WITHNAIL & I at Wiper & True Taproom
CHASE AWAY THE JANUARY BLUES WITH THE ULTIMATE CULT COMEDY, IN A BREWERY
We’re partnering with Wiper & True for a screening of Withnail & I to liven up the deep midwinter this January. Head to this award-winning local brewery’s taproom in Old Market and enjoy Bruce Robinson’s riotous dark comedy. Enjoy a complimentary welcome pint, plus a range of delicious alcohol-free beers in support of Dry January participants!
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Epics @ Everyman
THREE MEN, ONE TREASURE STASH, NO EASY CHOICES
Back for 2026, it’s “Epics @ Everyman”, our quarterly partnership with Everyman Bristol screening classic films from across the decades, particularly those with longer run times, that you can enjoy from the comfort of their sofa seats. Our first selection for 2026 is a 60th anniversary screening of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly! Sergio Leone’s genre-defining spaghetti western is rightly hailed as one of the greatest films ever made; with its spine-tingling Ennio Morricone score, career highlight performance from Clint Eastwood and influence on cinema to come - including superfan Quentin Tarantino! - it’s a bloody, gritty and utterly captivating misadventure. Your ticket includes a complimentary drink, collected as you enter the cinema (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available).
DEATH ON THE NILE on the SS Great Britain
A RED-CARPET CLUB EXCLUSIVE SCREENING OF AGATHA CHRISTIE’S DEATH ON THE NILE
Join us on board the SS Great Britain for a very special evening, alongside a screening of 1978 Agatha Christie classic Death on The Nile.
TOP GUN at Aerospace Bristol
CELEBRATE FOUR DECADES OF MAVERICK SHOWMANSHIP AND 80s BOMBAST
Do you feel the need? The need for speed? We hear you… Or maybe you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling? Then we can be your wingman any time, because we’ve got your date night plans/entire month of February sorted with a 40th anniversary screening of Top Gun underneath Concorde at the magnificent Aerospace Bristol! Join us for a high-octane screening of Maverick’s original outing in all its 80s glory - it’s guaranteed to take your breath away.
THE SHAPE OF WATER at The Mount Without
EXPERIENCE A CONNECTION BEYOND WORDS IN THIS OSCAR-WINNING MODERN CLASSIC
For those of you looking for something a little different to the usual romcom February fare, we’re pleased to present a double bill of Guillermo del Toro films at The Mount Without - the master of modern Gothic fantasy is the ideal fit for this atmospheric venue! First up is The Shape Of Water, a dark and romantic tale of a forbidden relationship that was only the second fantasy film ever to win the Oscar for Best Picture (after The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King!). Deftly blending Shakespearean tragedy with 50s B-movie creature features, it’s a poignant and haunting watch that remains one of del Toro’s career highlights.
ROMEO + JULIET at Averys Wine Cellars
CELEBRATE THREE DECADES OF THIS AWARD-WINNING ADAPTATION ALONGSIDE AN ITALIAN-AMERICAN WINE TASTING
We’ve got a trio of romantic Vintage Screenings in the run-up to Valentine’s Day 2026, starting with the tragic tale of Romeo + Juliet. Baz Luhrmann’s contemporary take on Shakespeare’s most beloved play turns 30 this spring; Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes shine as the star-crossed lovers, in a high-octane adaptation that transfers the warring families to the Californian city of Verona Beach. We’ll be pairing it with an Italian and Californian wine tasting to complement the timeless tear-jerker.
CRIMSON PEAK at The Mount Without
REBECCA MEETS THE HAUNTING IN THIS BROODING, BLOODCURDLING BLEND OF HORROR AND ROMANCE FROM THE MASTER OF MODERN GOTHIC FICTION
Our double bill of Guillermo del Toro films at The Mount Without this February continue with the beautiful and spine-chilling gothic horror-romance Crimson Peak. Inspired by the great haunted house films and with hints of both Hammer Horror and Daphne du Maurier, it’s a refreshingly melodramatic twist on Gothic romance with a healthy dose of spooky goings-on that will keep your heart pounding!
MOONSTRUCK at Averys Wine Cellars
DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LOVE? MAYBE CHER AND NICOLAS CAGE (YES, REALLY) CAN CONVINCE YOU IN THIS MAGICAL ROMCOM WITH TRUE HEART
Our trio of romantic Vintage Screenings in the run-up to Valentine’s Day 2026 continuing with the giddily funny Moonstruck. Starring Cher in an Oscar-winning role and a young Nicolas Cage as her unlikely love interest, it’s an endearingly heartwarming slice of Italian-American romcom perfection, served up alongside a flight of wines from across Italy for an extra dash of authenticity!
