically acclaimed animation ‘Robot Dreams’. (Subtitles)

SPAIN 2012 PABLO BERGER 104M

VIVA LAS VEGAS

1964

USA 1964 GEORGE SIDNEY 85M Thu 15 Aug 12:00 – Studio

A race car driver (Elvis Presley) wiles away his time in Las Vegas working as a waiter to pay for his new engine and soon strikes up a romance with a beautiful young woman. Musically gifted race car driver Lucky Jackson wants to score enough money for a new car motor so he can win the Grand Prix. When he encounters sexy swimming instructor Rusty (Ann- Margret), he considers staying around longer. After Lucky loses his winnings in the hotel pool, he’s forced to remain in Vegas long enough to win back his dough – but now he also wants to win Rusty’s heart. Unfortunately, so does his slick racing enemy Elmo (Cesare Danova). Next to ‘Jailhouse Rock’, this is one of Elvis Presley’s finest films, and is a rare Elvis movie in which he is not just complemented, but also challenged, by a song-and-dance co-star of comparable sexual energy and anatomical expressiveness.

Mon 19 Aug 11:00 - Auditorium

IMMORTAL BELOVED

1994

Gary Oldman embodies the life and death of the legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Following Beethoven’s death in 1827, his assistant Schindler (Jeroen Krabbé) searches for an elusive woman referred to in the composer’s love letters as “immortal beloved”. As Schindler solves the mystery, a series of flashbacks reveals Beethoven’s transformation from passionate young man to troubled musical genius. This absorbing biography chronicles the life of the genius classical composer and his painful struggle with hearing loss, complemented by stellar performances, spectacular backdrops and clever screenwriting.

UK/USA 1994 BERNARD ROSE 121M

Tue 20 Aug 13:30 – Studio

Tue 20 Aug 15:45 - Studio

Film

Talk

I GOT IT BAD & THAT AIN’T GOOD

PORTRAYALS OF JAZZ MUSICIANS ON FILM

In films, the fictional, or semi-fictional, jazz musician often comes out badly, as an alcoholic or drug addict, tortured genius or a disreputable character of some sort.

Although the first talkie was called ‘The Jazz Singer’, it had little to do with jazz, and it was really from the 1940s that the genre found its way into films and, flawed personalities aside, the music is often wonderful. From Kirk Douglas’s trumpeter in ‘Young Man with a Horn’ and Swedish jazz wannabes in ‘Sven Klangs Kvintett’ to the peerless Dexter Gordon’s performance in ‘Round Midnight’ and the young Buddy Rich devotee in ‘Whiplash’ – what they have in common is that jazz lies at the heart of their very being. Sandy Guthrie from Chichester Cinema’s Education Team will introduce some of the key moments in cinema jazz, from Hollywood, Europe and elsewhere.

100M INC. Q&A

PARIS BLUES

When two Paris nightclub jazz players meet two vacationing American beauties, their passion for music is suddenly challenged by their desire for love. The perfect film to follow our Jazz Musicians on Film talk.

Despite being far from home, American jazz musicians Ram Bowen (Paul Newman) and Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier) are content living and working in Paris. Ram knows it’s the best place for him to develop his musical reputation, and Eddie is far away from the racism that once greeted him on a regular basis. But after meeting and falling in love with American tourists Lillian (Joanne Woodward) and Connie (Diahann Carroll), the pair must decide whether their artistic integrity is worth abandoning. With a superb cast (Joanne Woodward is marvellous), on location shooting in Paris and Oscarnominated jazz music from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, this offbeat musical affair is one of the most delightful jazz movies ever made… and often criminally forgotten.

USA 1961 MARTIN RITT 98M

Tickets £7.50 (Film & DJ) DJ event only - FREE

Film & Club Event

PURPLE RAIN

1984

Sat 24 Aug 18:15 – The Havana, Chichester Followed by DJ & Dancing from 8 till late

A young Minneapolis musician tormented by trouble at home must contend with a rival singer, a burgeoning romance and his own dissatisfied band. Be prepared to experience some of the best music performances ever put to film.

The Kid (Prince) is on the rise with his band, the Revolution. While trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his father (Clarence Williams III), the Kid navigates the club scene and a rocky relationship with a captivating singer, Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero). But another musician, Morris (Morris Day), looks to steal the Kid’s spotlight – and his girl. The strength of this film is in the live performances – and not only from Prince and the Revolution. Morris Day’s The Time are electric on stage. Most of the film, very loosely based on Prince’s life, is taken up by live performances, leaving the viewer energised by the artistic prowess and energy emanating from the screen. To fully understand the immensity of the cultural phenomenon that was Prince in the Summer of 1984, he simultaneously had the number one song, film and album in the USA.

USA 1984 ALBERT MAGNOLI 111M

SPECIAL FILM & CLUB EVENT:

We are delighted to partner with The Havana bar, Chichester, to host this Prince evening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Purple Rain’. Join us in this atmospheric club for a screening of the film followed by a DJ spinning both hits and deeper cuts from Prince and his associated artists.

Wear something purple! Prize for best Prince-themed outfit. Dance the night away!

Sun 11 Aug 20:15

Open Air Screening STOP MAKING SENSE

40th Anniversary Remaster. Considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, this is the perfect way to end a weekend of open air screenings. Newly restored in 4K. USA 1984 JONATHAN DEMME 88M

See p68 for full details

WHIPLASH

2014

A promising young drummer enrols at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realise a student’s potential.

Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious young jazz drummer, in pursuit of rising to the top of his elite music conservatory. Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), an instructor known for his terrifying teaching methods, discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into a top jazz ensemble, forever changing the young man’s life. But Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher pushes him to the brink of his ability and his sanity. Simmons won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his unforgettable and relentless performance, with the film also being awarded Best Sound and Best Editing. A modern-day musical classic.

USA 2014 DAMIEN CHAZELLE 106M

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB

1999

Aging Cuban musicians whose talents had been virtually forgotten following Castro’s takeover of Cuba are brought out of retirement, resulting in triumphant performances of extraordinary music.

This documentary by lauded German filmmaker Wim Wenders follows renowned guitarist Ry Cooder and his son, Joachim, as they travel to Cuba and assemble a group of the country’s finest musicians to record an album. Eventually the ensemble travels to the United States to perform in front of rapt audiences. Wenders packs in an impressive amount of music and experience, and, most importantly, secured the place of these amazing musicians in the larger scope of history. It is impossible to watch this documentary without being moved… both emotionally and musically.

GERMANY/CUBA/USA 1999 WIM WENDERS 105M

Thu 15 Aug 19:45

Sat 17 Aug 11:30 – Studio

Mon 19 Aug 17:00 – Studio

LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA

1989

Kaurismäki’s road comedy follows a Russian band with out-of-date hairstyles and large, odd boots who, in the mood for new freedoms, decide to seek fame in the USA. An enthusiastic Siberian rock ‘n’ roll band, The Leningrad Cowboys, journeys to New York with their manager (Matti Pellonpää) and a dead member who froze to death before his dreams of success could be realised. They land a gig in Mexico, and the band, including the dead member strapped to the top of their Cadillac, drives there through the country that birthed rock music, meeting various characters along the road to success. Meanwhile, a crazed fan (Kari Väänänen) from home chases them down. This band of eccentric goofballs, maybe the worst band in rock-and-roll history, starts at the legendary CBGB club in Manhattan and proceeds to travel cross-country playing anywhere they can, creating an unusual marriage where the East is greeted with a restrained approval. This is a hilarious picaresque tale which throws off some clever cross-cultural insights. (Subtitles)

FINLAND/SWEDEN 1989 AKI KAURISMÄKI 79M

THE MATCH FACTORY GIRL

TULITIKKUTEHTAAN TYTTÖ

1990

This magnetic and unforgettable watch follows a woman’s terribly dull life which is upended by a onenight stand pregnancy.

Iris (Kati Outinen) has a soul-deadening job as a quality-control worker watching boxes of matches go by on an assembly line all day. At night, she eats silently with her dour mother (Elina Salo) and stepfather (Esko Nikkari). One weekend, wearing her new red dress at a local dance, she ends up going home with Aarne (Vesa Vierikko), whom she mistakenly believes is her new boyfriend. Rendered in his characteristic deadpan style, a proceeding shocking event becomes sardonically funny – a gutsy move that only a real master of tone, as Kaurismäki is, could pull off. A bleakly comic masterwork of economic storytelling from Finland’s maestro director. (Subtitles)

FINLAND 1990 AKI KAURISMÄKI 69M

THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST

MIES VAILLA MENNEISYYTTÄ

2002

A man suffering from amnesia wanders through the streets of Helsinki in search of a new life. A film to restore faith in the goodness of people.

The second part of Kaurismäki’s ‘Finland’ trilogy (also including ‘Drifting Clouds’ and ‘Lights in the Dusk’), this film follows a man who arrives in Helsinki and gets beaten to the point of amnesia. Unable to remember his name or anything from his past life, he cannot get a job or an apartment, so he starts living on the outskirts of the city and slowly starts putting his life back on track. He eventually meets Irma (Kati Outinen), a Salvation Army worker, and they fall in love while he rebuilds a life with new friends and a new job. It’s not often a movie can so persuasively reassure us of people’s inherent goodness, but it’s even rarer still for it to be done with as much deceptive, charming simplicity as here. (Subtitles)

FINLAND 2002 AKI KAURISMÄKI 97M

WHERE MAKERS MAKE PROGRESS

Pottery to printmaking, basketry to bookbinding, metalwork to musical instrument making: whether you’re a curious beginner or skilled enthusiast, a short course with our expert tutors is a great way to discover and rediscover the joys of lost crafts.

AKI KAURISMÄKI: MASTER OF DROLL

LE HAVRE

2011

Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes 2011, and nominee for the Palme D’Or, this Aki Kaurismäki gem shines a hopeful spotlight on the plight of refugees, still incredibly relevant today. When young African refugee Idrissa (Blondin Miguel) arrives by cargo ship in the port city of Le Havre, an aging shoe shiner and former artist Marcel Marx (André Wilms) takes pity on the child and welcomes him into his home. Marcel goes to great lengths to find out Idrissa’s story, which leads to Marcel’s further task of trying to get Idrissa to London, his original end destination. With beautifully framed and eye-catching composition, Kaurismäki carves out an optimistic and empathetic tale about humanity doing the right thing. An intimate, romantic, tender and humanist story. (Subtitles)

FINLAND/FRANCE 2011 AKI KAURISMÄKI 93M

Sun 25 Aug 11:15 – Auditorium

FALLEN LEAVES

KUOLLEET LEHDET

2023

Two lonely people who meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night try to find the first love of their lives. This latest Aki Kaurismäki’s deadpan comedy has garnered multiple 5-star reviews and attracted multiple sell-out screenings last Winter. Ansa (Alma Pöysti) and Holappa (Jussi Vatanen) meet each other by chance in a Helsinki bar, immediately gravitating towards each other, united by an underlying desire for togetherness and meaningful human interaction. Their path towards the honourable goal of finding the love of their lives is clouded by life’s general tendency to place obstacles in the way of those seeking happiness. Every bit as funny as it is sad, ‘Fallen Leaves’ finds glimmers of humour and hope in moments of tragedy. Finnish master Kaurismäki produces a soft-spoken and mordant comedy every six years or so and never, ever misses the mark. Even by his high standards, this gentle tragicomedy is close to perfect.

