This October, FACT is transporting you back to the 90s with a special VHS edition of Cinema in the City! For this unique pop-up cinema experience, they’ve teamed up with VideOdyssey in Toxteth—one of the UK’s last remaining video rental shops—to showcase three coming-of-age double features.
Whether you’re re-living the nostalgia or discovering these films for the first time, get ready to dive into classics that shaped 90s youth culture and defined a generation. Each film will be screened on VHS, adding a layer of retro authenticity that brings the magic of videotape rewinding to life.
Plus, filmgoers will have the opportunity to battle it out in VideOdyssey’s retro game arcade, featuring vintage titles like Ms. Pac-Man and Street Fighter II. You can also enjoy food and drink from some of the city’s favourite independent vendors.
The full lineup includes:
FRI 25 OCT
Pump Up the Volume (1990) + Kicking and Screaming (1995)
SAT 26 OCT
Juice (1992) + Boyz n the Hood (1991)
SUN 27 OCT
Show Me Love (1998) + But I’m a Cheerleader (1999).
The Plaza Community Cinema are celebrating Halloween this year with two special events which will cater for everyone.
Horror film fans will love their Plaza 80s Halloween Special with ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’ (15) on Saturday 26th October (7pm) which has just celebrated it’s 40th anniversary.
The family will love their Plaza Halloween Family Special with ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (PG) on Thursday 31st October (6pm)
This is Halloween’… Join the fun and step into Halloween Town with a screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas.
This Academy Award nominated stop-motion musical fantasy tells the story of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, who discovers Christmas Town and plots to take charge of the festive season. With a magical soundtrack by Danny Elfman, this screening comes ahead of two fantastic Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra concerts that feature music from the acclaimed composer. So once trick-or-treating is over, come along for more Halloween fun.
Ahead of this film screening, enjoy an organ introduction from resident organist Dave Nicholas, who performs as our unique Walturdaw cinema screen rises from the stage.Please note, film screenings at Liverpool Philharmonic begin at the advertised start time.
Tickets
£16, £13, £10 (adult)
£13, £10 (child)
This special screening has been organised as a commemorative event by Renewing Roots, with funding from the Government of Ireland’s Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Commemorative Grant Scheme.
Released in 2023, Stolen explores Ireland’s institutional scandal in which the treatment of unmarried women, who became pregnant in 20th century Ireland, sparked global outrage. A government inquiry unearthed shocking accounts of cruelty and abuse, including forced separations and adoptions, inhumane living conditions, children used as cheap labour and infant mortality rates up to five-times the national average. In Stolen survivors – including mothers and witnesses – speak out.
Stolen received a nomination, from the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA), for the 2024 George Morrison Feature Documentary Award. Recently, The Irish Times awarded Margo’s titles Hush-A-Bye Baby and Waveriders, places within Top 50 Irish Films Ever list.
Following the screening , there will be an interview with the film’s director — Margo Harkin — before a short Q&A with panellists Martha O’Neill (Stolen’s producer) and Patricia Carey.
Known for her deeply personal documentaries, and writing on sensitive and controversial topics, Margo became well known in the 1980s for Hush-a-Bye Baby, The Hunger Strike and Mother Ireland.
Film 1hr 47mins + introduction and Q&A.
The Sunflower Project began in January 2022, with the aim of working with people impacted by Mother and Baby institutions.
Using art to explore experiences, it intended to provide safe, friendly spaces where difficult experiences could be explored through discussion and creative techniques. The sessions were guided by Shauna Kelpie, an experienced theatre practitioner, and Colette Ramsey, a researcher experienced in working with mental health, wellbeing and trauma-informed approaches.
The group first began working on written pieces that were presented (Jun 2022) at The Derry Playhouse to an invited audience. The production was well received, with many audience members visibly moved. Those monologues have been filmed and have become the film, ‘In Each Other’s Shelter We Survive’.
Visitors to today’s event can expect a warm and gentle welcome. The film — In Each Other’s Shelter We Survive — will last 1hr4mins and will be introduced by members of the #LIF2024 team and members of Fréa‘s Renewing Roots programme.
LMF Presents: The Sandbox Showcase is an exciting evening dedicated to celebrating short films from some of the most talented filmmakers in the North West of England. This event is designed to give both new and established filmmakers a platform to present their work in front of a live audience, bringing together creativity, community, and cinema under one roof at Liverpool’s renowned Picturehouse @ FACT.