WALL•E at The Planetarium
IN SPACE, NO-ONE CAN HEAR YOU CLEAN
The sweetest robot film is back in time for Valentine’s weekend! we’re presenting another screening of the perennial Festival favourite WALL•E this February. The delightful sci-fi misadventure is both an epic voyage into humanity’s future, and a nod to silent comedy cinema. It’s perfect for a date night, or for the entire family.
BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY at Averys Wine Cellars
“IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WHEN ONE PART OF YOUR LIFE STARTS GOING OK, ANOTHER FALLS SPECTACULARLY TO PIECES…”
Our trio of romantic Vintage Screenings in the run-up to Valentine’s Day 2026 concludes with the ultimate Valentine’s/Galentine’s movie, Bridget Jones’s Diary. With the film turning 25 and the original novel turning 30, it’s a double milestone to celebrate as we navigate a tumultuous life in the year of Bridget, in this hilarious feel-good romcom (and loving Jane Austen pastiche!), paired with some wines inspired by the film (including a Chardonnay, naturally…).
INTERSTELLAR at The Planetarium
BACK BY DEMAND: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S OSCAR-WINNING SPACE ODYSSEY
Due to phenomenal demand in Autumn 2025, we’re bringing several more screenings of Interstellar to the Planetarium in Q1 of 2026, including a special Valentine’s weekend screening! A film this epic was made for the big screen, and this screening includes some of the most breathtaking scenes restored to their IMAX ratios for an extra-detailed viewing.
SPACEBALLS at The Planetarium
MEL BROOKS TACKLES THE SCI-FI GENRE. MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU
One of the Festival’s heroes, the great Mel Brooks, will be celebrating his 100th birthday in 2026, so we’ll be bringing some of his finest films to the Festival’s programme over the course of the year, from firm favourites to titles we’ve never screened before. As part of this programming, we’ll be bringing the delightfully daft Spaceballs to the Planetarium. Mel Brooks’ idiosyncratic parody of Star Wars and the wider sci-fi genre is packed with his trademark zany humour, and a host of memorable characters from Lord Dark Helmet to Pizza the Hutt…!
ABOUT A BOY at Wiper & True Taproom
IN THIS UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP, IT’S NOT THE 12-YEAR-OLD WITH THE MOST GROWING UP TO DO
Our February screening at Wiper & True’s taproom is the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s bestselling novel. One of Hugh Grant’s finest performances as a cynical antihero alongside a young Nicholas Hoult in his breakthrough role, and at turns both laugh-out-loud funny and achingly poignant, it’s a bittersweet misadventure with plenty of heart for those seeking a less saccharine spin on a feel-good film for February! Ticket includes a free welcome pint from their draught range upon arrival, including delicious alcohol-free versions of the brewery’s flagship beers.
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S at Avon Gorge by Hotel Du Vin
65 years on, Audrey Hepburn delights in this modern classic
Join us for an evening celebrating timeless luxury and everyday elegance with our 65th anniversary screening of Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Join us at the Avon Gorge Hotel by Hotel Du Vin, and discover the impact the film has had on film, fashion and music.
With a drinks reception beforehand and a chance to view our Partners showcase, its the perfect opportunity to embrace your inner Golightly!
PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII at The Planetarium (Early Screening)
A LEGENDARY CONCERT IN A LEGENDARY SETTING - EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF PINK FLOYD LIVE AT POMPEII
For the first time at Bristol Film Festival, we’re delighted to be screening a legendary concert film: Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii. Filmed over four days in the ancient Roman amphitheatre at Pompeii, this ambitious production pairs an incredible live set from one of Britain’s most well-loved bands with a stunning backdrop; a perfect combination.
PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII at The Planetarium (Late Screening)
A LEGENDARY CONCERT IN A LEGENDARY SETTING - EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF PINK FLOYD LIVE AT POMPEII
For the first time at Bristol Film Festival, we’re delighted to be screening a legendary concert film: Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii. Filmed over four days in the ancient Roman amphitheatre at Pompeii, this ambitious production pairs an incredible live set from one of Britain’s most well-loved bands with a stunning backdrop; a perfect combination.
THE LAVENDER HILL MOB at Averys Wine Cellars
ALEC GUINNESS GOES FOR GOLD IN THIS WICKEDLY FUNNY CRIME CAPER FROM EALING STUDIOS
Regulars will know that we have a fond spot for Ealing Comedies, and so we’re delighted to announce this 75th anniversary screening of The Lavender Hill Mob. Alec Guinness is on top form as a mild-mannered bank clerk who dreams up an audacious gold bullion heist with a scheme so outrageously simple, it’s surely the perfect crime - or is it? This gleeful sendup of the crime genre went on to inspire Alfred Hitchcock and remains ranked among the funniest British films ever made - and we’ll be pairing it with some wines inspired by the characters and settings!
TOTAL RECALL at The Planetarium
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF SOMEONE STOLE YOUR MIND - AND HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?
