Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN's (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts - his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation. Nominated for 8 Oscars and 6 Baftas including Best Picture.

Benji and David travel to Poland to pay respects to their Jewish grandmother. No sooner are they on the road, they realise why they don’t spend much time together anymore. Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin dazzle in their roles as the familial odd-couple, trading witty barbs and sobering ruminations on mid-adulthood growing pains, in this deftly scripted film full of humour and hope. Nominated for 2 Oscars and 2 Baftas

A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much-younger intern.

A new kind of love story. Hey you. Tired of swiping? Sick of getting ghosted? Are you feeling like a part of you is missing? FindYourCompanion.com is guaranteed to find you a Companion who's made for you.

When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a hare-brained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve - and fetch, sit, and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief, he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat. Petey's latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Lil Petey, to double his ability to do crime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Lil Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Lil Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly join forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family - and kittens! - to bring even the most hostile foes together.

Don't miss this very special advance screening of THE LAST SHOWGIRL on 10 February, followed by an exclusive recorded Q&A with Pamela Anderson.

When the glittering Las Vegas revue she has headlined for decades announces it will soon close, glamorous showgirl Shelly (Pamela Anderson) must reconcile with the decisions she’s made and the life she has built as she plans her next act whilst also striving to repair the relationship with her daughter (Billie Lourd). With an outstanding ensemble cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka, THE LAST SHOWGIRL is a joyous tribute to a long-gone Las Vegas – and all the women who made it glitter.

Directed by Gia Coppola and featuring a Golden Globe-nominated performance from Pamela Anderson, who dazzles in the role of a lifetime, this poignant film of resilience, rhinestones and feathers is simply unmissable.

Two polar opposite sisters navigate the world in different ways in the wake of personal hardship. This contemporary British tragicomedy tackles serious topics such as grief, family disputes and healing. Nominated for 2 Baftas

Escaping postwar Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his career, and his marriage. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent. Includes a 15 minute interval. Nominated for 10 Oscars and 9 Baftas including Best Picture

Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble.

Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN's (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts - his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation. Nominated for 8 Oscars and 6 Baftas including Best Picture.

Benji and David travel to Poland to pay respects to their Jewish grandmother. No sooner are they on the road, they realise why they don’t spend much time together anymore. Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin dazzle in their roles as the familial odd-couple, trading witty barbs and sobering ruminations on mid-adulthood growing pains, in this deftly scripted film full of humour and hope. Nominated for 2 Oscars and 2 Baftas

Bridget Jones is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

A new kind of love story. Hey you. Tired of swiping? Sick of getting ghosted? Are you feeling like a part of you is missing? FindYourCompanion.com is guaranteed to find you a Companion who's made for you.

When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a hare-brained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve - and fetch, sit, and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief, he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat. Petey's latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Lil Petey, to double his ability to do crime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Lil Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Lil Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly join forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family - and kittens! - to bring even the most hostile foes together.

The open call evenings featured as part of the I’m Migrant Film Festival are a chance to see new work from the most exciting student and graduate filmmakers from the SWANA Region, bringing together emerging talent from across the Arab World, with industry professionals, established filmmakers and cinema fans.

The screening will be followed by a post film Q&A with directors, chaired by Yamam Nabeel

About the festival:

The I’m Migrant Film Festival is a month-long programme of screenings and events bringing together established filmmakers from across the SWANA Region alongside emerging filmmakers from the Arab World and platforming the most promising new talent from young directors.

Two polar opposite sisters navigate the world in different ways in the wake of personal hardship. This contemporary British tragicomedy tackles serious topics such as grief, family disputes and healing. Nominated for 2 Baftas

A lonely widowed housewife does her daily chores, takes care of her apartment where she lives with her teenage son, and turns the occasional trick to make ends meet. However, something happens that changes her safe routine.

Escaping postwar Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his career, and his marriage. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent. Includes a 15 minute interval. Nominated for 10 Oscars and 9 Baftas including Best Picture

Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble.

Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN's (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts - his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation. Nominated for 8 Oscars and 6 Baftas including Best Picture.

Benji and David travel to Poland to pay respects to their Jewish grandmother. No sooner are they on the road, they realise why they don’t spend much time together anymore. Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin dazzle in their roles as the familial odd-couple, trading witty barbs and sobering ruminations on mid-adulthood growing pains, in this deftly scripted film full of humour and hope. Nominated for 2 Oscars and 2 Baftas

A new kind of love story. Hey you. Tired of swiping? Sick of getting ghosted? Are you feeling like a part of you is missing? FindYourCompanion.com is guaranteed to find you a Companion who's made for you.