FINLAND 2023 AKI KAURISMÄKI 81M

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY

Columbia (1953)

Fred Zinnemann’s powerful and fervent multiple Oscar-winner – featuring one of the all-time most famous Hollywood scenes – still packs a punch today.

At an Army barracks in Hawaii in the days preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor, lone-wolf soldier and boxing champion “Prew” Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) refuses to box, preferring to play the bugle instead. Hard-hearted Capt. Holmes (Philip Ober) subjects Prew to a gruelling series of punishments while, unknown to Holmes, the gruff but fair Sgt. Warden (Burt Lancaster) engages in a clandestine affair with the captain’s mistreated wife (Deborah Kerr). This Columbia classic, which won eight Oscars, is chiefly remembered for the iconic scene of Kerr and Lancaster rolling about together in the Hawaiian surf, but there is so much more… especially a magnificent ensemble cast that also includes Frank Sinatra and Ernest Borgnine.

USA 1953 FRED ZINNEMANN 118M

HIS GIRL FRIDAY

Columbia (1940)

Howard Hawks’ timeless screwball comedy about a newspaper editor who uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying. A classic comedy famous for its sharp and witty exchanges.

When hard-nosed New York newspaper editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant) discovers that his ex-wife, investigative reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell), has got engaged to milquetoast insurance agent Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy), he unsuccessfully tries to lure her away from tame domestic life with a story about the impending execution of convicted murderer Earl Williams (John Qualen). But when Hildy discovers Williams may be innocent, her reporter instincts take over. Without ‘His Girl Friday’, there may never have been the sexy, Tarantino-esque witty banter we see on our screens today.

USA 1940 HOWARD HAWKS 92M

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

MGM (1940)

When a rich woman’s ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.

This classic romantic comedy focuses on Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has split from her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), due both to his drinking and to her overly demanding nature. As Tracy prepares to wed the wealthy George Kittredge (John Howard), she crosses paths with both Dexter and prying reporter Macaulay Connor (James Stewart). Unclear about her feelings for all three men, Tracy must decide who she truly loves. With this release, Cukor practically wrote the book on how the screwball comedy functions at its peak. This is a must-see!

USA 1940 GEORGE CUKOR 112M

MGM & COLUMBIA TURN 100

Mon 19 Aug 12:30 –

Thu 22 Aug 11:15 –

Fri 23 Aug 16:30 –

NINOTCHKA

MGM (1939)

A stern Soviet woman sent to Paris to supervise the sale of jewels seized from Russian nobles finds herself attracted to a man who represents everything she is supposed to detest.

A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna “Ninotchka” Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile, carefree bachelor Count Leon d’Algout (Melvyn Douglas) attempts to intercept the valuables on behalf of their former owner, the Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire). Despite their conflicting allegiances, the icy Ninotchka soon warms to Leon’s charms, reluctantly going against her better judgment. Has there ever been a more charming, sexy, infectious laugh put to film than the one Garbo delivers in Ninotchka? She was a performer of unmatched style and beauty, an actress ahead of her time, and Garbo’s refusal to bow to the usual demands of a Hollywood celebrity only enhanced her status as an icon among both the media and her adoring public.

USA 1939 ERNST LUBITSCH 110M

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS

MGM (1944)

This much-loved 1944 musical sees young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family. Includes the break-out performance of a luminous Judy Garland.

This bubbly MGM romantic musical comedy is divided into four family album chapters that emulate the four seasons leading up to the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. It was one of the first films to integrate musical numbers into the plot, and explores, without condescension or simple-mindedness, the feelings that drive the Smith family members apart and then bring them back together again. You could see the entire film as a brilliant showcase for its sensational song: ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, which Garland sings in the presence of her sobbing sister, with her eyes upturned like a sorrowing saint. Other musical highlights include ‘The Trolley Song’, ‘Skip to My Lou’ and ‘The Boy Next Door’. An unmissable big-screen experience.

USA 1944 VINCENTE MINNELLI 113M

GILDA

Columbia (1946)

A small-time gambler hired to work in a Buenos Aires casino discovers his employer’s new wife is his former lover. This brilliant noir classic is a mix between ‘Casablanca’ and Hitchcock’s ‘Notorious’.

Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) is a small-time American gambler newly arrived in Buenos Aires. When he is caught cheating at a game of blackjack, Farrell manages to talk his way into a job with the casino’s owner, the powerful Ballin Mundson (George Macready). The two form an uneasy partnership based on their mutual lack of scruples until Mundson introduces Farrell to his beautiful new wife, Gilda (Rita Hayworth), who just happens to be Farrell’s ex-lover. Watch out for Hayworth’s entrance – it’s pure Hollywood: a perfectly lit close-up as she whips her head into frame, her hair lashing back and revealing her bright face and wide, mischievous grin.

A real 1940s Hollywood treat.

USA 1946 CHARLES VIDOR 110M

MGM!