This March, we’re bringing a double bill of Arnie-led sci-fi action to the Planetarium, starting with the seminal Total Recall. Inspired by a Philip K. Dick story and directed by Starship Troopers director Paul Verhoeven, it’s an Oscar-winning mind-bender that melds blockbuster action with cerebral concepts and scathing satire (plus a giddy side-serving of the expected Arnie carnage!). It was also one of the last major Hollywood releases to rely solely on practical special effects, making it a homage to the craft of old school moviemaking through a 21st Century lens.
THE PRODUCERS at Averys Wine Cellars
MEL BROOKS’ MASTERPIECE MAKES ITS FESTIVAL DEBUT IN HONOUR OF HIS CENTENARY
One of the Festival’s heroes, the great Mel Brooks, will be celebrating his 100th birthday in 2026, so we’ll be bringing some of his finest films to the Festival’s programme over the course of the year, from firm favourites to titles we’ve never screened before. First up - and frankly it’s criminal that we’ve not shown it already! - is his Oscar-winning 1967 directorial debut, The Producers. This incendiary dark comedy caused outrage in some quarters with its satirical musical sendup of the Nazi regime, but it remains one of Brooks’ career highlights, and helped make Gene Wilder a household name. We’ll be pairing it with wines inspired by some of the characters for the perfect accompaniment…
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY at The Planetarium
HE SAID HE’D BE BACK! DUE TO DEMAND, WE’RE FINALLY SCREENING THE SCI-FI SEQUEL
This March, we’re bringing a double bill of Arnie-led sci-fi action to the Planetarium, concluding with James Cameron’s mighty Terminator 2: Judgment Day, one of our most-requested titles! With its astonishing special effects, exhilarating plot, compelling characters and expansion of the lore of the first film, this is one of the rare sequels that surpasses the original, and remains one of the definitive action/sci-fi films 35 years since it first hit cinemas. Hasta la vista, baby!
THE GODFATHER: Wine & Pasta Night at Averys Wine Cellars
WINE, PASTA, AND ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATEST FILMS: IT’S AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE…
If you missed our 50th anniversary screenings back in 2022, then the wait is over: we’re bringing Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece back to Averys Wine Cellars in 2026! This special Vintage Screening will be serving up six wines from Sicily and southern Italy to taste alongside the film, as well as a meal during courtesy of Toff’s Pasta. It promises to be an epic evening worthy of a Corleone…
DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D. at The Planetarium
THE DOCTOR’S FIERCEST FOES ARE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT IN THIS DELIGHTFUL DOSE OF 60s SCI-FI
Our March screenings at the Planetarium continue with a dose of British sci-fi nostalgia: it’s a digitally restored, 60th anniversary screening of Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. Hammer/Star Wars legend Peter Cushing returns in this sequel as the titular Doctor, with Bernard Cribbins joining in the misadventure as a policeman who mistakes the TARDIS for an actual police box and gets embroiled in a desperate bid to foil the Daleks’ most dastardly plot yet! This expansion of the Whoniverse for the 60s silver screen is the perfect watch for any fan of the beloved series, as well as anyone who enjoys classic science fiction with a healthy dose of British idiosyncrasies.
HIGHLANDER at The Planetarium
THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE - BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS TO ENJOY THIS 80S EPIC BACK ON THE BIG SCREEN
Our March screenings at the Planetarium conclude with a 40th anniversary screening of the sci-fi/fantasy epic Highlander. With its sprawling story spanning centuries, sword-and-sorcery spin on science fiction, and legendary soundtrack by Queen, it’s a cornerstone of 80s pop culture in all its glorious, cheesy glory - throw in Sean Connery as an immortal swordsman and location shoots from Manhattan to the Scottish Highlands, and you’ve got yourself a bona fide cult classic that’s still full of life after four decades!
PRIDE & PREJUDICE @ Avon Gorge by Hotel Du Vin
What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with this English classic?
Join us this Mother’s Day for an afternoon enjoying the ultimate English romance, Pride and Prejudice. With a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, join us in the Avon Gorge’s beautiful event suite, overlooking the suspension bridge and enjoy a showcase from our selected Partners before the film begins.
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN at Wiper & True Taproom
YOU CAN’T SPELL ‘FRIEND’ WITHOUT ‘END’ IN THIS MODERN MASTERPIECE FROM THE MINDS BEHIND IN BRUGES
Our final film selection for Q1 at Wiper & True is a St Patrick’s Day screening of Martin McDonagh’s Oscar-nominated The Banshees Of Inisherin. The In Bruges director reunites Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell in this wickedly tragicomic tale of two friends falling out suddenly against the backdrop of the end of the Irish Civil War - both bleakly funny and scathingly angry, it’s a standout work for all involved and a modern classic that’s not to be missed. Ticket includes a free welcome pint from their draught range upon arrival, including delicious alcohol-free versions of the brewery’s flagship beers.
