Hugh Odling-Smee

‘A monument to kindness’: the rise of Britain’s community cinemas With more than 1,600 screens, people share how local-run venues are taking them on a film-worthy adventure

I've spent the last 12 years working with community cinemas across the UK and Ireland, the passion and commitment I've seen confirmed to me that small is indeed beautiful, and bringing people together to share the world's stories is a radical act in these times.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Quiet enough at the Arsenal. They could hear me shout 'it's not all in wrestling for fucks sake referee' through the cool October air.

Enys Men film poster. A woman in a red raincoat stands on a hill

If crazy Cornish Folk Horror is something you're into, this is on 4OD at the mo

An extraordinary film isn't it? Sometimes you see something with such a different way of confronting and observing the world, it really shifts your expectations of what's possible.

A real pleasure to host this event - two perfectly complementary books about our continuing obsession with digging things out of the ground, with two funny, wise and intelligent authors. A grand night was had by all.

Very much enjoying the reviews from the AMC Screen Unseen showing of Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind. 'Dude, like WTF?!' 'I didn't pay for this screening and I still felt ripped off'. Peak programming.

Just wrote the sentence 'we are exploring the Armagh-Portadown corridor'.

Injured Player Gives Thumbs-Down While Being Carted Off Field

Injured Player Gives Thumbs-Down While Being Carted Off Field

Geoff Dyer & Joe Dunthorne - Belfast International Arts Festival Two of the UK’s most original literary voices discuss their acclaimed new memoirs, Homework and Children of Radium, in conversation with critic John Self. In Homework, Geoff Dyer turns his razor-sharp...

Delighted to be talking to Geoff Dyer and Joe Dunthorne tonight at Crescent Arts Centre as part of @belfastfestival.bsky.social. Some tickets still available. See you there!

Ican Klíma obituary Czech novelist and playwright whose work was banned under communism

I read Judge on Trial in the 90s in one of that short time when Czech writers ruled the roost in fiction. What a life, from Nazi concentration camps to the repression of communist totalitarianism, and all the while scratching out human stories.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

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One Battle After Another was very much worth all the hype. I don't have much of an analysis to offer yet, as it is still reverberating around my head, but I'd watch it again in a heartbeat.

“It’s a Nice Little Movie, But It Isn’t Commercial:” The Theatrical Self-Distribution of Northern Lights The following is an abridged version of a report on the self-distribution of the 1978 U.S. indie Northern Lights, directed by John Hanson and Rob Nilsson, written shortly after the film’s release by…

Found this fascinating piece from the director, John Hanson, about self distributing the film in the 70s. Selling a film is a lot like starting a union. filmmakermagazine.com/76108-its-a-...

Saw the brilliant 'Northern Lights' @queensfilmtheatre.bsky.social on Saturday as part of the @cineredis.bsky.social tour. A wonderful film, a sort of snowy 'Days Of Heaven', about the founding of the Nonpartisan League in 1916 North Dakota. Remembering is a radical act.

Joke: The Film Barry Cryer's jokes as reimagined by his son Bob starring some of British Comedy's finest performers | Check out 'Joke: The Film' on Indiegogo.

25 hours left

Please consider supporting this project aimed at creating a lasting memorial to Barry Cryer
igg.me/at/jokefilm/...

Cinema Rediscovered: Angel showing at Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast. With an unknown writer/director and set against the very real and contemporary backdrop of ‘the Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, Neil Jordan’s Angel was one of the first films commissioned by Channel 4.

I'm introducing Neil Jordan's classic 'Angel' on Friday @queensfilmtheatre.bsky.social as part of the @cineredis.bsky.social tour. So if you fancy hearing me bang on about Showbands, saxophones and political violence before watching the film, do come along.
queensfilmtheatre.com/Whats-On/Angel

Bookseller Crow shop window

Shocked beyond belief to hear (via the shop’s IG account) of the death of Jonathan Main, the stalwart of Bookseller Crow in Crystal Palace.

I only met Jon once but we chatted online for years and he was so very funny, interesting, and knowledgable (with apt cynicism) about the book world. RIP Jon.

Ach John that's terribly sad news. I'd bought a book or two from him down the years and always enjoyed his wise and funny presence on the old Twitter. I took a few recommendations from him that always turned out winners. Maybe rest easy.

Trump Angry Not A Single Visiting European Leader Wearing Lederhosen, Tiny Hat

Trump Angry Not A Single Visiting European Leader Wearing Lederhosen, Tiny Hat theonion.com/trump-a...

a woman in a black suit is dancing on a stage in front of a yellow curtain . ALT: a woman in a black suit is dancing on a stage in front of a yellow curtain .

Toffees for all.

Some excellent refreshed gems coming to @queensfilmtheatre.bsky.social as part of the @cineredis.bsky.social tour. Including Defence of the Realm and Neil Jordan's Angel. Gabriel Byrne and Stephen Rea at their brooding best.

a man sits on a park bench surrounded by pigeons and a trash can ALT: a man sits on a park bench surrounded by pigeons and a trash can

Saw Ghost Dog, Way of the Samurai last night QFT- every bit as brilliant and strange as it was when I saw it in 99. Whittaker's finest piece of action, but it's the idea and celebration of cultural crossover that struck me most. Joyous.

Fading Light hits Tyneside Cinema with Cinema Rediscovered. Set in North Shields in the late 80s. Mixing drama & documentary to create one of Amber Collective's most unforgettable portraits of the North East. 18-20 Aug.
sidegallery.co.uk/whats-on/cinema/tyneside-cinema-in-fading-light-1

Jeremy Thomas Reflects on His Rise “at the Tail End” of Cinema’s Golden Age: “I Can’t Find Somebody to Give Me 40 Million Bucks Anymore” The legendary producer — an Oscar winner for 1987's 'The Last Emperor' — also spoke about hating Harvey Weinstein at an Edinburgh Film Festival session: "I took [it to] a shocking level of rudeness."

Report from our event last night at the Edinburgh International Film Festival
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

Late Shift showing at Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast. A dedicated nurse tirelessly serves in an understaffed hospital ward. However, today her shift becomes a tense and urgent race against the clock.

Late Shift at the QFT was an excellent watch. One shift in the life of a nurse, dealing with death, depression, and despicable behaviour in a Swiss hospital. Really moving, even if it was a stressful watch, with the exceptional Leonie Benesch at its heart.
queensfilmtheatre.com/Whats-On/Lat...

2025 Festival - Belfast International Arts Festival Belfast International Arts Festival is back for its 63rd edition from 14 October – 9 November 2025! Experience a brand-new season of world-class theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature and film...

Delighted to be involved again with Belfast International Arts Festival’s Talks and Ideas programme this year in Oct and Nov. Click here to see what’s on, and a few highlights follow:

belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/2025-festiva...

a man is praying with his eyes closed ALT: a man is praying with his eyes closed

In training for a visit to QFT on Friday night.

A really interesting, often moving set of essays on film and cinema published by Paper Visual Art - captured the deeply personal connection that we have with film, with some very raw memory wrapped up in screens and circumstances.

Another year with the rip roaring Duns. Green, white and dynamite