When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a hare-brained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve - and fetch, sit, and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief, he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat. Petey's latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Lil Petey, to double his ability to do crime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Lil Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Lil Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly join forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family - and kittens! - to bring even the most hostile foes together.

“A PRESCRIPTION FOR FRIGHT!”

An eminent scientist aims to solve a recent series of grisly murders by re-creating the crimes in his lab.

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with CELLULOID JAM!, an unofficial celebration of 50 years of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975).

Referenced in ROCKY HORROR’s lusciously lip-synched opening number — ‘Science Fiction/Double Feature’ (mouthed by Patricia Quinn and sung by Richard O’Brien) — DOCTOR X (1932) is not often screened but pretty much always misunderstood given O’Brien’s mischievous lyric, “Doctor X will build a creature”.

DOCTOR X isn’t a creature feature exactly…, more a murder-mystery about an eminent scientist attempting to solve a recent series of grisly murders by recreating them in his research lab filled with all the dials, gizmos, bubbling beakers, and crackling electrostatic charges essential to the horror genre. A pre-Code classic made before Hollywood started to censor itself, DOCTOR X delights in the devilish details, as the serial killer is revealed to be eating the victims…

DOCTOR X was shot in glorious two-colour Technicolor (restored here, and looking incredible!) and features Lionel Atwill (SON OF FRANKENSTEIN) as Doctor Xavier, the sublime Fay Wray (before she got romanced by a giant ape in KING KONG) as daughter, Joanne, and Lee Tracy (THE BEST MAN) as a wisecracking journalist trying to piece the whole story together. From renowned director Michael Curtiz (CASABLANCA, MILDRED PIERCE), DOCTOR X is a deliriously demented slice of sensationalist cinema.

Polite notice: We are showing DOCTOR X with subtitles from the best available digital source.

// Part of BAR TRASH: Season 9 — CELLULOID JAM, an unofficial celebration of 50 years of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975). Hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo (creator of BAR TRASH and QUEER HORROR NIGHTS), all films screen with an introduction, intermission, and subtitles/captions (where possible!). Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for news and updates. More info at tokenhomo.com //

Before Nikkah is a 92-minute romantic comedy that navigates the complexities of modern-day arranged marriages. It follows the story of Sara and Isaam, two individuals fated to meet before a marriage they are both reluctant to embrace. As they spend a day together to kill time, their unexpected journey unfolds, blending humor with heartfelt moments that challenge their perspectives on love and compatibility.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Haider Zafar, Sasha Vadher, and Aakash Shukal.

This film contains a sequence of flashing lights which might affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.

Two polar opposite sisters navigate the world in different ways in the wake of personal hardship. This contemporary British tragicomedy tackles serious topics such as grief, family disputes and healing. Nominated for 2 Baftas

A lonely widowed housewife does her daily chores, takes care of her apartment where she lives with her teenage son, and turns the occasional trick to make ends meet. However, something happens that changes her safe routine.

Escaping postwar Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his career, and his marriage. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent. Includes a 15 minute interval. Nominated for 10 Oscars and 9 Baftas including Best Picture

Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble.

Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN's (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts - his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation. Nominated for 8 Oscars and 6 Baftas including Best Picture.

Bridget Jones finally has some luck in her life; she has a great job as a screenwriter, her family and a new boyfriend; the fact that he is over twenty years younger than her isn't the only thing that is causing problems.

A new kind of love story. Hey you. Tired of swiping? Sick of getting ghosted? Are you feeling like a part of you is missing? FindYourCompanion.com is guaranteed to find you a Companion who's made for you.

When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a hare-brained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve - and fetch, sit, and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief, he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat. Petey's latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Lil Petey, to double his ability to do crime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Lil Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Lil Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly join forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family - and kittens! - to bring even the most hostile foes together.

Ghosts of the Past, Present and Future

The Arab Film Club presents an evening of short films at the Genesis Cinema as part of Art Forward’s “I’m Migrant Festival”. Each film has been made by a Palestinian filmmaker in the last two years and in various ways explores the theme of grief, torment and loss in relation to the ongoing Palestinian struggle. After the screening, we will be joined on stage by actor Motaz Malhees for a Q&A hosted by Sarah Agha about his role in ‘Hamza: Chasing The Ghost Chasing Me’.