GRAVITY at The Planetarium
THIS DIZZYING MODERN SCI-FI MASTERPIECE WILL LEAVE YOU HOLDING ONTO YOUR SEAT
For the first time in five years, we’re excited to be bringing back Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-winning space thriller Gravity to the Planetarium. One of the finest sci-fi films of the 21st Century to date, it’s a feat of technological filmmaking marvel and an exhilarating, white-knuckle watch. Against the Planetarium’s stunning backdrop, and with a Planetarium space show beforehand, you’ll really feel like you’ve gone out of this world…
INTERSTELLAR at The Planetarium
BACK BY DEMAND: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S OSCAR-WINNING SPACE ODYSSEY
Due to phenomenal demand in Autumn 2025, we’re bringing several more screenings of Interstellar to the Planetarium in early 2026, including this screening in April. A film this epic was made for the big screen, and this screening includes some of the most breathtaking scenes restored to their IMAX ratios for an extra-detailed viewing.
PAN’S LABYRINTH at Averys Wine Cellars
THE DARK FAIRYTALE MASTERPIECE MAKES ITS DEBUT VINTAGE SCREENINGS APPEARANCE FOR ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of firm Festival favourite Pan’s Labyrinth. Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning masterpiece is both hauntingly beautiful and brutally ugly, in its seamless blending of its surreal and sinister mythical realm with the harsh realities of the Spanish Civil War’s immediate aftermath. We’ve screened it many times over the past decade at a range of venues, and now for the first time we present it as a Vintage Screening, accompanied by a flight of Spanish wines in tribute to the film’s setting. This promises to be a spellbinding evening - book now to avoid disappointment.
DRAGONHEART at The Planetarium
A KNIGHT WITHOUT A CAUSE. A DRAGON WITHOUT A FRIEND. TOGETHER THEY’LL CHANGE THE WORLD
We’re heating things up at the Planetarium in April with a crossover fantasy double bill celebrating dragons on the big screen! First up is a 30th anniversary screening of Dragonheart. Sean Connery voices the last of the dragons in this heartwarming tale of misadventure, unlikely friendship and duty - it’s a loving homage to some of the swords-and-sorcery classics as well as buddy comedies from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid onwards, with Oscar-nominated special effects utilising full CGI characters that helped pave the way for the likes of Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings. One for the whole family, especially the millennial inner child…!
THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA at Averys Wine Cellars
SANTA VITTORIA’S WINE IS SUBLIME - BUT IS IT TO DIE FOR?
Our Q2 Vintage Screenings continue with a very special Festival debut, a digitally restored screening of The Secret Of Santa Vittoria. This wartime comedy-drama about an Italian village trying to hide over a million bottles of their precious local wine from the German occupation, starring Anthony Quinn as the unlikely mayor, is an allegorical satire that champions human endurance in the face of adversity. It will also make you very thirsty - so naturally, we’ll be pairing it with a flight of wines from Italy’s more rural regions, celebrating indigenous grapes and the spirit of Santa Vittoria. We’ll raise a glass to that!
REIGN OF FIRE at The Planetarium
DRAGONS ARE AWOKEN BENEATH LONDON IN THIS DYSTOPIAN THRILLER - AND YOU THOUGHT THE ELIZABETH LINE CONSTRUCTION DELAYS WERE BAD
We’re heating things up at the Planetarium in April with a crossover fantasy double bill celebrating dragons on the big screen! Second up is the post-apocalyptic Reign Of Fire. In a timeline where dragons have taken over the planet thanks to - you guessed it - Transport For London’s ineptitude, it’s up to Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey to fight back against their fire-breathing reptilian overlords. If a mashup of Skyrim, Arthurian legend and 28 Days Later sounds like exactly what’s been missing from your life, then get your tickets for this instant cult classic that deserves to been on a screen the size of the Planetarium’s!
MARS ATTACKS! at The Planetarium
THEY CLAIM TO COME IN PEACE, BUT THEY’RE LEAVING HUMAN SOCIETY IN PIECES…
This May, we’ll be celebrating two very different alien invasion films that both happen to be turning 30 in 2026… First up it’s Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!. We’ve long been fans of Mr Burton’s filmography, but this is our first ever time screening his deliciously dark satire, which feels like a giddy mix of 50s B-movies and Dr Strangelove. Full of famous faces and plenty of laser beam-induced chaos, it’s a campy cult classic that will leave you in shock, awe - and going “Hey, what’s Tom Jones doing here…?”
