Brighton’s very own Cinecity film festival returns on November 11th for ten days of movie magic! Here at We Love Brighton, we’ve taken a closer look at some of the delights in store for Brighton, Hove and Lewes-dwelling movie buffs in 2022…
What is Cinecity?
Brighton has been home to one of the UK’s most popular and influential film festivals for two decades. Now entering its twentieth year, Cinecity is the best place for Brighton film buffs to catch exclusive preview screenings of some of the most anticipated movies of the year and support local independent filmmaking prodigies. Cinecity is here to celebrate cinematic culture in all of its culturally diverse forms, and in addition to the screenings, the festival also hosts live Q & A’s, art exhibitions, and much more. There are nine venues located across the city that will host exciting previews and national premieres, including the famous Duke of York’s Picturehouse, Komedia, Fabrica, Depot in Lewes and The Old Market in Hove. You can browse the full calendar of films shown at the festival over on Cinecity’s official website. You can also purchase tickets for preview screenings through each participating venue’s official website.
Our Picks for the Festival…
As is often the case with festivals, it can be tricky for the more casual observer to know what to check out. Cinecity’s programme of events is as sprawling as ever, so we’ve made things a little easier for you and chosen our ‘must-see’ picks from this year’s festival…
Empire of Light
As is typical with film festivals, the most anticipated screenings are often saved for last, and this year at Cinecity the trend will be continued with an exclusive screening of Sam Mendes’ eagerly awaited love letter to cinema Empire of Light. Sam Mendes is one of the UK’s most critically revered directors and following on from his 2019 Bafta-Award Winning epic 1917, Empire of Light promises to be another visually arresting and beautifully acted feast for the senses. Starring Olivia Coleman and set in 1980s Margate, the movie will explore the ins and outs of running a dilapidated cinema, as well as shining a light on the cultural polemics present within a small seaside town. Empire of Light will screen as part of Cinecity’s closing Gala at the Duke of York’s cinema on Sunday 20th November.
Sunday 20th November, 5.30 p.m, Duke of York’s, Preston Rd, BN1 4NA
Enys Men
Following the breakout success of Cornish director Mark Jenkin’s 2019 film Bait, Enys Men is an unnerving and artful look at loneliness and isolation and was a critical hit when it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Mark Jenkin is steadily building a reputation for himself as one of the leading voices in British independent filmmaking and if early preview buzz for Enys Men is anything to go by, fans of the director’s breakout movie Bait are in for another sensual treat. Enys Men will screen on Wednesday 16th November at Duke of York’s Picturehouse. It is not one to be missed!
Wednesday 16th November, 6.30 p.m, Duke of York’s, Preston Rd, BN1 4NA
Vindication Swim
Stories about Brighton and Brightonians are always a mainstay of Cinecity’s eclectic programming and this year one of the most interesting looks at the accomplishments of Brightonians comes in the form of Elliott Hasler’s Vindication Swim. Vindication Swim tells the true story of Mercedes Gleitze, a Brightonian who, in 1927, became the first woman to swim the distance of the treacherous English channel. The film promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking deep dive (pardon the pun) into the struggles facing women at the time and an interesting new addition to the sports biopic genre. Vindication Swim will screen at Duke of York’s Picturehouse on Tuesday 15th November and will be accompanied by a Q & A with the director and lead actors Kirsten Callaghan and John Locke.
Tuesday 15th November, 5.30 p.m, Duke of York’s, Preston Rd, BN1 4NA
Close
Lukhas Dhont’s Close was another breakout success from the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and comes to Brighton with plenty of critical acclaim behind it. The film is a tender and heart-wrenching coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the rural Belgian countryside. The story concerns the complexities of a friendship shared between two 13-year-old boys and has been garnering plenty of critical acclaim for critics since it first debuted on the festival scene in 2022. If you want to be one of the first in the UK to watch this accomplished film then don’t wait around as it will screen at Depot in Lewes on Friday 11th November.
Friday 11th November, 8.30 p.m, Depot, Lewes, BN7 2JS
Blue Jean
The Brighton-based Harry Styles-starring My Policeman may have explored the shockingly oppressive times for the LGBTQI+ community in the 1960s, but the 1980s was arguably equally as devastating a time for the community with the introduction of Thatcher’s draconian Section 28, which forbade the promotion of homsexuality by local authorities. Georgia Oakley’s profound drama Blue Jean explores the turbulence experienced during the period and was such a breakout hit at the Venice Film Festival that it scooped up the much vaunted ‘People’s Choice’ award. Blue Jean is essential and urgent filmmaking and will be screened at the Duke of York’s Picturehouse on Friday 18th November.
Other Picks from the Festival…
In addition to these highlights, the festival will also screen the long-awaited historical biopic exploring the life of the Empress Elizabeth of Denmark, Corsage, directed by Marie Kreutzer. She Said, an investigative drama looking at the ‘MeToo’ movement, will also open the festival. A full list of the film’s and events showing at this year’s Cinecity film festival can be found on the official website here.
Brighton Cinecity Film Festival runs from November 11th-November 20th.