This talk will trace the history of the film studio which boasted “more stars than there are in heaven”, including clips from some of their greatest hits. In 1930s Hollywood, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) was a by-word for glamour, sophistication and high-gloss entertainment. Among the five major studios, it was the biggest, the most profitable, and had the most impressive roster of stars: Garbo, Tracy, Gable. It had the glossiest films too: ‘Ben-Hur’, ‘The Philadelphia Story’, ‘Ninotchka’ and, in the 1950s, it became the home of the best musicals, from ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ to ‘Singing in the Rain’. From humble beginnings in the birth of the motion-picture business to the fatal onslaught of television in the 1950s, MGM rose to the very pinnacle of the movies and fell equally spectacularly. Distinguished film historian Nick Smedley leads us on a journey through the history of MGM on the 100th anniversary of the studio’s founding. Replete with extracts from the rich MGM archive, this promises to be an entertaining and informative two hours.

100M (INC 10M Q&A)

Sat 24 Aug 13:15 – Studio

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE

MGM (1946)

This gripping tale – a masterclass in noir – follows a married woman and a drifter who fall in love and then plot to murder her husband.

Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway), a middle-aged roadside diner owner, hires a drifter, Frank Chambers (John Garfield), to work at his restaurant. Frank quickly begins an affair with Nick’s beautiful young wife, Cora (Lana Turner), and the two conspire to kill Nick and seize his assets. When they succeed, local prosecutor Kyle Sackett (Leon Ames) becomes suspicious, but is unable to build a solid case. However, the couple soon realises that no misdeed ever goes truly unpunished. Part sultry romance, part mystery thriller, the movie continues to keep audiences involved with its edgy character relationships and unforeseen tensions. It also cleverly doubles as an allegory about exploited workers and economic revolt.

USA 1946 TAY GARNETT 113M

Fri 23 Aug 14:15 – Studio

SPECIAL EVENTS

u Screenings take place at Chichester’s beautiful Priory Park.

u Bring a picnic blanket or chair, and a picnic basket filled with your favourite goodies.

u Drinks & snacks available

Fri 9 Aug 20:15 –Priory Park

Gates open 19:00

Sat 10 Aug 16:00

– Priory Park

Gates open 15:00

BARBIE

Wear some pink and join us at Priory Park for a Barbie party. Greta Gerwig directs Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the biggest film of 2023.

Barbie herself is living her best life in her perfect Barbie world, partying of an evening with Barbies who are political leaders, supreme court judges and Nobel laureates (including Dua Lipa and Issa Rae), and a chorus of beach-bunny Ken clones, when suddenly she is assailed with the terrible thought of dying. Weird Barbie tells her she must journey to the real world outside to sort this out and so she and Ken arrive in scuzzy Santa Monica in time-honoured fish-out-of-water style. Gerwig serves up a frothy confection of fashion and fun coupled with searing social critique.

USA 2023 GRETA GERWIG 114M

Tickets: Advance Tickets £12.50 (£14.50 on the day if available)

THE LEGO MOVIE

Can an ordinary Lego mini-figure stop an evil tyrant from gluing the universe together? This is the perfect family film for anyone who loves Lego… and that’s everyone!

Emmet (Chris Pratt) is a basic Lego figurine who always follows the rules, when he is mistakenly identified as an extraordinary being and the key to saving the world. He finds himself drafted into a fellowship of strangers who are on a mission to stop an evil tyrant’s (Will Ferrell) plans to conquer the world. Watch out for many mini-figures from your childhood including Batman, Superman, C3PO, R2D2, Dumbledore and Gandalf. Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson head up the rest of the voice cast. This modern-day cult classic turns 10-years-old this year, and this is a very rare opportunity to see it on the big outdoor screen.

USA 2014 P. LORD & C. MILLER 101M

Tickets: Special Advance Family Ticket: £28 (2 Adults & 2 Kids)

Advance Tickets £12.50 (£14.50 on the day if available)

Kids £3 (£3 on the day if available)

Sat 10 Aug 20:15 – Priory Park

Gates open 19:00

Sun 11 Aug 16:00 – Priory Park

Gates open 15:00

DIRTY DANCING

Let’s get dressed up in our best 1960’s outfits, to celebrate this 80’s classic. Singing and dancing along to the spectacular 1960’s soundtrack is not only allowed, but fully encouraged! Let’s make this one the most memorable Saturday night of 2024!

In the summer of 1963, the innocent Baby (Jennifer Grey) vacations with her parents at a holiday resort. One evening she is drawn to the staff quarters by stirring music, where she meets Johnny (Patrick Swayze), the hotel dance instructor, who is as experienced as Baby is naive. Baby soon becomes Johnny’s pupil in dance and love. Following some trials and tribulations, Johnny returns to put his holiday love centre stage (“nobody puts Baby in a corner”) in the iconic final dance sequence. ‘Dirty Dancing’ represents a lot of what made 80s cinema so great. There’s the obsession with the 60s, Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze… and a brilliant soundtrack.

USA 1987 EMILE ARDOLINO 100M

Tickets: Advance Tickets £12.50 (£14.50 on the day if available)

WONKA IN AID OF STONEPILLOW

The wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today.

Based on the extraordinary character at the centre of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory‘, Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time. Timothée Chalamet stars in the title role, featuring his early days as an eccentric chocolatier and how he met the Oompa-Loompas on one of his earliest adventures. Chalamet and newcomer Calah Lane lead the incredible ensemble cast which includes Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman, Simon Farnaby and Hugh Grant.

