Sun 6 Jun • Todd Solondz Double Bill

HAPPINESS (18) 12.30

(US 1998) dir. Todd Solondz 139m.
Jane Adams, Dylan Baker, Lara Flynn Boyle, Ben Gazzara, Jared Harris, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Todd Solondz's brilliant and insightful multi-stranded tale of sex, perversion and loneliness was the film to talk about in 1998. Winner of the Cannes International Critics Prize and in every Top Ten list, audiences flocked to this sometimes shocking, often hilarious, occasionally repellent look at lust, and love in suburban New Jersey. Amongst a disparate group of characters are sisters Joy (anything but), career-orientated Helen and perfect housewife Trish who is married to psychiatrist Bill who is also a pedophile; the sisters' unhappy parents, Lenny and Mona; and the lonely, sex-obsessed Allen who lives next to Helen and goes to Bill for therapy. When their lives become even more closely woven, the result is as challenging and disturbing as truth itself.

+ LIFE DURING WARTIME (15) 3.10

(US 2009) dir. Todd Solondz 98m.
Shirley Henderson, Ciaran Hinds, Allison Janney, Michael Lerner, Chris Marquette, Rich Pecci, Charlotte Rampling, Paul Reubens, Ally Sheedy.

The stories continue as Todd Solondz revisits the characters of HAPPINESS a decade on. It's still a struggle to find love and forgiveness in gaudy, sterile dysfunctional suburbia and its plethora of problems remain with terrorism the new fact of life that gives the movie its title. The humour is still as jet black as the original, the theme is forgiveness and the truth is still out there somewhere.

£8.50/£6.50 Concs

Sun 13 Jun • Dance Double Bill

RUMBA (PG) 1.30

(France/Belgium 2008) dir. Dominique Abel 77m. Subtitles.
Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Philippe Martz, Bruno Romy.

Not just another dance film (although inspired dance sequences abound) more a piece of surreal slapstick that takes its cue from such diverse sources as the almost dialogue-free Jacques Tati and the animated comedy violence of Tex Avery. Two dance-happy school teachers Dom and Fiona share a particular passion for rumba but a car accident leaves Dom with amnesia and Fiona with an artificial leg.... A funny, charming and refreshing little gem of a movie.

+ LA DANSE: THE PARIS OPERA BALLET (PG) 3.10

(France/US 2009) dir. Frederick Wiseman 159m.
Emilie Cozette, Aurélie Dupont, Dorothée Gilbert, Marie-Agnès Gillot, Agnès Letestu.

A great master of documentary film-making turns his attention to the world of the Paris Opera Ballet. For twelve weeks in the autumn of 2007, Wiseman's camera followed the company as they prepared for seven upcoming ballets. Roaming throughout the rehearsal rooms and chandelier-laden corridors of the enormous Palais Garnier, the cameras provide a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the world's most creatively demanding environments.

£8.50/£6.50 Concs/£5 Under 15’s

Sun 20 Jun • Peter Greenaway Double Bill

NIGHTWATCHING (18) 2.00

(Netherlands 2007) dir. Peter Greenaway 141m.
Martin Freeman, Emily Holmes, Eva Birthistle, Jodhi May, Toby Jones, Jonathan Holmes, Michael Teigen, Kevin McNulty, Agata Buzek, Natalie Press.

In a costume drama like no other, and the best art history lesson ever, writer/director Peter Greenaway brings to life the story of one of the world's most famous art works, Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch', the painting that both made and ruined him. With wife Saskia expecting their first child, the artist accepts a commission to paint the city's militia. The vulgarity of their politics soon affects the painter's conscience but then a murder in the ranks allows Rembrandt his revenge. With a ballsy performance from Martin Freeman as Rembrandt, this is bold and brilliant film-making from a modern master.

+ REMBRANDT'S J'ACCUSE...! (18) 4.45

(Netherlands/Germany/Finland 2008) dir. Peter Greenaway 86m. Digital.
Peter Greenaway, Martin Freeman, Eva Birthistle, Jodhi May, Emily Holmes, Jonathan Holmes, Michael Teigen, Natalie Press.

The companion piece to NIGHTWATCHING that unravels the murder mystery behind Rembrandt's 1642 masterpiece, 'The Night Watch.' The painting is dissected and examined piece by piece through Peter Greenaway's original cinematic eye bringing to life the intriguing minutiae of the Dutch Golden Age and the clash of personalities and beliefs that created the painting. A visually unique and compelling mix of fact and fiction.

