Culture Guides
Destination Guides
This January, HOME commence their year-long endeavour, Celebrating Women in Global Cinema. It’s an initiative which will spread across the film programme, with specially selected strands, seasons and one-off events scheduled over 2019. For January we take a look at the The Personal is Political – The Films of Margarethe von Trotta, HOME’s look at the influential New German Cinema director, and Destroyer, the latest from Hollywood filmmaker Karyn Kusama.
Looking into February, film programmers Bigger Than Life present the UK’s first retrospective of the films of emerging queer filmmaker, Stephen Cone. Screening at Manchester Met’s Number 70, Oxford Street, this is your chance to catch up with one of American independent cinema’s brightest new talents, on the big screen for the first time.
Alternatively, if you like your cinema with a bit blood or bite, then Grimmfest’s Stockport Plaza double-bills might be the ticket. The venue itself is spectacular but horror fans can delight in a pair of smartly conceived gorefests in January followed by some zombie comedies scheduled for February.
Here are our picks
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1. Slapstick Film Season at HOME
Image courtesy of Park Circus/Warner Bros Slapstick Film Season at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 7 December 2018–20 January 2019, from £5 - Book now
Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers — HOME have got ’em all lined up as part of their season of Slapstick.
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2. Grimmfest’s Bloody Crazy Double Bill at Stockport Plaza
Drag Me to Hell Grimmfest's Bloody Crazy Double Bill at Stockport Plaza Cinema, Stockport, 24 January 2019, from £10 - Book now
Grimmfest splash the red stuff with a gruesome twosome screening at Stockport Plaza.
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3. Destroyer at HOME
Destroyer at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 25–31 January 2019, from £5.50 - Book now
Karyn Kusama’s neo-noir will draw attention for Nicole Kidman’s transformation, but we also find much to admire in Destroyer‘s moody depiction of contemporary Los Angeles.
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4. Kiss Me Deadly at Showroom Workstation, Sheffield
Kiss Me Deadly at Showroom Workstation, City Centre, 6 February 2019, from £6.8 - Book now
Released at the end of the initial cycle of what we now call film noir, Robert Aldrich’s intense, apocalyptic masterpiece screens at Showroon in a one-off event.
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5. Bigger Than Life/ Four Films by Stephen Cone at Number 70, Oxford Street
Wolfe Releasing Bigger Than Life/ Four Films by Stephen Cone at Number 70 Oxford Street, Manchester, 7–28 February 2019, free entry - Find Out More
Bigger Than Life and Research in Arts and Humanities at Manchester Met present the first UK retrospective of the films of American independent film director Stephen Cone, at No. 70, Oxford Road this February. Audiences can expect queer-themed films with a focus on community and sexuality, friendship and spirituality.
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6. Symphonic Cinema: Stravinsky | Ravel at The Bridgewater Hall
BBC Philharmonic Symphonic Cinema - Stravinsky/Ravel at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 19 January 2019, from £12.5 - Book now
A first for the BBC Philharmonic and The Bridgewater Hall, this unusual concert under the banner of Symphonic Cinema pairs sound with vision in a way rarely heard or seen in the classical concert hall.
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7. Valentine’s Cinema at Victoria Baths
Valentine's Cinema at Victoria Baths, Manchester, 15–16 February 2019, from £8 - Book now
The Village Screen honours St. Valentine this February with a weekend-long takeover of Victoria Baths that’s perfect for singles or those of you looking to impress your better halves.
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8. Cinema on Sundays: Italian Film Season at Altrincham Little Theatre
Cinema on Sundays: Italian Film Season at Altrincham Little Theatre, 2 September 2018–24 February 2019, from £7 - Visit now
Explore fifty years of Italian cinema history with this curated nine film season at Altrincham Little Theatre.
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9. Mustang at Small World Cinema Club, Foundation Coffee House
Screening: Mustang at Small World Cinema Club at Foundation Coffee House, Manchester, 5 February 2019, from £3 - Book now
Small World Cinema Club present the acclaimed 2016 debut film from Deniz Gamze Ergüven.