USA/UK 2023 PAUL KING 116M

Tickets: Special Advance Family Ticket: £28 (2 Adults & 2 Kids)

Advance Tickets £12.50 (£14.50 on the day if available)

Kids £3 (£3 on the day if available)

SPECIAL EVENTS

STOP MAKING SENSE

40th Anniversary Remaster: Considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, this is the perfect way to end a weekend of open-air screenings. Newly restored in 4K. Director Jonathan Demme (‘Philadelphia’, ‘The Silence of the Lambs’) captures the frantic energy and artsy groove of Talking Heads in this concert movie shot at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in 1983. The band’s frontman, David Byrne, first appears on an empty stage, armed with only an acoustic guitar and is gradually joined by bassist Tina Weymouth, drummer Chris Frantz, keyboardist Jerry Harrison and a cadre of backup singers as they perform the band’s hits, culminating in an iconic performance featuring Byrne in an enormous suit. ‘Stop Making Sense’ brilliantly represents Demme’s endless love of musical performance and gleeful urgency.

USA 2024 JONATHAN DEMME 88M

Tickets: Advance Tickets £12.50 (£14.50 on the day if available) Sun 11 Aug 20:15 – Priory Park Gates open 19:00

A COOL EVENING WITH CHET BAKER:

ON FILM AND LIVE JAZZ SESSION

Thu 15 Aug 19:00 – Auditorium

Tickets £22

plus

LIVE JAZZ GIG

LET’S GET LOST

Documentary on the life of jazz trumpeter, singer and drug addict Chet Baker. With a fascinating series of interviews with friends, family, associates and lovers, interspersed with film from Baker’s earlier life and some modern-day performances.

This film intercuts footage from the 1950s, when he was part of West Coast Cool, and from his last years. We see the young Baker, he of the beautiful face, in California and in Italy, where he appeared in at least one movie and at least one jail cell (for drug possession). We also see the aged Baker, detached, indifferent, his face a ruin. This is an atmospheric black-and-white portrait of a jazz trumpet player, an exemplar of West Coast “cool jazz” in the age when rapid-fire bebop was hot, whose life, career and face were ruined by his various addictions. This outstanding film was nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar in 1988

USA 1988 BRUCE WEBER 120M

To compliment the documentary, we bring you an intimate musical portrait of Chet Baker using the drumless quartet format that he gravitated toward in his latter performances and giving a chance to explore Chet’s music and style in a quietly focused way; especially given the artistic weight of the four performers.

On vocals,following his highly enjoyable contribution to last year’s Ronnie Scott’s evening, international vocal star Ian Shaw returns pairing with the peerless virtuosity of Steve Fishwick on trumpet; the jazz aficionados among you will surely agree that no trumpet/vocal couple are better qualified to explore Chet’s musical legacy. Complimenting these two giants is the towering talent of guitarist Phil Robson; after proving an outstanding leader of contemporary guitar players in the UK, Phil spent the best part of the last decade living and working in New York City establishing himself as a world class improvising guitarist before settling in the West of Ireland. The masterful undertones of bassist Andrew Cleyndert (who also produces this session) return to complete this musical tribute to the truly iconic Chet Baker. Chet Baker was renowned for his beautifully melodic interpretations of the Great American Songbook; the programme will be based on this repertoire including classics such as ‘My Funny Valentine’, ‘Let’s Get Lost’, ‘The Touch of Your Lips’, ‘Almost Blue’ and ‘Love for Sale’.

USA 1988 BRUCE WEBER 120M

Ian Shaw – Vocals Jon Haxby

Andrew Cleyndert – Bass

Steve Fishwick –Trumpet

Phil Robson –Guitar

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sun 18 Aug 20:45 – St. John’s Chapel

UNDERGROUND WITH HARMONIEBAND

A working-class, thrilling romance by the great Anthony Asquith set in and around the London Underground of the 1920s, with live three-piece musical accompaniment. Two men, gentle Bill and brash Bert, meet and are attracted to the same woman on the same day at the same Underground station. But the lady chooses Bill, and Bert isn’t the type to take rejection lightly. HarmonieBand is a three-piece ensemble specialising in the presentation of specially composed scores by Paul Robinson to silent films. Originally formed in 1985, they have performed at all the major art centres, cinemas and film festivals in the UK and Europe. The ensemble is dedicated to live performances of composed scores for silent movies, and with judicious employment of backing tracks, makes an orchestral sound as a backdrop to the three live players on saxophones, cello and accordion.

UK 1928 ANTHONY ASQUITH 84M

Sat 17 Aug 19:00 – St. Paul’s Church

Tickets £15

100 YEARS OF FILM MUSIC

WITH CHICHESTER CITY BAND

A special, unique concert by the Chichester City Band to celebrate 100 years of film music, coupled with some great clips of the films from the music being played. Join us at St. Paul’s Church for a musical celebration of classic cinema where we will skip through the history of cinema, one decade at a time, highlighting some of the most iconic pieces of film music ever composed. Conductor Alfie Hughes will guide his talented orchestra through the decades, from Al Jolson in ‘The Jazz Singer‘, through ‘Over the Rainbow’ from ‘The Wizard of Oz‘, the classic ‘Dambusters’ theme; James Bond’s unmistakeable motif; and on to ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Harry Potter’. So many pieces that you will recognise and love. The clips from the various films have been compiled by the Chichester Cinema Education Team. 140M

Thu 22 Aug 20:15 – Auditorium

Tickets £7.50

SHORT FILMS SHOWCASE

For the first time in nearly 20 years, we bring back short films to the Chichester International Film Festival programme. Join us for a mixture of shorts ranging from a locally filmed (Weald & Downland Museum) period thriller, to an outstanding animation from Portugal, with many interesting stops in between.