£8.50/£6.50 Concs

Sun 27 Jun • In Memory of Alan Sillitoe Double Bill

THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER (12A) 1.45

(UK 1962) dir. Tony Richardson 104m.
Tom Courtenay, Michael Redgrave, James Bolam, John Thaw, James Fox, Alec McCowen.

The late Alan Sillitoe's adaptation of his own part-autobiographical short story is a veritable time capsule of 1960s British life, attitudes and film-making. In his film debut Tom Courtenay is compelling as the sullen, defiant Colin Swift, refusing to follow his dying father into a factory job, railing against the capitalist bosses and preferring to make a living from petty thieving. Arrested for burglary and sent to borstal, Colin finds that he has a talent that could mean status, power and the chance of escape.

+ SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING (PG) 4.00

(1960) dir.Karel Reisz. 89m.
Albert Finney, Shirley Anne Field, Rachel Roberts, Hylda Baker, Norman Rossington, Bryan Pringle.

Alan Sillitoe's anti-hero Arthur Seaton has come to personify the young disillusioned, working-class generation of the 1960s. In his first starring role Albert Finney gives a magnetic performance as the would-be rebel who spends his weekdays raging at the world in a mindless factory job followed by weekends drunkenly juggling worthless relationships and hoping Monday never comes. The movie's mix of contemporary alienation, social realism and a refreshingly honest treatment of sex has ensured its enduring classic status.

£8.50/£6.50 Concs/£5 Under 15’s

SUN 4 Jul • Sheffield Doc/Fest and The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation present

Making and Raising Money Online 2.00

A public presentation focusing on new financial opportunities for independent filmmakers, producers and artists. This presentation is designed for filmmakers, producers, artists and anyone determined to get their work seen widely, create social impact, and earn a living in the digital age. Peter Broderick, leading distribution strategist and President of Paradigm Consulting and Sandi DuBowski, director/producer of TREMBLING BEFORE G-D, producer of A JIHAD FOR LOVE, and Outreach Director for The Good Pitch, will deliver the presentation.

Peter and Sandi will reveal the cutting-edge tools and techniques successful filmmakers and artists are using around the world to:
• Develop creative fundraising campaigns
• Harness the Internet and social media to maximize audience participation and networking opportunities
• Design customized distribution strategies to maximize revenues
• Implement outreach campaigns to create social impact
• Build a fan base to support future work

Peter and Sandi have separately given presentations at Cannes, Toronto, Sundance, Berlin, Sydney, IDFA, HotDocs, and Rio de Janeiro. They have also consulted with hundreds of filmmakers, many of whom have won prizes at top film festivals, received critical acclaim, and achieved wide distribution. A number have been nominated for Academy Awards.

For more information see www.sheffdocfest.com/view/seizethefuture

Supported by the Skillset Film Skills Fund

£15

Sun 11 Jul • Reel Lives Double Bill

SERAPHINE (PG) 1.45

(France/ Belgium 2009) dir. Martin Provost 126m. Subtitles. Digital.
Yolande Moreau, Ulrich Tukur, Anne Bennent, Geneviève Mnich, Nico Rogner.

The extraordinary life of the French naïve painter Séraphine de Senlis, 'discovered' by famed art collector Wilhelm Uhde in 1914 when she was working as his housekeeper – and stealing materials to create work now housed in galleries around the world. Yolande Moreau is sensational as both the unknown painter joyfully using the natural elements with which she felt a complete emotional and spiritual communion and as the sad and isolated figure she became.

+ VINCERE (15) 4.15

(Italy/France 2009) dir. Marco Bellocchio 125m. Subtitles. Digital.
Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi, Fausto Russo Alesi, Michela Cescon, Piergiorgio Bellocchio.

A compelling piece of shadowy twentieth century history: the life of Ida Dalsern, who instantly fell in love with the future dictator Benito Mussolini on a train, became his first wife, launched his political career at her expense, and fathered his son. But the rise of fascism throughout Italy marked her fall from grace and she found herself abandoned and forgotten with devastating consequences. VINCERE vividly combines drama, archive footage, and music to create a cinematic maelstrom of enormous emotional force.

£8.50/£6.50 Concs

Sun 18 Jul * Free screening

DOMINOES (U) 11.30am

(UK 2010) dir. Julian Maynard Smith 38m. Digital.

Station House Opera's 'Dominoes' was one of the highlights of summer 2009, an extraordinary moving sculpture of 10,000 concrete blocks along a 11 kilometre route, unfolding across East and South East London over the course of the day. The film combines footage from the live event alongside new material that follows the dominoes as they travel through a cemetery, a house, a Victorian sewer and a primary school on the way to complete their remarkable journey.