Films screened:

The Deer’s Tooth
Directed by Saif Hammash
A young man from a refugee camp in Palestine embarks on a perilous journey to fulfil his little brother's wish: to throw his milk tooth into the sea.

Hamza: Chasing The Ghost Chasing Me
Directed by Ward Kayyal
Despite recovering from an illness, Hamza refuses to abandon a routine he has kept every day since his release from an Israeli jail; to hunt the lion that the locals don’t believe exists.

Mar Mama
Directed by Majdi El-Omari
Haunted by her mother’s death and recurring attacks by Israeli forces on her city, a young girl becomes obsessed with death. To distract her, her father makes a stop-motion film.

The Key
Directed by Rakan Mayasi
An Israeli family's equilibrium gradually disintegrates as a mysterious sound is heard every evening at the door of their apartment.

About the festival:

The I’m Migrant Film Festival is a month-long programme of screenings and events bringing together established filmmakers from across the SWANA Region alongside emerging filmmakers from the Arab World and platforming the most promising new talent from young directors.

Two polar opposite sisters navigate the world in different ways in the wake of personal hardship. This contemporary British tragicomedy tackles serious topics such as grief, family disputes and healing. Nominated for 2 Baftas

Escaping postwar Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his career, and his marriage. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent. Includes a 15 minute interval. Nominated for 10 Oscars and 9 Baftas including Best Picture

Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble.

Bridget Jones finally has some luck in her life; she has a great job as a screenwriter, her family and a new boyfriend; the fact that he is over twenty years younger than her isn't the only thing that is causing problems.

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam Wilson finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Starring Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford, CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore with Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serving as executive producers. Some lighting effects in CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD may affect photosensitive viewers. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that you provide at your theatre ticket box offices and online site, and at other appropriate places where your customers will see it, a notice containing the following information: "CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD contains several sequences with flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photosensitivities.

Bridget Jones finally has some luck in her life; she has a great job as a screenwriter, her family and a new boyfriend; the fact that he is over twenty years younger than her isn't the only thing that is causing problems.

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam Wilson finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Starring Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford, CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore with Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serving as executive producers. Some lighting effects in CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD may affect photosensitive viewers. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that you provide at your theatre ticket box offices and online site, and at other appropriate places where your customers will see it, a notice containing the following information: "CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD contains several sequences with flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photosensitivities.

GENESIS POETRY WORKSHOP IS BACK FOR 2025!

The Genesis Slam crew are back with the first Genesis Poetry Workshop of the year and this time we’re exploring the big question: Why do we write?
Seeking out beauty, pure escapism, questioning the status quo, playing with language - writing poetry can serve as many purposes as there are people who write it. Whether seasoned veterans of verse or complete novices, this workshop is an invitation to explore the reasons behind putting words on paper. Through a combination of creative writing exercises, reading and discussion (as well as plenty of writing time!), it aims to provide insight on how one's purpose might influence one's writing, and how one might tap into it.

• Place / Time: Genesis Cinema Bar (Upstairs), Mon 17th February, 19:00-21:30
• Duration: 2 hours 30 mins approx.
• Focus: Generating new writing, reconnecting with the reasons we write at all
• Price: £10
• Who’s Welcome: All abilities – from first-timers writers looking to pick up a pen in a safe environment to seasoned slammers looking to push their craft to the next level.

This workshop will be led by Genesis Slam’s own Panos Skoutelis. Panos is a Greek-born, London-based spoken word poet, known for his animated performative energy, which his friends describe as "someone in dire need of a wee". He draws inspiration from topics as disparate as the cracks in our education system, the beauty of quantum mechanics, and Hinge fatique.

Feedback from previous Genesis Poetry Workshop participants:

“I'd recommend this workshop to every poet who wants a supportive space to share their work and develop in community with fellow poetry enthusiasts.”
“An intensely inspiring experience that has extended my writing practice and I would be very much interested in attending future workshops.”
“I enjoyed the poetry workshop at Genesis so much! It was inspiring to sit together and create.”

So why, why, why not join the Genesis Slam Crew on Monday 17th of February?!

UK PREMIERE - When a young Iraqi rubbish picker rescues an American sex doll from the Baghdad dumps, he crosses into a perilous red zone, where friends become enemies and nothing is certain in an explosive mix of love, war and madness.

The screening will be followed by Ahmed Yassin Aldaradji (Director) in conversation with Yamam Nabeel.

