What's On / Bristol Concerts, Theatre & Dance / cinema

Cinema & Independent Film in Bristol

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Bristol's Cinema Scene

Headfirst aims to cover all the events that make this city special and so we’re really pleased that this also includes cinema. We consider the The Cube cinema an essential asset to Bristol, a venue with ethics and enthusiasm to match its innovative programming. Over the past few years we have seen this volunteer driven ‘microplex’ provide a launchpad for emerging Bristol artists, ranging from filmmakers and performance artists to theatres shows and alternative musicians. Less experimental but equally as prolific, The Watershed hosts discussions and independent film festivals alongside its world cinema programming.

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Our recent cinema recommendations

Sell out warning! Our fave Romanian twin queer allies at Trinity? Are we dreaming? It’s a cheeky holiday!! The noughties pop icons headline this full-blown Pride takeover – alongside live cabaret from trailblazing drag king Prix Chiyo, serpentine sorceress Mama Mamba, and bearlesque diva Deeva D + Liam Parsons bringing hi-nrg club-pop euphoria on the decks. The Queer As F*ck crew really pulling out all the stops here! QUEER AS F*CK: Pride Afterparty at The Trinity Centre.

Sell out warning! Back for a blockbuster fourth year running: boundary-defying drag-theatre from queer performance art collective House of Boussé! Part visceral reclamation narrative against hateful media rhetoric, part self-proclaimed “trannified version of The Magic School Bus”, Trans/Form is an embodied journey into the beauty and power of trans+ experiences. TRANS/FORM at Strange Brew.

Jack Parlett issues an apologia for the ostentatious in a new work launching at Bookhaus. Through both personal and cultural reflections, sweeping across art, nature, pop and politics, he argues for a reappraisal of peacocking’s revolutionary power – unpacked in scintillating conversation with performance artist and queer history archivist Tom Marshman. Flamboyance: The Art of Burning Brightly launch with Jack Parlett at Bookhaus.

Free entry! Killer ravens, phantoms in the opera, hallucinatory visuals, Brian Eno on the buttons – with Opera, Argento done fully out-Argento-ed himself, scoring arguably his last true masterpiece (sorry Dracula 3D). Pure widescreen terror with buckets of giallo trash/class that’ll put you off the theatre for life… Opera at The Ill Repute.

What our editors say

“Join us at Strange Brew for a screening of trans auteur Jane Schoenbrun's (the director of I Saw the TV Glow) debut feature, We're All Going to the World's Fair, in celebration of the release of their third film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Come along for a healthy serving of uncanny, Reddit No Sleep vibes!”
From: We're All Going to the World's Fair 15 7.30pm

“Exchange Horror Club: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari With improvised live score by noise makin' free thinkers from the south west weirdo fringe This screening is a food drive for Bristol South and East Foodbank - bring what you can, we'll have a donation point at the door. https://eastbristol.foodbank.org.uk/ 1pm doors 1:15pm start time GIANT screen FREE popcorn Exchange has a small ramp entrance from the street. Our bar and main event space are on the ground floor with level access throughout and we have an accessible toilet. If you need any other info on accessibility, please contact [email protected]”
From: Exchange Horror Club: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

“Our pride month celebrations may have come to an end but we're keeping the party going with an absolute modern classic of queer cinema! In July we are screening Booksmart, the painfully awkward and hilarious sapphic comedy from Olivia Wilde. Starring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein, follow Amy and Molly, two teacher's pets as they finally break bad the night before graduation. Amy wants to ask out the girl of her dreams! Molly wants something romantic to finally happen in her life! Both of them will make it happen... TONIGHT! Grab your best friend, partner or crush and head on over to Cafe Kino on Sunday 12th July for this literal queer joy-ride!”
From: Booksmart 15 7.30pm