A Create/Bank of America Merill Lynch commission
Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
Produced by Artsadmin
part of CREATE10 www.createlondon.org

Free but limited capacity

RSVP to Marine Thévenet on 020 7247 5012 or marine@artsadmin.co.uk

Sun 18 Jul • Love in Isolation Double Bill

SAMSON AND DELILAH (15) 1.00

(Australia 2009) dir. Warwick Thornton 101m. Digital.
Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson, Scott Thornton.

The widely acclaimed story of a love affair between a young Aboriginal man and woman. Samson and Delilah's world is a small isolated community in the Central Australian desert. When tragedy strikes they turn their backs on home and embark on a journey of survival and discovery that, for both themselves and their love, is bruising and painful. There is little dialogue but the startling and moving performances of Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson say it all. Original, beautiful and powerful filmmaking.

+ EYES WIDE OPEN (12A) 3.10

(Israel/France/Germany 2009) dir. Haim Tabakman 96m. Subtitles. Digital.
Zohar Strauss, Ran Danker, Tinkerbell.

Aaron, married father of four and Orthodox Jew, takes pity on homeless student Ezri, offering him an apprenticeship in his butcher shop. But as the pair become closer, they end up risking everything as they embark on an affair in the shadows of the less-than-tolerant Orthodox community. Director Haim Tabakman perfectly captures the increasing claustrophobia of a relationship in which silence often speaks louder than words or actions. With two impressive lead performances, it is a movie as disciplined and controlled as the society it portrays.

£8.50/£6.50 Concs

Sun 25 Jul • Madness and Myth: The Films of Albert Lewin Double Bill

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (PG) 12.30

(US 1945) dir. Albert Lewin 110m.
Hurd Hatfield, George Sanders, Lowell Gilmore, Angela Lansbury, Peter Lawford, Lowell Gilmore.

Oscar Wilde's appropriately ageless story of youth-worshiping aristocrat Dorian Gray who vows to live only for pleasure, sinks into a vile life of decadence and corruption but remains young, while the portrait in the attic grows more hideous as he becomes more monstrous. Hurd Hatfield manages the perfect mix of creepy sophistication, the great George Sanders is given most of the treasurable Wildean epigrams and the photography (including Technicolor inserts) won an Oscar. A stylish, haunting and timeless adaptation of a very dark tale.

+ PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN (PG) 2.45

(UK 1951) dir. Albert Lewin 124m. Digital.
James Mason, Ava Gardner, Nigel Patrick, Sheila Sim, Marius Goring, Mario Cabre.

A second serving from the bizarre cinematic world of Hollywood oddball Albert Lewin. Few films can be described as truly mad but the mix of erudition and lust that is PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN comes close. Ava Gardner is the small Spanish town siren who has never fallen for anyone until the arrival of the mysterious James Mason, the mythical and immortal Flying Dutchman condemned to sail the seas until he finds a woman who would die for him. This new restoration, under the auspices of Martin Scorsese, once again highlights the Technicolor genius of cinematographer Jack Cardiff.

£8.50/£6.50 Concs/£5 Under 15’s

Sun 1 Aug • Trapped in Exile (or Tales of Two Josephs) Double Bill

THE TRIAL (PG) 12.45

(France/West Germany/Italy 1962) dir. Orson Welles 119m. Digital.
Anthony Perkins, Orson Welles, Romy Schneider, Jeanne Moreau, Elsa Martinelli.

Made by Orson Welles during his self-imposed exile in Europe, THE TRIAL is a magnificently idiosyncratic version of the Kafka novel about Joseph K, an unassuming office worker who is arrested and stands trial, but is never made aware of the charges. Anthony Perkins is the perfect victim of the psychological horror that unfolds as waves of disorientating bureaucracy trap him in an endless nightmare and compels him to question the senselessness of his own existence. A veritable triumph from Welles, who regarded it as his best movie.

+ A ROOM AND A HALF (12A) 3.10

(Russia 2008) dir. Audrey Khrzhanovsky 130m. Subtitles. Digital.
Grigoriy Dityatkovskiy, Artem Smola, Evgeniy Ogandzhanyan, Sergei Yursky, Alisa Freindlich.

A beautiful mix of fact and fiction as the Nobel prize-winning Russian poet Joseph Brodsky envisions the journey home that he himself never made. The interspersed dreams of his youth, upbringing and early life are made all the more poignant when contrasted with Brodsky's position as an exile – banished from the country of his past, never to return. A lively and richly imaginative portrait not only of Brodsky, but of worlds long vanished...

£8.50/£6.50 Concs/£5 Under 15’s