About the Festival:

The I’m Migrant Film Festival is a month-long programme of screenings and events bringing together established filmmakers from across the SWANA Region alongside emerging filmmakers from the Arab World and platforming the most promising new talent from young directors.

A variety night of the dreamiest alternative comedy from the best up-and-coming acts you’ve been sleeping on - all from the comfort of the Genesis Bar. Your hosts Finlay and Joe (Sketch Off Finalists 2024) present for you the sketch, clowning, character and musical comedy acts of your dreams. See comedians of all stripes performing material old and new, guaranteed to get you giggling. And enjoy it all whilst sipping on our signature Dream Juice™ cocktail - available only at Slept On.

Come down, settle in and snuggle up at Slept On Comedy. It’s a dream come true.

Follow us @sleptoncomedy for lineup announcements!

“GIANT SPIDER STRIKES! CRAWLING TERROR 100 FEET HIGH!”

A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

Referenced in ROCKY HORROR’s lusciously lip-synched opening number — ‘Science Fiction/Double Feature’ (mouthed by Patricia Quinn and sung by Richard O’Brien) — TARANTULA (1955) is one of the greatest of the 1950s sci-fi atomic horrors, from a recognised master of the form (toxic Jack Arnold also directed CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN).

Pure pulp cinema, this garish tale of the dangers of atomic experimentation features Leo G. Carroll as an increasingly deformed scientist (the makeup FX are horrifically effective), Clint Eastwood in another early-career bit part (last seen at BAR TRASH in REVENGE OF THE CREATURE), and — arachnophobes beware!!! — the magnificent title beast. TARANTULA also sees fan favourite Mara Corday return to BAR TRASH, having fought off similar beasts in THE GIANT CLAW and THE BLACK SCORPION. Needless to say, this is exactly the sort of film that puts Token Homo in his happy place, and he is stupidly proud to celebrate TARANTULA’s 70th Anniversary with you all.

“A tarantula as big as a barn puts the horror into this well-made program science-fictioner… it is quite credibly staged and played, bringing off the far-fetched premise with a maximum of believability" (Variety, 1955)

Polite notice: We are showing TARANTULA without subtitles from the best available digital source.

// Part of BAR TRASH: Season 9 — CELLULOID JAM, an unofficial celebration of 50 years of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975). Hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo (creator of BAR TRASH and QUEER HORROR NIGHTS), all films screen with an introduction, intermission, and subtitles/captions (where possible!). Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for news and updates. More info at tokenhomo.com //

A psychosomatically blind, deaf, and mute boy becomes a master pinball player and, subsequently, the figurehead of a cult.

Followed by a panel discussion with Nick Walker of the Cult Classic Collective.

Four short film that tell complex situations within a family settings, from death, to betrayal, to choices no parent should be making. Four powerful short films from four very different directors with incredible stories to tell.

The screening will be followed by a post film Q&A with directors/producers, chaired by Yamam Nabeel

Films screened:

Abdullah and Leilah
Directed by Ashtar Al Khirsan (Iraq)
Haunted by the memories of his childhood in Baghdad, Abdullah has dementia and struggles to communicate with his daughter. He no longer remembers the life he’s lived in London for the last 60 years and the fluent English he’s spoken. Leilah, who speaks only English, needs one last moment of connection with her father before she also fades from his memory and he no longer remembers who she is.

Beneath A Mother’s Feet
Directed by Elias Suhail (Morocco)
A young Moroccan mother, trapped in a mundane existence, confronts her dreams and fears, leading to the agonising decision to forsake all she knows, even her children.

The Last Days with Eliane
Directed by Mehdi Hajri (Tunisia)
A portrait of the Director’s maternal grandmother, Eliane, a French woman who lived her entire life in Tunisia. The film speaks about her final moments at home with their family before her passing due to Alzheimer's disease.

Blood Like Water
Directed by Dima Hamdan (Palestine)
Shadi embarks on a secret adventure, and accidentally drags his family into a trap where they only have two choices; either collaborate with the Israeli occupation, or be shamed and humiliated by their own people. Based on true stories

About the festival:

The I’m Migrant Film Festival is a month-long programme of screenings and events bringing together established filmmakers from across the SWANA Region alongside emerging filmmakers from the Arab World and platforming the most promising new talent from young directors.