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10. Grimmfest’s Zombie Double Bill at Stockport Plaza
Shaun of the Dead Grimmfest's Zombie Double Bill at Stockport Plaza Cinema, Stockport, 20 February 2019, from £10 - Book now
This rom-zom-com double bill at Stockport Plaza showcases talent from both sides of the Atlantic.
More in Cinema
Documentary Challenge at IWM North
Make and feature in your own mini-documentary at IWM North.
Spit That Out 2019: North West Artist Film Programme at HOME
Artist films can be puzzling, startling, frustrating, eye watering and often incredibly inventive, ripping up the filmmaking rule book. Discover a selection of recent work from artists who are living in, working in, hailing from or have studied across the North West.
The Wise Kids (+Skype Q&A) at Number 70, Oxford Street
Set over the course of their final year at high school, three teenage members of a South Carolina Baptist church wrestle with questions of body and spirit as they prepare to leave for college.
Black Box (UK Premiere) at Number 70 Oxford Road
Set in the loose confines of a Chicago black box theatre, graduate student Holly (Josephine Decker) writes and directs an adaptation of one of her favourite childhood novels in this feature film from Stephen Cone.
Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party at Number 70 Oxford Road
When pastor’s son, Henry Gamble (Cole Doman) invites secular friends and members of his close-knit Evangelical community to celebrate his 17th birthday by the family pool.
Princess Cyd (+Skype Q&A) at Number 70, Oxford Road
A queer coming-of-age film set over the course of one hot Chicago summer, the laidback Princess Cyd follows teenager Cydney’s (Jessie Pinnick) extended visit with her novelist aunt, Miranda (Rebecca Spence).
Graduation at Small World Cinema Club, Foundation Coffee House
For March, Small World Cinema Club present the gripping Romanian drama ‘Graduation’ by Palme d’Or winner Cristian Mungiu.
Little Malcolm at Bluecoat, Liverpool
The first feature film produced by George Harrison, who supplied incidental music – features art student Malcolm (John Hurt), expelled from Oldham Art School, at war with ‘the Eunarchy’ of social conformists and sexual timidity.
¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Festival at HOME
For its 24th edition, ¡Viva! returns with a HOME-wide celebration of film, theatre and visual art from across Spain and Latin America.
Culture Guides
Exhibitions
On the brink of the new year, here’s a couple of the major exhibitions and smaller gems we’re looking forward to in 2019.
Literature
January, February, March, April, even May… we’ve plenty for you to look forward to live literature wise as 2019 unfolds – from performance poetry and soundscapes to readings from magazines, memoirs and award-winning short stories.
Tours and Activities
Explore the other side of Manchester’s performing arts, as this month, we highlight some of the best tours of the city’s theatres, venues and concert halls.
Related Guides
August Bank Holiday
Looking for things to do over the August Bank Holiday? Near fear, we’ve put together a handpicked list of things to do in Manchester and the North this August Bank Holiday weekend.
Father’s Day
Get out and about and spend some quality time with the Old Man, here are our top things to do for Father’s Day in Manchester.
Music Venues in Cumbria
When the sun goes down and you’ve had your fair share of Cumbria’s great outdoors, head to the area’s music venues to catch folk and jazz sessions, as well as regular performances by touring musicians. We recommend some of our favourites.
Music Venues in Sheffield
Sheffield boasted a strong and varied musical heritage. We pick out some of the city’s music venues – from student clubs to community pubs, and even the odd classical venue – which continue to play their part in this success.
Music Venues in Liverpool
There’s more to Liverpool’s music venue landscape than the Cavern Club, as the city’s cafes, bars, concert halls and former warehouses offer a rich variety of live music – from chamber to freakscene, and everything in between.
Music Venues in Leeds
Boasting a strong musical heritage, Leeds has a wealth of music venues to match: from suburban social clubs and former textile mills to co-operatively run DIY spaces and its recently built arena, the city has plenty of exciting spaces to offer its young, outgoing population.
Things to do right now
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