Top Picks
Guides
What’s on
Where to go
See all

We Are One: A Global Film Festival

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

Visit now

We Are One: A Global Film Festival

29 May-7 June 2020

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

Free
Book now

Faced with global lockdowns and restricted travel, film festivals the world over have been forced back to the drawing board. While we’re forced to stay apart physically, We Are One: A Global Film Festival aims to bring together film fans the world over, with a 10-day programme of features, shorts and special event screenings — all showing for free, on YouTube in aid of COVID-19 relief efforts. The endeavour is a collaboration between 21 major international film festivals, including industry heavy-hitters such as Cannes, BFI London Film Festival, New York, Toronto, Sundance, Venice, Locarno and Rotterdam.

Each participating fest brought its own sensibility to the curation of the mammoth programme. BFI London Film Festival have contributed British shorts as well as silent films The Epic of Everest and Shiraz. Berlin International Film Festival presents a conversation between directors Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) and Kor-eda Hirokazu (Shoplifters). New York Film Festival has shorts by acclaimed female filmmakers such as Eliza Hittman, Alice Rohrwacher and Mati Diop. Meanwhile, directors Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Soderbergh discuss the restoration of Apocalypse Now Final Cut courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Wrath of Silence
Wrath of Silence

From further afield, Wrath of Silence is a brutal thriller set in rural China, courtesy of International Film Festival & Awards – Macau. Sydney Film Festival present Ivan Sen’s outback western, following a Indiginous cowboy detective. Cannes — arguably the highest profile film fest to cancel so far — has three selections of short films as well as rendez-vous with global superstars Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Grandmaster) and Alain Delon (The Leopard, Purple Noon.) Families are also catered for: our tip is DreamWorks Animation Studios’ Bilby, screening thanks to Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

All in all, viewers can expect 100 films, including 13 world premieres and 31 online premieres. There is a schedule available on the website, and while some films will only be available for a limited time, others will remain available to view for the duration of the festival. Audiences will be able to donate to COVID-19 relief efforts through a donate button or link on every film page.

Where to go near We Are One: A Global Film Festival

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
Leeds
Restaurant
Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

Manchester
Gallery
Black Redstart Gallery

Black Redstart Gallery is located in the Northern Quarter and runs a busy programme of exhibitions from emerging and established artists.

RJC Dance Xmas Show
Leeds
RJC Dance

RJC Dance, based in Chapeltown, Leeds, champions youth and education, leading inclusive Black dance in the North through national partnerships.

Manchester
Gallery
texture mcr

Possibly one of the city’s most mysterious art galleries, texture is a small and perfectly-formed independent space in Ardwick.

See all places

What's on: Cinema

A girl lies down in a field of daisies.
Until
CinemaManchester
The Worlds of Mamoru Hosoda at HOME

This summer, HOME presents a short season of films from celebrated Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda, screening on the big screen in stunning 4K for the first time.

From £4.70

Culture Guides

Detail of an abstract sculpture, with burned materials and rusty chicken wire at the centre, with rusted metal bars bent around it.
Exhibitions in the North

Chocolate fountains, beautiful batiks and medieval marginalia - this month's supersized Exhibitions Guide has it all.

Literature Events in the North

The autumn leaves might be falling already, but the harvest is plentiful as the live literature scene gets back into the swing of things after a summer break...

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

This season’s theatre is gloriously eclectic: from radical cabaret and reinvented classics to new musicals and boundary-pushing performance.

Cinema in the North

This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.

See all guides