C&G's Guide to the British Film Festival 2016

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I say Guv’na, it’s the British Film Festival!

Melbourne’s rich adoration of international cinema is ignited once more as the BBC British Film Festival returns to Palace Cinemas. In today’s blog, C&G scour the program and cherry pick the very best on offer, so you can get stuck in.

 

Running from 26 October to 16 November, the British Film Festival is brought to Melbourne by BBC First. Showcasing international award-winners, well-loved classics and some exclusive premieres, the festival follows a suite of other film festivals championed by Australians in the past few months.

Opening Night - A United Kingdom

Palace Cinema Como hosts the opening night film, A United Kingdom, to kick off the festival. A period piece set in 1940, A United Kingdom tells a progressive tale of a king’s love for a British, and the acceptance he must earn from his public, his family and the British government. Shining a light on a difficult period of British history, the opening night selection delicately handles cultural change and the complications of royalty.

Retrospective - Heroes

This year’s festival program plays homage to some of the best-loved classics in British cinema. The carefully curated selection of hero films is described as “an ode to some of Britain’s cinematic heroes”. From James Bond in Goldfinger to the most successful comedy series of all time, Carry On…, there’s something for every classic film lover, ideal for wet spring weekends.

Closing Night - A Monster Calls

Starring some of the UK’s most iconic cinema stars, Liam Neeson, Felicity Jones and Sigourney Weaver, A Monster Calls is a captivating adaptation of the book by Patrick Ness. Striking the perfect chord between fantasy and reality, A Monster Calls tells the story of a young, troubled boy who has found himself - for several reasons - very much alone. In an unexpectedly moving representation of a difficult childhood, the impressive visual effects bring both the monster and the depth of the narrative to life.

Worth Seeing

Between the stunning opening and closing night selections, there are so many films worth putting in your diary. The long-awaited The Light Between Two Oceans hails from Australian author M.L Steadman, and tells of a couple’s battle between love and sacrifice after living on a remote island off Western Australia. The Australian premiere of Oasis: Supersonic is also part of the festival program, following the colossal success of British band Oasis on their journey to superstardom. For something more lighthearted and family friendly, the classic Oliver! is also being screened at Palace Cinemas across Melbourne.

At Chisholm and Gamon, we love keeping in touch with our Baysiders and local goings-on. With Palace Cinemas in Brighton, South Yarra, and at The Astor on Chapel Street, we recommend making time to take in at least one of the works of cinema from the festival. Tell us what you loved, by catching us on Facebook and Twitter!