Chichester International Film Festival has unveiled its full programme of enthralling events and screenings with tickets going on sale this week. Running from 9th – 25th August across various venues in the South, this year’s Film Festival promises to be an extraordinary and unforgettable cinematic experience for film fanatics and local audiences.
Now in its 32nd year, this will be the first outing under new Festival Director, Walter Francisco, who has retained many of the Festival’s much-loved features whilst also developing the audience offering to celebrate the magic of cinema in innovative and captivating ways. Boasting a remarkable array of events, UK premieres and exclusive previews, the programme includes new venues, unique special events, Q&A’s, live performances, atmospheric open air screenings and much more.
Highlights of the Festival
The Festival will officially open on August 14th with the UK premiere of François Ozon’s ‘The Crime Is Mine’, a delightful French farce with a deliciously dark vein. It will then fittingly close on August 25th with another UK premiere of a French film, the story of how Maurice Ravel conjured up his timeless masterpiece, ‘Bolero’.
Over 15 days, the Festival will host nearly 50 new films and an additional 50 films from the vaults, exploring a rich tapestry of themes from legendary actors and studios, to music films, and a celebration of cinema from Spain and Portugal. Highlights will include marking the centenary of cinema icon Marlon Brando with screenings of eight of his films and an illustrated talk. Another significant anniversary is the centenary of Hollywood studios MGM and Columbia, who will have their own special feature with a selection of their classic films along with an engaging talk about MGM’s storied history. Other retrospectives will showcase the talents of ‘Barbie’ director Greta Gerwig, and her multifaceted career as a writer, actress and director, as well as Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, with a presentation of five films that showcase his unique, droll storytelling.
Inspired by Walter Francisco’s own roots, the Festival will bring the spirit and colour of Spanish and Portuguese cinema to Sussex. The Alma Ibérica strand will feature both new and classic films from the region as well as special events with traditional live music.
A new Sound & Vision strand will include biopics and autobiographies as well as on-stage performances celebrating the music of artists such as Elvis, Prince and Talking Heads.
What’s more, for the first time in nearly 20 years, short films will return with a mixture of films ranging from a locally filmed period thriller, to an outstanding animation from Portugal.
Cinema Under the Stars
Back by popular demand, the Festival’s open air screenings will return to Priory Park in Chichester from August 9th – 12th, with an exciting line-up of films for all ages. Utilising bright LED technology, this will be the first year the Festival will screen afternoon films for families with ‘The Lego Movie’ and also ‘Wonka’, in aid of Stonepillow charity. For adults, the magic continues into the evening with screenings of ‘Barbie’, the timeless classic ‘Dirty Dancing’, and ‘Stop Making Sense’, the iconic concert film featuring Talking Heads.
Collaborations in the Community
With a passion for reaching new audiences and making the Film Festival more accessible, Walter has collaborated with new venues across the area to host a selection of films and events including The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre in Havant, The Windmill Cinema in Littlehampton and The Havana Bar, St. Paul’s Church and El Matador in Chichester.
There are also various musical collaborations which vary from Chichester Cabaret Club and Dawn Gracie following the screening of ‘Solo’, a 2023 Canadian romantic drama film about a young emerging drag queen, to an evening with Chichester City Band at St Paul’s Church playing some of cinema’s greatest film music.
Previews, Premieres and Discussions
The Festival boasts a wide range of new films to enjoy including premieres and previews from the UK and the rest of the world, such as the preview of ‘Reawakening’ with a special Q&A with the director Virginia Gilbert and actress Juliet Stevenson as well as the English Premiere of ‘The Old Man and The Land’ which was filmed in West Sussex and will include a Q&A with actor Rory Kinnear, director Nicholas Parish and sound editor Tom Joyce. Some of the programmed films might not be screened in the UK so this is a wonderful opportunity for audiences to enjoy some truly unique cinematic experiences.
From insightful Q&A sessions to behind-the-scenes stories, the Festival is designed to engage and inspire both film enthusiasts and casual film-goers.
To learn more about the Chichester International Film Festival or to purchase tickets, visit chichesterfilmfestival.co.uk.
