On the outskirts of Gaza City a small community of farmers, the Samouni extended family, is about to celebrate a wedding. It's going to be the first celebration since the latest war. Amal, Fuad, their brothers and cousins have lost their parents, their houses and their olive trees. The neighborhood where they live is being rebuilt. As they replant trees and plow fields, they face their most difficult task: piecing together their own memory. Through these young survivors' recollections, Samouni Road conveys a deep, multifaceted portrait of a family before, during and after the tragic event that changed its life forever.
Date: Monday 27th November Location: Studio A Time: 4pm Writer turned director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, First Reformed) created a unique, avant-garde biopic about notorious Japanese author Yukio Mishima, who embraced Japan's traditions and fought against the gradual westernisation that became common following the end of World War Two. Using adaptations of sections of his novels, as well as traditional recounting of real-life events, this film sticks out as one of Schrader's best, and continues to inspire awe and heated discussion years later.
DATE: 5th February TIME: 4pm LOCATION: Studio A Provocateur Darren Aronofsky's powerful drama about a man fighting his own body for human dignity, The Whale was the triumphant return of Brendan Fraser to the big screen after years in the Hollywood wilderness, winning him the Oscar for Best Actor and cementing his status as a Silver Screen legend.
Date: Monday 6th November Time: 4pm Location: Studio A Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, one of the most acclaimed films of the 2000s, is about memory, love and the pain of heartbreak, whilst wrapped up in a brilliant, high-concept conceit: if you could erase someone from your memory, would you do it? This is the question faced by Joel and Clementine, following their relationship and breakup, as they navigate their past together and whether they want to hold onto their memories of each other, from once happy times that have now turned painful. Don't miss the best film ever made about longing for someone you can no longer be with.
Time: 4pm Date: Thursday 9th November Location: Studio A Writer and director Andrew Legge joins us via Zoom for this exclusive screening event, where we'll be showing his recently released film 'LOLA' in Studio A, followed by a discussion and Q+A. Set during World War 2, the film charts the amazing invention by two sisters of a computer that's able to show glimpses of the future. By altering events in the present, the world changes around the two women, as time and space reach near breaking point. One of the best underground films to come out this year, be sure to come and see it, and then get a chance to speak to the man who made it afterwards!
Time: 4pm Date: 17th January Location: Studio A We're kicking off 2024 with a season of films by Greta Gerwig! First up, her heartfelt and nostalgia-laced debut, 2017's Lady Bird. Saoirse Ronan (in one of her best ever roles) stars as Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson, an out-spoken teenager looking to establish her own identity away from Sacramento, where she's spent her whole life. At the same time she faces complex relationships with her mother, first love, best friend and home identity. We look forward to welcoming you all back to the CFS Film Club this year!
DATE: 30th January TIME: 4pm LOCATION: Studio A We are pleased to reignite Professional Perspectives in 2024 with a fantastic first guest, legendary British actress and multi BAFTA-winner Jessica Hynes. Jessica has acted in numerous critically-acclaimed series and films over a stunning career, including Spaced, Twenty Twelve, Doctor Who, Years and Years, Paddington 2, Son of Rambow and There She Goes. A celebrated screenwriter and director as well, every student at Central Film School will benefit from hearing Jessica speak, as she offers insight and advice from her time in the entertainment industry. Be sure to book tickets in advance so that you don't miss out.
DATE: 15th February TIME: 4pm LOCATION: Classroom 2 St John Ambulance have kindly agreed to provide a First Aid Safety Information workshop to any interested Central Film School students. Areas of focus will include how to be safe on a night out, and also how to handle injuries specific to film sets (burns, electrocution, etc.) This is fantastic information to have both for your professional development and personal life. You never know when you may one day need to call upon what you've learnt. Be sure to book in advance and email academics@centralfilmschool.com if there are any issues or questions.
Join us in January to kick start your new year with improvisation. This fully interactive session, led by Charlotte Gaughan, will provide an introduction to improvisation, a toolkit of games and exercises for your own practise and a grounding in the key principles of yes-and, listening and spontaneity. It’s also a great opportunity to appease your inner child with over two hours of play. The session will cover: An introduction to improvisation Toolkit of improv games and exercises for facilitation and your own practise Underpinning principles of listening, yes-and and spontaneity Improvisation as tool to develop connection with other performers and an ability to go off script Creating improvised characters, stories, and worlds and where they can take you An opportunity to have fun and play No previous experience needed at all Date: Thursday 18 January Time: 6pm-8.30pm Venue: Studio A, Central Film School, 72 Landor Road, SW9 9HP Deadline: Please register your interest to attend by Friday 5 January 2024
Date: 24th October 2023 Time: 4pm Location: Studio A Sorcha Kurien-Walsh, a former pupil at Central Film School, has kindly agreed to join us to discuss her career as a TV screenwriter and her work on the upcoming comedy series Rivals, set to star David Tennant and Danny Dyer and release on Disney+ next year. Additionally, she will speak about her BBC Studios short film 'The Pink Pill', and answer any questions students may have about working as a screenwriter in the TV industry. Make sure to come along and bring questions to ask her!