Reel Steel Cult Weekender Film Festival at The Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

Book now

Reel Steel Cult Weekender Film Festival

13-15 March 2020

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

Reel Steel
Book now

Sheffield’s Reel Steel Cult Weekender returns to the lush surrounds of the historic Abbeydale Picture House for three days of action, justice-dealing cyborgs and Studio Ghibli — including rare 35mm screenings.

The weekend starts on Friday 13th March with a fortieth anniversary screening of Sean S. Cunningham’s original Friday the 13th paired with another ‘80s franchise first in the form of The Evil Dead.

Saturday’s session begins with a family-friendly 35mm presentation of Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved animation Kiki’s Delivery Service (presented with English subtitles) before launching into what Reel Steel have termed their ‘Law & Order’ double bill: John Carpenter’s sublime cops vs. criminals siege drama, Assault on Precinct 13, followed by Paul Verhoeven’s viscious satire, Robocop – which will also screen from a 35mm print.

Audiences may need some calming down after that, and Sunday relaxes the pace with more Miyazaki and another film print. Howl’s Moving Castle (English language version) is the story of a shy young woman, who embarks on a fantastic journey in a giant walking castle having been cursed by a witch.

This is a weekend of cinema to please multiple tastes, and as presentations of films in their original format dwindle, cinema fans should jump at the chance to catch these classics in a historic venue.

Where to go near Reel Steel Cult Weekender Film Festival at The Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield

Dimitri's
Castlefield
Restaurant
Dimitri’s

Longstanding Greek taverna Dimtri’s delivers traditional, fuss-free Greek food, aimed at everyone from courting couples to multi-generational families in Manchester.

Kong's NQ
Manchester
Restaurant
Kong’s NQ

Kong’s isn’t like other chicken shops. This much-loved Northern Quarter restaurant is all about high-grade ingredients and expert preparation.

Castlefield
Restaurant
Trading Route

Trading Route serves up time-honoured Sunday grub, in a modern Manchester setting. Worth a visit for the expertly-curated soundtrack alone.

Side view of mixed race business colleagues sitting and watching presentation with audience and clapping hands
Theatre
Burnley Youth Theatre

Burnley Youth Theatre is a vibrant youth arts organisation based at our purpose built venue in Burnley, Pennine Lancashire.

Bar pub 3
Leeds
Restaurant
Arcadia Ale House

Arcadia Ale house is a sports bar located in the Headingly area of Leeds with a range of drinks offers throughout the week.

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Pasta Romagna

Pasta Romagna is a family owned, independent restaurant in the heart of the city centre. Bringing you homestyle Italian cuisine since 1982.

wine bar 2
Leeds
Restaurant
Farrands

Farrands is an independent bar located in the heart of Leeds city centre, specialising in a range of fine wine, beer and specialist cocktails.

Restaurant
Leeds
Shop
George and Joseph Cheesemongers

George and Joseph is Leeds’ only specialist cheesemongers, serving some of the city’s best cheese from its home in Chapel Allerton since 2013

Wine bar
Leeds
Restaurant
Wayward Wines

Selling natural wines since before it was cool (well, 2017), this tiny suburban wine house is so much more than just a bar.

Beer shop
Leeds
Shop
Caspar’s Bottle Shop

Independent craft beer and spirits den Caspars Bottle Shop is a quirky Chapel Allerton favourite that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

What's on: Cinema

Culture Guides

Food and Drink in the North

Spring is here, so sign yourself up for some much-missed al fresco dining at these highly recommended (and mostly new) Manchester restaurants.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A busy image created using generative AI. The image depicts a man at the centre with grey hair and rosy cheeks, surrounding him are fairies that appear to be created in his own image with multiple limbs and unique bodily proportions. Around them are hundreds of vials, microscopes and dated scientific equipment.
Exhibitions

Spring has sprung a wealth of great exhibitions in the North West, from intimate photographic shows to huge installations.

Theatre

Closer, riskier, more immediate. Our small-scale theatre picks stretch from unsettling fables about nationhood to the inner workings of a mind trying to hold itself together.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

Fatoumata Diawara by Alun Be.
Music

This month’s live music picks move between ambitious new work, grassroots celebrations and a few memorable settings.