Genesis Cinema and SwingdanceUK invite you along to our monthly Swing dance night!
Learn the steps Swing Dance Class 7.30-8.30pm with Simon!
Followed by dancing led by resident DJ Simon Selmon & guest DJs playing great dance music of the 30s, 40s & 50s & beyond for Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Shag & Balboa dancers!
A chilled atmosphere where you can meet friends, relax, enjoy a drink or a tasty pie and dance the night away!
Full Bar, Cocktails, Cinema Snacks available - popcorn, ice cream, Nacho's etc and then Lindy Hop ’til you drop!
Let the fun begin!

7.30pm Beginners Lindy Hop Class Pre-booking recommended
8.30pm Dancing with resident DJ Simon 'Mr Kicks' Selmon & special guest DJs - all welcome!

Class & Dance £9/£8 Students/NHS
Dance Only £3- Last Entry 9.30 pm

Bar Paragon, Upstairs @ Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Rd, Whitechapel, London, E1 4UJ.
Tubes: Stepney Green, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green

Future dates:
Friday 21st February
Friday 28th March
Friday 25th April
Website: https://swingdanceuk.com/socials/some-like-it-swing/

Wracked by guilt after covering up a murder, Mona - a northern Sudanese retired singer in a tense marriage - tries to make amends by taking in the deceased's southern Sudanese widow, Julia, and her son, Daniel, into her home. Unable to confess her transgressions to Julia, Mona decides to leave the past behind and adjust to a new status quo, unaware that the country's turmoil may find its way into her home and put her face to face with her sins.

About the Festival:

The I’m Migrant Film Festival is a month-long programme of screenings and events bringing together established filmmakers from across the SWANA Region alongside emerging filmmakers from the Arab World and platforming the most promising new talent from young directors.

Tristan, a young man deeply troubled by his past visits several locations in London during the night to relive fond memories. However, he soon finds out that this does more harm than good.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Malachi Dymond.

Café owner Nin’s contented life is shattered forever when his fifteen-year-old son Ming violently murders his mother and sister one evening. Diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, Ming is remanded to a psychiatric prison indefinitely until full recovery. Aside from visiting his son twice a month, Nin tries to continue his daily pedestrian existence while struggling against the immense feelings of anger and grief over his lost family. As time passes, Nin has given up on understanding the reasons for this tragedy. He only hopes to connect with his son Ming, who despite everything is now his sole remaining family, and see the day where he can come home again.

This screening brings together five directors from Algeria, Tunisia, Syria and Iraq telling stories of trauma as a result of conflict. Five different stories, equally powerful and equally heartbreaking.

The screening is followed by a post film Q&A with directors/producers, chaired by Yamam Nabeel.

Films screened:

Nya
Directed by Imene Ayadi (Algeria)
Taking place in Algerian suburbia in 1994, the story revolves around Anya - a seven-year-old girl who blissfully experiences her childhood without being aware of the turmoil caused by the civil war engulfing her country. Her sole desire is for her father - a journalist away on an assignment - to come back in time for the Mouloud holiday. Nevertheless, the violence of the real world slowly encroaches upon her daily life, causing her childish innocence to waver.

Ali and His Miracle Sheep
Directed by Maythem Ridah (Iraq)
9-year-old Ali hasn't spoken since his father was beheaded by ISIS. Setting out on a pilgrimage across modern-day Iraq, he plans to sacrifice his favourite sheep Kirmeta at the shrine of an ancient saint. This personal journey becomes a lyrical meditation on hope for miracles amid the suffering of a nation.

A Lullaby Unlike Any Other
Directed by Amani Jaafer (Tunisia)
Nour, a young Palestinian woman, wanders in the streets of Stockholm, only to confront the realization that she has lost something irreplaceable.

Foresaken
Directed by Aziz Shennawy (Tunisia)
After 30-year-old Meriem decides to treat herself to a vacation, she finds the body of a Sub-Saharan African man drowned in front of her balcony that no one seems to care about. Upon discovering the victim’s identity, Meriem has to make a decision.

Loss
Directed by Rami Al-Kassab (Syria)
As a group of immigrants crosses the desert border of North Sudan into Egypt, a sudden mother’s cry changes the course of a journey full of loss.

About the festival:

The I’m Migrant Film Festival is a month-long programme of screenings and events bringing together established filmmakers from across the SWANA Region alongside emerging filmmakers from the Arab World and platforming the most promising new talent from young directors.

"WARNING! 'STRAIT-JACKET' VIVIDLY DEPICTS AX MURDERS!"

