Film fans in Swindon have plenty to look forward to this autumn as Swindon Film returns to the Arts Centre with a new season of 14 films from around the world.
The not-for-profit organisation has built a loyal following by bringing acclaimed international cinema to the big screen at the Arts Centre in Old Town, offering audiences the chance to discover films they might otherwise never get to see locally.
The new season begins on Wednesday, 9 September with Dragonfly, starring Brenda Blethyn, Andrea Riseborough and Jason Watkins.
The film follows neglected pensioner Elsie, whose life changes when she forms an unlikely friendship with her younger neighbour Colleen. But when Elsie’s resentful and guilt-ridden son becomes involved, tensions begin to rise, with increasingly disturbing consequences.
The film has been praised for its unsettling mixture of social realism, thriller and horror. Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw described it as “a haunted, social-realist drama with elements of Mike Leigh but also moments of thriller and even horror”.
Two weeks later, on Wednesday, 23 September, Swindon Film will screen From Hilde, With Love, a powerful German drama based on the true story of Hilde Coppi.
Hilde becomes involved with the anti-Nazi resistance group Red Orchestra, falls in love and marries, becomes pregnant and is eventually captured by the Gestapo. Acclaimed German actress Liv Lisa Fries gives a striking performance in the title role in what promises to be one of the season’s most moving films.
The international journey continues on Wednesday, 7 October with Georgian drama Blackbird, Blackbird, Blackberry.
At 48, Etero is single and accustomed to being the subject of gossip in her small community. When she unexpectedly falls for a man, she finds herself forced to consider a choice between a relationship and the independent life she has built for herself.
The film explores love, freedom, social expectations and the search for happiness, with Etero’s story offering a very different perspective on relationships and independence.
These are just three of the 14 films making up Swindon Film’s autumn programme.
Screenings take place at the Arts Centre in the heart of Old Town, with films shown on a large screen in tiered seating. Doors open at 7.15pm, with screenings beginning at 7.45pm.
Swindon Film also offers a range of membership options designed to keep the cost of seeing quality cinema as low as possible.
Full membership costs £85 for the season, with members then paying just under £6 per film across the 14-film programme. A pay-as-you-go membership costs £5, followed by £9 per film, or £8 for concessions. Guests can attend individual screenings for £10.
Membership is open to anyone aged 16 or over and can be arranged before a film screening at the Arts Centre or in advance.
For film lovers who enjoy discovering something beyond the usual multiplex fare, the new season offers another chance to see acclaimed films from Britain and further afield in a relaxed local setting.
Full programme details and membership information are available through the Swindon Film website.