BIG NIGHT: Wine & Pasta Night at Averys Wine Cellars
This film will make you hungry. Luckily, we have just the solution
After sold out screenings last year, we’re going to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Big Night, Stanley Tucci’s tragicomedy chronicling the misadventures of two Italian brothers gambling their struggling restaurant’s future on an epic meal for a special guest. Expect an Italian wine tasting alongside the film, as well as a meal during the interval courtesy of Toff’s Pasta, to accompany one of the greatest films about food and friendship ever made!
INDEPENDENCE DAY at The Planetarium
THE BLOCKBUSTER HIT FEATURING BLOCK-BUSTING ALIENS
This May, we’ll be celebrating two very different alien invasion films that both happen to be turning 30 in 2026… Second up is Roland Emmerich’s Oscar-winning blockbuster Independence Day. It’s the perfect blend of everything we love about 90s cinema: an epic scale, an eclectic all-star ensemble cast, Jeff Goldblum playing a roguish nerd, and high-octane action sequences served up with a healthy dose of Hollywoods cheese!
THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN at Averys Wine Cellars
SACRE BLEU - HAS THE WORLD’S WORST DETECTIVE’S LUCK FINALLY RUN OUT…?
We’re bringing another instalment of one of our favourite series to Averys in time for its 50th anniversary: it’s The Pink Panther Strikes Again! Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom are the perfect double act in another madcap chapter in the life of the world’s worst detective and his long-suffering boss, who’s finally driven over the brink… In honour of Inspector Clouseau we’ll be pairing the film with a flight of French wines to enjoy between the laughter - Santé!
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Averys Wine Cellars
THERE’S NO ESCAPING THE HEAT - OR THE TRUTH - IN THIS FIERY ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC PLAY
In honour of its 75th anniversary, we’re delighted to present our first ever screening of Elia Kazan’s astonishing adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire. Featuring an Oscar-nominated Marlon Brandon and Vivien Leigh in her second Oscar-winning role, this Southern Gothic masterpiece is a powerful and poignant realisation of Tennessee Williams’ incendiary play. To pair with this sweat-drenched film, we’ll be bringing you wines from some of the hottest winemaking regions in the world, as the heat rises in New Orleans’ French Quarter…
LOGAN’S RUN at The Planetarium
PARADISE COMES WITH A HEAVY PRICE IN THIS TRAILBLAZING 70s SCI-FI CULT FAVOURITE
This June we’re marking the 50th anniversary of two classic sci-fi films, starting with the utopian/dystopian Logan’s Run. Based on the cult novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, it’s a dazzling slice of 70s science fiction that pairs glossy blockbuster spectacle with surprisingly subversive ideas about youth, freedom, and control. Famous for its chilling “Carrousel” [sic] sequences, and Oscar-winning visual effects, it’s a bold product of the pre-digital era and a time-capsule of futuristic imagination.
BLAZING SADDLES at Averys Wine Cellars
THE WILDEST WESTERN COMEDY, WITH “WILD WEST” WINES AS A COMPANION
One of the Festival’s favourite filmmakers, the great Mel Brooks, will be celebrating his 100th birthday in 2026, so we’ll be bringing some of his finest films to the Festival’s programme over the course of the year, from firm favourites to titles we’ve never screened before. After several years since we first screened it, Brooks’ outrageous satire of Westerns, the legendary Blazing Saddles, rides into Averys this June. We’ll be pairing this Oscar-nominated comedy with wines from the frontiers of the Wild West – but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be American…
LOCAL HERO at Averys Wine Merchants
ENJOY THIS MAGICAL COMEDY-DRAMA WITH THE SPIRIT OF SCOTLAND ON THE EVE OF BURNS NIGHT
We’re celebrating Burns Night 2026 with a very special of screening of Local Hero. Filmed almost entirely on location in Scotland and enduringly heartwarming to this day, enjoy this beloved film in style at Averys Wine Merchants, with a Vintage Screening with a difference… You can choose either a wine tasting or opt for a Scotch whisky tasting flight in honour of both the seminal film's setting and Scotland’s favourite son. Slainté!
INTERSTELLAR at The Planetarium
BACK BY DEMAND: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S OSCAR-WINNING SPACE ODYSSEY
Due to phenomenal demand in Autumn 2025, we’re bringing several more screenings of Interstellar to the Planetarium in Q1 of 2026, including a January double bill! A film this epic was made for the big screen, and this screening includes some of the most breathtaking scenes restored to their IMAX ratios for an extra-detailed viewing.
NOTORIOUS at Averys Wine Cellars
THIS EXCEPTIONAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN HITCHCOCK AND AN ALL-STAR CAST HAS AGED LIKE A FINE WINE
Our Vintage Screenings in January continue with an 80th anniversary screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious. This gripping espionage thriller has hints of both film noir and romantic melodrama, and the central trio of standout performances from Ingrid Bergman, Bristol’s very own Cary Grant and Claude Rains make this one of Hitchcock’s finest films. Since an old wine cellar is one of the major locations in the film, this couldn’t be a more atmospheric setting - and we’ll be pairing the film with a flight of continental wines to fit the mood!