After a 20-year asylum stay for a double ax murder, suspicion arises about Lucy Harbin's behaviour. Soon, heads begin to roll again. Is Lucy repeating her past?

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with CELLULOID JAM!, an unofficial celebration of 50 years of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975).

Having created the ROCKY HORROR role of Dr. Frank N Furter — a scientist! — on stage and screen, Tim Curry was often asked about the inspirations behind his performance:

“When I first did the show, one of the games that the critics played was trying to decide what Frank N Furter was a combination of. The favourite one was Joan Crawford and Vincent Price." Tim Curry

Crawford’s psychotic performance as Lucy Harbin in STRAIT-JACKET (1964) may well have provided one of the specific inspirations for Curry and ROCKY HORROR director Jim Sharman when the crazed scientist dispatches failed experiment Eddie (Meatloaf) with an ice pick.

STRAIT-JACKET brings Crawford back to BAR TRASH after an earlier screening of her missing-link melodrama TROG back in Season 3. Here, she delivers an unhinged caricature of her own well-established big screen persona, ranging from iconic Hollywood glamour to berserk ax-wielding motherly mayhem, making sure “Joan’s fans will not be disappointed” (Time Out).

Token Homo has a tradition of re-creating director/showman William Castle’s promotional gimmicks for our screenings of his films in Bar Paragon. He has previously delivered DIY versions of seat-buzzing system PERCEPTO! for THE TINGLER (1959), and a flying skeleton fourth-dimensional thrill system, EMERGO, for HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959). STRAIT-JACKET comes later in Castle’s career, but you should still expect the unexpected…

Polite notice: A ‘Coward’s Corner’ will be provided for customers unable to endure the final 10 minutes of this feature. We are showing STRAIT-JACKET with subtitles from the best available digital source.

// Part of BAR TRASH: Season 9 — CELLULOID JAM, an unofficial celebration of 50 years of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975). Hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo (creator of BAR TRASH and QUEER HORROR NIGHTS), all films screen with an introduction, intermission, and subtitles/captions (where possible!). Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for news and updates. More info at tokenhomo.com //

Scurrying across the South of England, young lovers, Mimi and Alfie, are on the run.

With no future, no plan, and nobody to turn to, they become lost in their dreams.

A moving, meditative exploration of the migrant experience.
Celebrated for his striking photography, as well as films that span a variety of genres but all drawing on the refugee experience, Al-Janabi’s latest feature is a fascinating slice of magical realism. A wooden figure is the central character in this dark mystery, which was shot in Hungary. An arresting and mysterious cinematic experience it is also an allegory about the universal experience of otherness and the fearful plight displaced peoples so frequently experience.

About the Festival:

The I’m Migrant Film Festival is a month-long programme of screenings and events bringing together established filmmakers from across the SWANA Region alongside emerging filmmakers from the Arab World and platforming the most promising new talent from young directors.

Collection of Palestinian films by directors Mohammed Almughanni, Kamal Aljafari, Mahmoud Alhaj, Mustafa Abu Ali, Moayed Abu Ammouna, Amal Al Nakhala, and Asil Alwadiya, accompanied by a special pop-up store fundraiser. All proceeds go to the filmmakers and their families in Gaza. Art by Maisara Baroud, Samaa Abu Allaban, Khaled Jarada, Mona Jouda, and Sohail Salem, along with curated merch by Sa7ten Paris.

A variety night of the dreamiest alternative comedy from the best up-and-coming acts you’ve been sleeping on - all from the comfort of the Genesis Bar. Your hosts Finlay and Joe (Sketch Off Finalists 2024) present for you the sketch, clowning, character and musical comedy acts of your dreams. See comedians of all stripes performing material old and new, guaranteed to get you giggling. And enjoy it all whilst sipping on our signature Dream Juice™ cocktail - available only at Slept On.

Come down, settle in and snuggle up at Slept On Comedy. It’s a dream come true.

Follow us @sleptoncomedy for lineup announcements!

Prepare for an unforgettable night of adventure as the Kendal Mountain Tour 2025 comes to life!
Join us on a cinematic journey through the world's most breathtaking landscapes with a selection of award winning films showcasing the year's most daring feats of courage and tales of human resilience. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or simply someone who appreciates the majesty of nature, this tour promises to ignite your sense of adventure and leave you with a renewed appreciation for the planet we call home. Get ready to be thrilled, inspired and moved at the Kendal Mountain Tour 2025 – where adventure begins at your doorstep…