Culture Guides
Destination Guides
February brings a selection of Valentine’s screenings to suit all tastes. The Village Screen takeover at Victoria Baths is the one for those of you looking to impress. The magnificent Edwardian water palace will be transformed into a pop-up cinema, with first rate street food and drinks. Meanwhile, HOME present a preview screening of Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Set in Brittany, France 1770, Sciamma’s film won the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. It is both a breathtaking romance and a fascinating dissection of the optics of desire. Finally, if you’re looking for something a little more downbeat, The Talleyrand have a double-bill that is inspired, and a bit bonkers.
Away from V-Day, Grimmfest have an all-day tribute to horror icon Tobe Hooper that is decidedly non-romantic. In Sheffield, celluloid fanatics will want to get over to The Abbeydale Picture House for the Reel Steel Cult Weekender, which features everything from Robocop to Studio Ghibli classics, with a number of films screening from 35mm prints. February is also the culmination of Oscar season, that period when studios release works designed to appeal to Academy voters. We’ve included some of our most anticipated titles below, but for those of you looking to watch the ceremony itself, you’ll want to book for Make A Scene’s special event.
Here are our picks
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1. Little Women at HOME
HOME Little Women at HOME Manchester, Manchester, Until 30 January 2020, from £7.50 - Book now
Greta Gerwig follows the acclaimed Lady Bird with one of our most anticipated titles of the year. Featuring the talents of Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern and Emma Watson, advance word is that this is something special.
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2. In Her View: Women Documentary Filmmakers at HOME
HOME In Her View: Women Documentary Filmmakers at HOME Manchester, Manchester, Until 30 January 2020, from £7.50 - Book now
From trailblazers to contemporary voices, this season highlights films from women documentary filmmakers from across the globe.
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3. Video Jam Presents ‘Spaces-in-between’ at Royal Northern College of Music
Mathilde Agius Video Jam Presents 'Spaces-in-between' at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 7 February 2020, from £14 - Book now
Video Jam presents five commissioned short films by artists based around the world, each scored by a different UK composer.
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4. Valentine’s Cinema at Victoria Baths
Valentine's Cinema at Victoria Baths, Manchester, 14–15 February 2020, from £8 - Book now
A cinema with a twist. The Village Screen pop up with a themed Valentine’s Cinema at the bottom of a pool.
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5. Preview/ Portrait of a Lady on Fire at HOME
HOME Preview/ Portrait of a Lady on Fire at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 14 February 2020, from £7.50 - Book now
Céline Sciamma’s Queer Palme winner is a sweeping depiction of forbidden romance. Catch it early at HOME.
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6. Amour & When Harry Met Sally at The Talleyrand
Amour & When Harry Met Sally at The Talleyrand, Levenshulme, Levenshulme, 14 February 2020, free entry - Find Out More
A Valentine’s Day double bill for the brave of heart.
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7. Grimmfest/ Tobe Hooper Day at Stockport Plaza
Grimmfest/ Tobe Hooper Day at Stockport Plaza Cinema, Stockport, 9 February 2020, from £7.5 - Book now
Grimmfest honour a legend of horror with this all-day marathon dedicated to Tobe Hooper. Chainsaws, ghosts and vampires, what else could you want?
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8. Make A Scene – The Oscars 2020 LIVE! at Manchester235 Casino
Image Group LA / ©A.M.P.A.S. Make A Scene – The Oscars LIVE! at Manchester235 Casino, City Centre, 9–10 February 2020, from £10 - Book now
It’s the Oscars, delivered by Manchester’s big gay film club. Gather friends and watch along with cocktails, performance, themed food and Make A Scene’s drunken commentary.
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9. A History of Violence at Showroom, Sheffield
A History of Violence at Showroom Workstation, City Centre, 26 February 2020, from £6.90 - Book now
Pulp fictions meet rigorous ideas in one of iconic director David Cronenberg’s most exciting films.
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10. Reel Steel Cult Weekender Film Festival at The Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield
Reel Steel
More in Cinema
Preview/ Parasite + Satellite Q&A at HOME
Winner of the Palme d’Or, as well as top Golden Globe nominations including best director, foreign-language film and screenplay this special preview screening will be followed by a satellite Q&A with director Bong Joon Ho.
Videodrome at Showroom, Sheffield
As the president of a trashy TV channel, Max Renn is desperate for new programming to attract viewers. When he happens upon ‘Videodrome’, a TV show dedicated to gratuitous torture and punishment, Max sees a potential hit.
Derek Jarman: PROTEST! at Manchester Art Gallery
Derek Jarman: PROTEST! is a major retrospective of one of the most influential figures in 20th century British culture including many works which have never been seen in public before.
Pilot Light TV Festival Season 5 at HOME
Manchester’s TV festival is dedicated to producing an inclusive, communal TV experience where fans and industry can come together to celebrate the past, present and future of television.
Grimmfest at Odeon Great Northern
One of the top genre film festivals in the World, Manchester’s annual festival of horror, cult and fantastic film returns to Odeon, Great Northern this October.
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