INTERSTELLAR at The Planetarium
BACK BY DEMAND: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S OSCAR-WINNING SPACE ODYSSEY
Due to phenomenal demand in Autumn 2025, we’re bringing several more screenings of Interstellar to the Planetarium in Q1 of 2026, including a January double bill! A film this epic was made for the big screen, and this screening includes some of the most breathtaking scenes restored to their IMAX ratios for an extra-detailed viewing.
THE HANGOVER at Averys Wine Cellars
WHETHER YOU’RE DOING DRY JANUARY OR TRYANUARY, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED FOR THIS OUTRAGEOUSLY FUNNY DARK COMEDY HIT
Our Vintage Screenings in 2026 start with a bang in January with a screening of The Hangover - and in honour of both the film and Dry January, we’re giving you two options for your wine tasting flight and invite you to try something different! This uproarious, Golden Globe-winning comedy of errors remains one of the highest-grossing R-rated films of all time. You can either pair it with an all-American wine flight, OR in the spirit of Dry January we’re delighted to be partnering with Vino Zero to provide an alternative flight of alcohol-free wines that will challenge and change your perception of the growing non-alcoholic wine market.
INTERSTELLAR at The Planetarium
BACK BY DEMAND: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S OSCAR-WINNING SPACE ODYSSEY
Due to phenomenal demand in Autumn 2025, we’re bringing several more screenings of Interstellar to the Planetarium in Q1 of 2026, including a midweek January screening! A film this epic was made for the big screen, and this screening includes some of the most breathtaking scenes restored to their IMAX ratios for an extra-detailed viewing.
AD ASTRA at The Planetarium
A DARK JOURNEY TO THE EDGE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM - AND SANITY
We’re starting our 2026 season at the Planetarium with the modern epic Ad Astra. Brad Pitt gives a career-high performance as the traumatised astronaut tasked with saving the Solar System from a mysterious threat that may be linked to his father’s disappearance, in an understated but quietly powerful story that will make you think deeply about the worlds beyond our horizons. If you’re a fan of Interstellar and Gravity, this is an underrated contemporary classic with a whole swathe of award wins and nominations under its belt that drifted under the radar just before the pandemic - don’t miss it back on the big screen this time round!
HOME ALONE at The Mount Without
THE FESTIVE FAMILY COMEDY (WITHOUT KEVIN’S FAMILY) CONCLUDES OUR 2025 PROGRAMME
We’ll be concluding our evening at The Mount Without - and our December screenings - with the madcap misadventure Home Alone. John Hughes’ delightfully mischievous film made a household name out of Macauley Culkin, and its wince-inducing booby trap sequences remain a staple of the festive film-watching tradition - so if you’re looking for something to get you out of the house and into the Christmas spirit, join us for our final 2025 film night (just don’t forget any family members en route…)!
DIE HARD at Averys Wine Cellars
UPGRADE YOUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DIE HARD VIEWING WITH A WINE TASTING - WELCOME TO THE PARTY, PAL!
Is it really Christmas until we’ve hosted a Die Hard Vintage Screening? As always per our Festival festive tradition, we’ll be showing the definitive Christmas film (not once, not twice, but thrice!) alongside a German versus American wine tasting that will have you exclaiming “Yippee-kay-yay”…
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS at The Mount Without
“WE CAN LIVE LIKE JACK & SALLY, WE’LL HAVE HALLOWEEN ON CHRISTMAS…”
On our final day of screenings of 2025, we’ll be returning to The Mount Without for a screening of the macabre musical masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas. Join Jack Skellington and the inhabitants of Halloween Town for this beloved stop-motion misadventure from the mind of Tim Burton, with its unique, whimsically spooky spin on the festive season. It’s ideal Christmastime viewing for those who steer clear of saccharine sweetness in favour of something more offbeat, but still ultimately uplifting and heart-thawing…!
HOME ALONE at The Mount Without (Extra Screening)
THE FESTIVE FAMILY COMEDY (WITHOUT KEVIN’S FAMILY) CONCLUDES OUR 2025 PROGRAMME
We’ll be concluding our evening at The Mount Without - and our December screenings - with the madcap misadventure Home Alone. John Hughes’ delightfully mischievous film made a household name out of Macauley Culkin, and its wince-inducing booby trap sequences remain a staple of the festive film-watching tradition - so if you’re looking for something to get you out of the house and into the Christmas spirit, join us for our final 2025 film night (just don’t forget any family members en route…)!
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Averys Wine Cellars
ENJOY SEASONAL WINES WITH THE MOST POPULAR CHRISTMAS FILM OF ALL TIME
We’re delighted to be showing It’s A Wonderful Life at Averys again this December. Wind down for the festive period with this timeless classic, as we pair it with some winter-ready wines that are ideal for accompanying a Christmas dinner – or a Christmas film screening!
