Contagion +Q&A, screening as part of Manchester Science Festival

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

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Contagion

Waterside, Manchester
26 October 2016

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

People on the street wearing anti-infection face masks .
Image courtesy of Warner Brothers.
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Part of the power of cinema lies in its ability to inspire curiosity. Films can transport us to some place or situation that might be otherwise completely inaccessible and make us ask questions that we hadn’t ever thought to ask before. For Manchester Science Festival’s screening of Contagion at Waterside Arts Centre, they’ve got a panel of experts lined up to answer those questions as soon as the credits finish rolling.

Steven Soderbergh’s (Magic Mike, The Limey) coolly directed medical-thriller depicts the impact of a lethal airborne virus on society and the efforts the scientific community make to combat it. With an all-star cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow, the film is a tense, detailed, hypochondria-inducing affair that will surely provide plenty of material for the post-screening Q&A session.

The panel of experts consists of author and lecturer Dr David A Kirby (Lab Coats in Hollywood), computational virologist Professor David Robertson and immunologist Dr Joanne Pennock – all part of the University of Manchester – and Peter Scott, a clinical research specialist and member of ISARIC (International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium). They will be ready to discuss viral outbreaks like Ebola, SARS and HIV, the popularity of pandemic scenarios on screen and the ways in which science is depicted in mass entertainment.

What's on at Waterside

Where to go near Contagion +Q&A, screening as part of Manchester Science Festival

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Bean and Brush Art Café

Bean & Brush is a family art café in Sale which serves simple, tasty food with ingredients sourced from local suppliers. The bonus for parents is the arts and crafts studio which keeps the kids busy being creative while they can join in or relax with a coffee.

Manchester
Park
Grosvenor Square

Grosvenor Square is one of the few open spaces along Oxford Road Manchester; on sunny days, students from the nearby Manchester School of Art come out to bask.

Manchester
Park
Walkden Gardens

Walkden Gardens in the Manchester suburbs has all the makings of a fairy tale garden. As a venue, it’s hard to imagine a more magical gateway, a wonderful escape only a short(ish) stroll from the Brooklands Metrolink stop..

Sale
Restaurant
Meze & More

An intimate supper club in Sale, South Manchester, with a specialist focus on Middle Eastern and Greek cuisine.

shop
Stretford
Shopping Centre
Stretford Mall

Stretford Mall has undergone a major transformation, turning a 60s shopping centre into a vibrant, community-led town centre. Led by Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works.

longford park ben williams
Manchester
Park
Longford Park

Longford Park in Stretford was created in the grounds of Longford Hall, the grand entrance steps of which remain.

Manchester
Park
Wythenshawe Park

With a 17th Century hall set in 109 acres of open parkland, Wythenshawe Park makes a super day out for all ages. Explore the historic woodlands, lush grasslands and meadows; take a stroll around the many themed gardens and check out the sports and leisure facilities on offer.

Beech Road, Chorlton
Bar or Pub
97 Chorlton

97 is a smart new cocktail bar from the team behind Tariff & Dale and The Lead Station, based on Beech Road in Chorlton.

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