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

Cinema & Independent Film in Bristol

upcoming event

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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What our editors say

“This year’s headline feature is Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid (1921), a landmark in film history and Chaplin’s first full-length masterpiece. Hilarious, heartfelt, and unforgettable, The Kid captures Chaplin at the peak of his creative powers, blending visual comedy with deep emotional resonance.”
From: Silent Comedy Gala 2026: The Kid

“He is known for using all-analog equipment and for his work with bands including Chromatics and Glass Candy; he has also produced for the likes of The Weeknd and Casisdead. His music has featured in Nicolas Winding Refn’s film Drive, Lost River (Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut), Bronson and Jewel performed his own music in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return.”
From: Johnny Jewel

“The much beloved film The Snowman will be shown on the big screen with a live symphony orchestra providing the soundtrack. sixteen year old Alice Mackenzie sings the aria made so famous by Aled Jones, Walking in the Air.”
From: The Gruffalo and The Snowman

“Sean O’Brien is Lecturer in XXth- and XXIst Century American Literature at the University of Bristol. His research explores precarity and secular stagnation, and their representation in contemporary literature and cinema.”
From: EBB Climate Talks: Adam Hanieh *Crude Capitalism*

“The film begins at a unique summer camp for disabled teenagers in upstate New York during the early 1970s. What starts as a place of fun, freedom and solidarity soon sparks a powerful wave of activism, as many of the campers go on to become trailblazers in the US disability rights movement.”
From: Film Night: Crip Camp