DIE HARD at Averys Wine Cellars
UPGRADE YOUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DIE HARD VIEWING WITH A WINE TASTING - WELCOME TO THE PARTY, PAL!
Is it really Christmas until we’ve hosted a Die Hard Vintage Screening? As always per our Festival festive tradition, we’ll be showing the definitive Christmas film (not once, not twice, but thrice!) alongside a German versus American wine tasting that will have you exclaiming “Yippee-kay-yay”…
DIE HARD at Averys Wine Cellars
YOUR FINAL CHANCE OF 2025 TO UPGRADE YOUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DIE HARD VIEWING WITH A WINE TASTING - WELCOME TO THE PARTY, PAL!
Well, it’s finally happened… Due to selling out three screenings by November, we’ve managed to squeeze another date in with Averys, meaning that this December we’ll be adding an unprecedented fourth screening of Die Hard to our programme, for all you McClane-mad action movie fans! As always per our Festival festive tradition, we’ll be showing the definitive Christmas film alongside a German versus American wine tasting that will have you exclaiming “Yippee-kay-yay”…
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Averys Wine Cellars
ENJOY SEASONAL WINES WITH THE MOST POPULAR CHRISTMAS FILM OF ALL TIME
We’re delighted to be showing It’s A Wonderful Life at Averys again this December. Wind down for the festive period with this timeless classic, as we pair it with some winter-ready wines that are ideal for accompanying a Christmas dinner – or a Christmas film screening!
DIE HARD at Averys Wine Cellars
UPGRADE YOUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DIE HARD VIEWING WITH A WINE TASTING - WELCOME TO THE PARTY, PAL!
Is it really Christmas until we’ve hosted a Die Hard Vintage Screening? As always per our Festival festive tradition, we’ll be showing the definitive Christmas film (not once, not twice, but thrice!) alongside a German versus American wine tasting that will have you exclaiming “Yippee-kay-yay”…
KING KONG (2005): Epics @ Everyman
PETER JACKSON’S BEASTLY BLOCKBUSTER SWINGS BACK ONTO THE BIG SCREEN THIS DECEMBER
Our final 2025 partnership screening with Everyman Bristol is a 20th anniversary screening of Peter Jackson’s take on King Kong - and few films this century quite fit the “epic” bill as aptly as this! Full of thrills, spills, a giddy blend of practical and digital SFX, and a surprising amount of heart behind the misadventure and mayhem, it’s done on a king-sized scale [surely “Kong-sized”? - Ed.] that only Jackson can pull off, and is a perfect serving of escapism to lose yourself in this holiday season! Your ticket includes a complimentary drink, collected as you enter the cinema (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available).
LOVE ACTUALLY at Clifton College Chapel
LOVE IS ALL AROUND IN THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS ROMCOM
We’re finishing our screenings at Clifton College with Richard Curtis’ beloved ensemble rom-com Love Actually, the heartwarming holiday film that weaves together stories of love, laughter, and a little Christmas magic. Whether it's your first time watching or a beloved tradition, this classic is the perfect way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, so join us in reliving the moments that make this movie a seasonal favourite.
ELF at Clifton College Chapel
FEED YOUR INNER ELF THIS DECEMBER WITH THE PERENNIAL FESTIVE CLASSIC
Next up at Clifton College is Will Ferrell’s infectiously cheery outing as Buddy in Elf! With its anarchic humour, endearing wackiness and poignantly uplifting story, it’s small wonder that this has become one of THE films of the season. Watching it back on the big screen is a perfect way to prepare for the countdown to the 25th if you believe, like us, that it’s not truly Christmas until you’ve seen this film again…
INTERSTELLAR at The Planetarium
BACK BY DEMAND: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S OSCAR-WINNING SPACE ODYSSEY
Due to phenomenal demand, we’re bringing more screenings of Interstellar to the Planetarium this autumn, including a final screening in the buildup to Christmas. A film this epic was made for the big screen, and this screening includes some of the most breathtaking scenes restored to their IMAX ratios for an extra-detailed viewing.
THE HOLDOVERS at Clifton College Chapel
THERE ARE TIDINGS OF DISCOMFORT & JOY IN THIS BRILLIANT CHRISTMASTIME COMEDY-DRAMA
Where better to watch a film about being stuck in a boarding school over the Christmas holidays than, erm, a boarding school in the Christmas holidays? Clifton College Chapel and The Holdovers - is the perfect pairing! Featuring the an Oscar-winning performance from Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and a reunion between director Alexander Payne and star Paul Giamatti, who first worked together on another Festival favourite, Sideways. Funny, poignant and heartwarming, with a beautiful retro visual style, it’s an instant classic and surefire staple of the season.
STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH at The Planetarium
THE TRAGIC PREQUEL TRILOGY CLOSER THAT SHOWCASES THE EPIC STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
Our final night at the Planetarium in 2025 begins with a 20th anniversary screening of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith. The final film of the prequel trilogy details Anakin Skywalker’s tragic turn to the Dark Side of the Force, and the origins of one of cinema’s all-time greatest villains… It’s a space opera spectacle for the ages!
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL at Clifton College Chapel
THERE’S MAGIC IN THE AIR IN THIS DEFINITIVE DICKENS ADAPTATION
Our screenings in Clifton College Chapel continue with one of the all-time great Dickens adaptations, The Muppet Christmas Carol. In addition to all of the usual ensemble cast of Kermit and friends, Michael Caine plays it straight as Ebenezer Scrooge, in a career highlight performance that underpins the trademark Muppet zaniness with real pathos that will warm even the sternest of hearts - and the setting within the Chapel will transport you back in time alongside the protagonists.
THE SNOWMAN/THE SNOWMAN & THE SNOWDOG at Clifton College Chapel
THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS DOUBLE BILL COMES TO CLIFTON COLLEGE CHAPEL FOR A VERY SPECIAL MATINEE
In one of Bristol’s most beautiful venues, we’re presenting a very special double bill: Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, screened back to back with The Snowman & The Snowdog. The Oscar-nominated original and its stunning sequel have entertained generations, and we’re delighted to be presenting them together for a matinee screening this December. We might not all be able to sing ‘Walking In The Air’ like Aled Jones, but rest assured that these films will make your spirits soar just as high!
WAR OF THE WORLDS at The Planetarium
IN THIS HAUNTING SCI-FI THRILLER, OUR WORLD IS IN THEIR HANDS
As we move into December, we’re presenting a 20th anniversary screening of War Of The Worlds. Steven Spielberg masterfully adapts the seminal H.G. Wells novel for the 21st Century, bringing the scale of the alien invasion to life without losing sight of the existential dread of the source material. Harrowing and haunting, it’s another example of Spielberg’s proficiency in producing PG-13 horror (or 12-rated for us Brits!).
PACIFIC RIM at The Planetarium
THE KAIJU ARE COMING: TIME TO GO BIG, OR GO EXTINCT
The epic monster-brawling showdown Pacific Rim screens at the Planetarium this December. Guillermo del Toro’s love letter to classic kaiju films is a spectacle for the big screen - with stunning action sequences, nostalgic nods to the giant movie monsters of old, and a big heart at its mechanical core - that will leave your inner child grinning from ear to ear.
LAST CHRISTMAS at Averys Wine Cellars
GIVE YOUR HEART TO THIS QUIRKY FESTIVE ROMCOM
Our festive Vintage Screenings begin with a modern twist on the Christmas romcom - it’s Last Christmas! Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding star in this charming and poignant story of a wannabe singer stuck in a job as a “year-round elf” who forms an unorthodox relationship with a charming stranger. Since the film is inspired by the music of the late, great George Michael, we’ll be taking the same cue and pairing it with wines loosely inspired by some of his greatest hits (yes, really…!). It’s the perfect winter warmup.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC at 1532 Theatre
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE AND BACK ON THE BIG SCREEN ONCE MORE THIS DECEMBER
We’re delighted to present our first ever screening of the musical sensation, The Sound Of Music, this December, to coincide with its 60th anniversary! Join us to celebrate the Oscar-winning classic, following Maria, the Von Trapp family and their remarkable story through a songbook of timeless classics. The film will be introduced by Festival Director Owen Franklin, and there will also be a very special live medley performed by our friends at BLOC Productions, Bristol’s premiere musical theatre club. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or rewatching it for the fiftieth time, experiencing this heartwarming favourite on the big screen is a magical way to start the festive season.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS at Averys Wine Cellars
ROUND UP THE USUAL SUSPECTS FOR THIS SLICK AND TWISTING CRIME THRILLER
Due to demand, we’ve added an additional 30th anniversary screening of The Usual Suspects to our Q4 programming. This compelling crime thriller is packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very last minute - and to honour that, we’ll be doing the same with another blind tasting evening, giving you subtle clues to help you pick the odd wine out before the evening is up…!
BATTLE ROYALE at The Planetarium
A DYSTOPIAN NIGHTMARE THAT’S AS INFLUENTIAL AS IT IS CONTROVERSIAL
As part of a double bill of dystopian international cinema, Battle Royale is coming to the Planetarium for a 25th anniversary screening. This controversial Japanese film about schoolkids forced to fight to the death by a totalitarian regime has influenced Tarantino, The Hunger Games, Squid Game and much, much more - it’s still a shocking and exhilarating watch, with satire, action, pathos et al for those who can stomach it!