Festival of classic cinema returns to Bristol

Cinema Rediscovered – the UK’s leading festival of classic cinema – returns to venues in and around Bristol UNESCO City of Film from Wednesday 24 - Sunday 28 July with an 8th annual edition offering a mix of screenings, expert-led talks, Q&As, workshops, cinema walks, a quiz and a multitude of starting points for lively conversation. 

In all, the 2024 programme will feature more than 50 events, including big screen showings of new restorations, international re-discoveries and film-on film-rarities. 

Among the highlights will be an exploration of corruption and scandal in New Hollywood cinema;  a strand called Dangerous Divas, inspired by Rita Hayworth’s electric performance in newly restored Gilda (1946) and a host of UK premieres including two 4K restorations of films by the Bristol-born, Oscar and BAFTA nominated director J. Lee Thompson (1914 – 2002), both featuring strong performances from two recently lost British female leads.

The Weak and the Wicked (1954), a women-in-prison melodrama, stars Glynis Johns (better  known for her role in 1964’s Mary Poppins and who died in January 2024 aged 100) alongside a rising talent from Swindon: Diana Dors. The second Thompson showing will be of the hard-hitting No Trees in The Street (1959), set in the slums of pre-war London and starring the late Silvia Syms (1934-2023) in a moving performance as the gentle girl who refuses to marry the cheap racketeer.  
 
Further details of the line-up will be revealed before the end of April when ‘early bird’ festival passes go on sale. To keep up-to-date with news about the festival, follow Cinema Rediscovered on Facebook, Instagram, Letterboxd &/or X , or sign-up for the free e-bulletin via the watershed website. 

Cinema Rediscovered is a Watershed production. Its principal funder is BFI, awarding funding from the National Lottery.