Films:

Mother Daughter (Sophie Wu - UK) 10:02

Collage (Marius Conrotto - Spain) 9:51

Horse (University of Chichester - UK) 12:39

Au Revoir Belmondo (Lisa Kohn - France) 13:15

Free Again (Nicholas Prosser - UK) 8:16

The Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess (Anna-Ester Volozh - UK) 6:33

Icetea (Alessia Buiatti - Italy) 13:05

The Holiday Maker (Harry Mead - UK) 7:04

What to Expect (Gabriela Garcia Medina - USA) 9:20

Good Friday (University of Chichester - UK) 9:17

One More (J. Taylor Brookes - UK) 9:16

The Barn (Jonathan Brooker - UK) 20:00

Ana Morphose (Joao Rodrigues - Portugal) 10:00

SPECIAL EVENTS

BUSTER PLAYS BUSTER PRESENTS

SHERLOCK JR. – 100TH ANNIVERSARY

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the classic Keaton film ‘Sherlock Jr.’, we present this very special event that will see the Buster Plays Buster jazz quartet entertain us with some jazz standards from the best exponents of the art in history, followed by a unique screening of the hilarious silent film accompanied by the talented quartet.

In association with:

Wed 21 Aug 19:30 – The Spring, Havant

Tickets £19

TRIBUTE TO THE GREATS

In the first part of the evening, drummer Buster Birch’s well-knit band – Jo Fooks (saxophone), Neil Casey (piano) and Pete Ringrose (bass) – perform a live “tribute to the greats” which includes some jazz standards by the likes of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus and Bill Evans, performed along to some short movies created especially for the music. 50MIN. THERE WILL BE A 30-MINUTE INTERVAL (THE BAR IS OPEN!) FOLLOWED BY:

We are delighted to partner with The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre for the first time.

The Spring: 56 East Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1BS

SHERLOCK JR.

A film projectionist (Buster Keaton) longs to be a detective and puts his meagre skills to work when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend’s father’s pocket-watch. Keaton gives us a never-ending stream of amazing and entertaining sights – coming faster and faster as the film proceeds. The Buster Birch Quartet will perform jazz standards live to the screening. The music is arranged for the group, scored out and sync’d to the movie, and also features plenty of improvised solos from the musicians. As the comic melodrama unfolds the band adroitly accompanies each scene with wellchosen jazz tunes and popular songs – ‘Killer Joe’, ‘Sidewinder’, ‘My One and Only Love’, ‘Salt Peanuts’ and so on.

USA 1924 BUSTER KEATON 45M

SPECIAL EVENTS

SURPRISE FILM

Knowing how discerning, curious and openminded our Festival visitors are, we love to select a film we have a sneaky feeling you will love, and we keep it as a surprise until the curtain is raised… So let the guessing begin! In this, my first Festival as Festival Director, I really wanted to keep up the tradition of a Surprise Film - which I have done - and I think I’ve chosen a film that will please both Chichester Cinema regulars and first-time visitors. It has always proven a very popular part of the programme – even after the opening titles have appeared. In fact, two Surprise Films of past years have ended up taking home the Audience Award for Best

VISITING FILMMAKERS

Hannah Bush Bailey RED HERRING

Fri 16 Aug 13:00 – Auditorium pg30

Tony Palmer HOLST: IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

Sun 18 Aug 12:45 – Auditorium pg31

Michael Wright THE UNDERTAKER

Tue 20 Aug 17:45 – Studio pg9

Kevin Short & cast BONNIE & CLIVE

Tue 20 Aug 20:15 – Studio pg10

Annette Badland and Abigail Cruttenden PORTRAITS OF DANGEROUS WOMEN Sat 24 Aug 12:30 – Auditorium pg12

Wed 21 Aug 13:00 – Auditorium pg9

Rory Kinnear, Nicholas Parish and Tom Joyce THE OLD MAN AND THE LAND

Virginia Gilbert & Juliet Stevenson REAWAKENING Sat 24 Aug 15:15 – Auditorium pg13

Mark Adams & Roger Gibson CANNES UNCUT

Sun 18 Aug 16:15 – Auditorium pg32

Beka Sikharulidze FROM LIFE TO LIFE

Sun 18 Aug 20:45 – Studio pg15

Justin Lerner CADEJO BLANCO Sat 24 Aug 17:45 – Auditorium pg29

FESTIVAL 2024 WHAT’S ON

Fri 9 Aug

Priory Park

20:15

Wed 14 Aug

Main

Main

Priory

Fri 16 Aug

Main Auditorium

10:30 FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (PG) 118m (Col/MGM) 63

13:00 RED HERRING (PG) 94m +Q&A (Docs) 31

15:30 GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS (Adv15) 118m (World) 24

18:00 FIREBRAND (15) 121m (UK/US) 6

20:15 VALLEY OF SHADOWS (15) 120m (Alma Iberica) 45

Studio

12:00 JULIUS CAESAR (U) 120m (Brando) 35

14:30 HIS GIRL FRIDAY (U) 92m (MGM/Col 100) 63

16:30 JUST ONE LAST THING (Adv15) 99m (UK/US) 7

19:00 VIRIDIANA (12A) 91m (Alma Iberica) 47

Sat 17 Aug

Main Auditorium

10:45 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (12A) 122m (Brando) 35

13:15 THE CRIME IS MINE (15) 102m (Euro) 4

15:30 FIREBRAND (15) 121m (UK/US) 6

18:00 PARTY OF FOOLS (Adv15) 111m (Euro) 14 20:15 STARVE ACRE (15)

FIREBRAND

FESTIVAL 2024 WHAT’S ON

Mon 19 Aug

Main Auditorium

11:00 IMMORTAL BELOVED (15) 121m (Sound/Vision) 53

13:45 THE TEACHER (15) 115m (World) 26

16:15 THE GOLDMAN CASE (15) 115m (Euro) 15

18:30 ALMA VIVA (Adv15) 85m (Iberia) 48

20:30 CLOSE TO YOU (15) 100m (UK/US) 8

Studio

12:30 NINOTCHKA (U) 110m (Col/MGM) 64

15:15 MISTRESS AMERICA (15) 84m (Gerwig) 41

17:00 THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST (PG) 97m (Kaurismaki) 59 19:45 ERA (Adv15) 107m (World) 24

Tue 20 Aug

Main Auditorium

10:45 LE HAVRE (PG) 93m (Kaurismaki) 61

12:45 SUGAR AND STARS (Adv12A) 110m (Euro) 16

15:30 THE MOUNTAIN WITHIN ME (AdvPG) 89m (Docs) 31

17:30 THE BRAID (Adv15) 121m (World) 25

20:00 SOLO (15) 101m plus Cabaret Show (World) 27

Studio

13:30 JAZZ MUSICIANS TALK (Sound & Vision) 54

15:45 PARIS BLUES (12A) 98m (Sound & Vision) 54

17:45 THE UNDERTAKER (15) 90m + Q&A (UK/US) 9

20:15 BONNIE & CLIVE (Adv15) 80m + Q&A (UK/US) 10

Wed 21 Aug Main Auditorium

ON THE WATERFRONT (PG) 108m (Brando) 36 13:00 THE OLD MAN AND THE LAND (Adv12A) + Q&A (UK/US) 9 15:45 A CHEF FOR DALI (Adv15) 114m + Tapas Lunch/Dinner (Iberia) 49

18:00 MAKING OF (Adv15) 119m (Euro) 16 20:15 THE GOLDMAN CASE (15) 115m (Euro) 15 Studio 11:15 SCULPTING

LADY BIRD (15) 94m (Gerwig)

18:15 THE CONQUEROR - HOLLYWOOD FALLOUT (AdvPG) 116m (Docs) 33 20:30 TABU (15) 118m (Alma Iberica) 51

Cinema 19:30 FIREBRAND (15) 121m (UK/US) 6

(Special Events)

Thu 22 Aug Main Auditorium

MEET ME IN ST LOUIS (PG) 113m (MGM/Col)

UNREST (Adv15) 93m (Euro) 17 15:30 BLAGA’S LESSONS (Adv15) 114m (Euro) 19 18:00 SURPRISE FILM (15) 73 20:15 SHORT FILMS SHOWCASE (15) 120m (Special Events) 71

Studio

13:15 THE MOUNTAIN (Adv15) 113m (Euro) 19

15:45 BURN! (12A) 112m (Brando) 37

18:15 WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (15) 88m (Alma Iberica) 49

20:30 TIMIR (Adv15) 90m (Euro) 20

Fri 23 Aug

Main Auditorium

10:30 CLOSE YOUR EYES (12A) 169m (Alma Iberica) 51

13:45 SWEET DREAMS (Adv15) 102m (World) 28

16:00 ABU OMAR (Adv15) 113m (World) 28 18:15 THE OUTRUN (15) 118m (UK/US) 10 20:30 SING SING (15) 105m (UK/US) 11

Studio

11:30 LITTLE WOMEN (PG) 135m (Gerwig) 43

14:15 MGM STUDIOS TALK (MGM/Col) 65

16:30 GILDA (PG) 110m (MGM/Col) 64

19:30 WHIPLASH (15) 106m (Sound & Vision) 57

Sat 24 Aug

Main Auditorium

10:30 LISTEN TO ME MARLON (15) 103m (Brando) 38

12:30 PORTRAITS OF DANGEROUS WOMEN (15) 93m + Q&A (UK/US) 12

15:15 REAWAKENING (15) 90m + Q&A (UK/US) 13 17:45 CADEJO BLANCO (15) 125m + Q&A (World) 29

20:30 TOUCH (Adv15) 121m (Euro) 20

Studio 13:15 THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (PG) 113m (Col/MGM) 65 15:45 SUGAR AND STARS (Adv12A) 110m (Euro) 16 18:15 BLUE (Adv15) 73m (UK/US) 11 The Havana 18:15 PURPLE RAIN (15) 111m Plus Havana Club Night (Sound & Vision) 55

Windmill Cinema 19:30 THE OUTRUN (15) 118m (UK/US) 10

Sun 25 Aug Main Auditorium

FALLEN LEAVES (12A) 81m (Kaurismaki) 61

MY FAVOURITE CAKE (Adv15) 97m (World) 29 15:45 THE BABY (Adv15) 93m (Euro) 21 17:45 THE OUTRUN (15) 118m (UK/US) 10 18:30 CLOSING GALA: BOLERO (Adv15) 120m (Euro) 5 Studio 13:15 BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB (U) 105m (Sound & Vision) 57 15:00 A DRY WHITE SEASON (15) 106m (Brando) 37 17:15 BLANCANIEVES (PG) 104m (Alma Iberica) 51

Windmill Cinema 17:00 REAWAKENING (15) 90m (UK/US) 13 19:30 SING SING (15) 105m (UK/US) 11

BOLERO

Experience fantastic theatre

This summer, experience Oliver! (directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne) and be amongst the first to see this stunning new show before it transfers to the West End.

Don’t miss the brand-new play Redlands that tracks the infamous trial of the world’s most famous rock stars that took place right here in Chichester.

Why not treat yourself to a refreshing drink, a delicious bite to eat and soak up the festival atmosphere before the show?

CFT brings world-class theatre to the heart of Sussex.

Discover more at cft.org.uk

YOUR VISIT TO CHICHESTER CINEMA

BOX OFFICE

The box office is located inside the cinema, via the side entrance of the building by the Picture Palace. If you have purchased your tickets on line, you will receive an email confirmation of your tickets on your phone. You do not need to show your tickets at the box office. You can go straight through to the bar area and you will need to present your tickets or booking confirmation to the ushers before you enter to see the film. Please make sure you have this ready to avoid causing long queues.

Please note that the box office staff will be happy to help with any enquiries. Box office hours from 15-25 Aug are 10:3020:30 and 12:30-20:30 outside of those dates. Please leave plenty of time for advance bookings if coming to the box office. The half hour before each film is particularly busy and patrons paying for that film will be given priority and we thank you for your understanding.

START TIMES

We very rarely play ads and trailers during the Festival. All Festival films, talks and events will start at the advertised time. Please arrive early to ensure you are seated on time and to avoid disrupting the enjoyment of others.

THE BAR

The bar is run by the New Park Sports & Social Club (not the Cinema) and is open before each film, offering a wide range of both hot and cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches during the Festival at very competitive prices.

FINDING US

Train: Alight at Chichester Train Station, walk north along South Street to Chichester Cross, then turn onto East Street. Turn left by Carluccios and through the carpark and we’re straight ahead of you.

Bus: 700 bus to Chichester, alighting at the corner of Market Avenue and East Street; or the 55 bus along New Park Road.

ACCESS

Wheelchair users are very welcome, but it is essential to book in advance. Wheelchair access can be found at the entrance on the far right as you face the building from the car park, opposite the circular Centre offices. A wheelchairaccessible toilet is positioned on the right as you enter the auditorium from the bar area. This is an all-gender toilet.

Hearing impaired:

The auditorium is fitted with an induction loop and looped hearing devices for amplified sound are available for free at the box office, to be returned after each film. The Box Office is also fitted with looped microphones.

Sight impaired:

Guide dogs are welcome in the cinema. Please book in advance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Staff and Trustees of Chichester Cinema at New Park acknowledge and thank the outstanding team of Cinema and Bar Volunteers both during the 2024 Chichester International Film Festival and throughout the cinematic year. A very special thank you also goes out to the Members of the Cinema whose support makes this Cinema and Festival what it is today, and the New Park Centre for providing a wonderful venue for the Festival. We also thank Mark Adams for his advice and support, and our film submission judges for their time and insight.

Trustees Debbie Ford (Chair), Roger Harrison (Vice-Chair), Anne-Marie Flynn, Patrick Hargood, Lynton Morgan, Michael Schurch. Claire Dakin (Company Secretary).

Festival Director Walter Francisco

Executive Director Anne-Marie Flynn

Projection Mark Hoare, James Stokes, Paul Gainford, Andrew Bradley and Paul Stanley.

Box Office Ninian McGuffie, Eleanor Witcomb, Abi Exelby, Mark Hoare, Paul Gainford and Chyan Francisco.

FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Retrospectives co-Curator Patrick Hargood (Education Officer)

Accounts Eva Buzquier

PR Brightword

Hospitality and Patron Relations

Carol Godsmark

Film Transport Bob Sainsbury

Programme Design TGDH

Proof Reading Janie Foote

Gala Catering Brasserie Blanc

This Festival has been enabled by the BFI, FilmHub South East and Greenwood Wealth Solutions.

Our deepest thanks go to this year’s Festival Supporters (see below) and Film Partners (named next to supported films):

FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS: Rt Hon Michael Baker; John & Susan Coldstream; Roy Heathfield; Vaughan & Sally Lowe; Graham & Sybil Papworth; Patricia Sloane; Paddy & John Vincent-Townend and others wishing to remain anonymous.

And a very special thank you to all the Film Distributors who have allowed us to screen the 100+ films this year.

TICKET PRICES & BOOKING FORM

Booking in advance is strongly recommended during the Film Festival, as many screenings are likely to sell out. All tickets can be booked either online, in person, by telephone, by email or through the post. A booking fee of 50p per ticket will be charged to all phone and internet bookings, unless you are a Member of the cinema, whereby there is no fee for internet bookings. Payments can be made by cash, major credit/debit cards, or cheque (payable to Chichester Cinema at New Park). For postal bookings, please send the booking form below with payment to: Chichester Cinema, New Park Road, Chichester, PO19 7XY, along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like your tickets sent to you.

ADMISSION PRICES

£11.00 Auditorium Screenings

£7.50 (Studio) Talks & Screenings

£7.50 Picture Palace

Special Events as individually priced

TICKET RETURNS

*SPECIAL OFFERS

Buy 8 Films – Get 2 more Free This offer above excludes Special Events plus Opening and Closing Galas. (Cheapest tickets will be counted as the Free tickets) Under 25s Walk-Up – £4.50 within 24 hours of screening

Please note there are no refunds or credits to your account during the Film Festival, however we can still exchange your ticket for another film during this period.

*Please mention any offer before booking.

Please note that there are no Classic Members’, Senior Citizens, Students, Unwaged or Child discounts available during the Film Festival unless otherwise stated.

OPEN 15 mins before 1st film – 8.30pm every day (15 -25 Aug). 12.30pm – 8.30pm outside of these dates

The Chichester International Film Festival is run and curated by Chichester Cinema.

The cinema gratefully acknowledges the generous support

Vice Presidents Dame Maggie Smith and Kenneth Branagh Festival Director Walter Francisco

Executive Director Anne-Marie Flynn

Registered Charity No. 1099780

Members Priority booking from Thu 25 Jul 2024. General Public from Mon 29 Jul 2024.

Ticket Prices & Booking Form Page 83.

Major credit and debit cards accepted. Subject to 50p per ticket charge (as telephone booking). Become a Member: book online, no booking fee to pay!