Expect a night full of diverse storytelling, with a range of genres and themes, each film offering a fresh perspective and unique voice. Whether you’re a fan of drama, comedy, documentary, or experimental films, this showcase has something for everyone. Filmmakers will also have the opportunity to discuss their projects in post-screening Q&A sessions, offering valuable insights into their creative process and the challenges they faced during production.
Beyond the screenings, The Sandbox Showcase aims to foster connections and spark collaborations within the local film community. Attendees will have the chance to network with filmmakers, share ideas, and build relationships that could lead to future projects.
This event is part of Let’s Make Films’ ongoing mission to support and promote local filmmakers, offering a stage where new talent can be discovered and celebrated.
Join them for a memorable evening of film, conversation, and community.
Secure your spot for this celebration of North West filmmaking by booking your tickets now!
From the filmmakers behind Almost Liverpool 8 comes Liverpool Story. Join us for the premiere of this film showcasing our beautiful city, on 21st November at the Philharmonic Hall.
Finding beauty in the ordinary, Liverpool takes centre stage in this year-in-the-life documentary portrait.
Communities and voices are observed from a fresh perspective as the city navigates through an eventful year. Mirroring the ebb and flow of the River Mersey, Liverpool Story is an intimate document of daily life; observing the city and its people over the passing seasons.
This premiere is proudly supported by Williams Liverpool in its 50th year.
Join Fringe Flicks for an unforgettable evening of offbeat cinema, featuring the Soviet horror classic Viy (1967).
Directed by Konstantin Yershov and Georgi Kropachyov, and adapted from Nikolai Gogol’s novella, Viy is celebrated for its eerie atmosphere and groundbreaking practical effects. The film follows a young seminary student who is confronted with terrifying supernatural forces in a remote village, making it a must-see for fans of classic horror and dark fantasy.
In addition to Viy, the event will showcase a diverse selection of short films from around the globe:
– Carne Con Tomate (Meat with Tomato) – A darkly humorous Spanish tale of mysterious disappearances.
– Sincopat (Syncopation) – A surreal Spanish short about a tech executive trapped in an infinite musical loop.
– Why Worry – A quirky UK short film about a visit to a Chinese chippy.
– Antisocial (World Premiere) – A visually striking German short exploring themes of isolation and self-destruction.
Event Schedule:
Doors Open: 7:30 PM
Short Films: 7:50 PM
Interval: 8:30 PM
Viy Screening: 9:00 PM
Don’t miss this chance to experience a night of eclectic and chilling cinema that challenges the norm and captivates the imagination.
This is a free event, and while tickets are not required for entry, they strongly advise securing a ticket in advance. In the event of high attendance, having a ticket will guarantee your place and ensure you can enjoy the screening without any issues.
Join Bluecoat for a captivating journey into the surreal world of Fantastic Planet (La Planète Sauvage), the critically acclaimed 1973 animated science fiction film directed by René Laloux. Known for its imaginative visuals and thought-provoking themes, Fantastic Planet has earned its place as a classic in animated cinema.
Set on the distant planet Ygam, Fantastic Planet explores the lives of the tiny, human-like Oms and their giant alien oppressors, the Draags. The film follows Terr, an Om who escapes with advanced Draag technology and uses it to ignite a rebellion. However, this technology brings unforeseen challenges and dangers, all within a visually stunning and imaginative alien world.
This screening is a part of Bluecoat’s Weird Futures season. Their current exhibition, Let Your Ideas Come Back As Children, by artists Roxy Topia and Paddy Gould, explores how children navigate a world dominated by technology and what this means for their future. Advances in artificial intelligence and technology have rendered some occupations obsolete, potentially limiting future career options. However, this exhibition suggests that human creativity is an irreplaceable skill that will become increasingly important in the years to come.
Don’t miss this opportunity to visit their current exhibition and watch one of the most visually and thematically distinctive animated films ever made. Mark your calendars and join them for an unforgettable screening of Fantastic Planet.
This film features French audio with English subtitles.
Fantastic Planet (La Planète Sauvage) 1973
Sun 15 Sept, 2.30pm
1hr12min
Rated 12A
FACT invited exhibiting artist R.I.P. Germain to guest curate a season of films that have influenced his creative practice.
For his final film, R.I.P. Germain has chosen acclaimed music video director Hype Williams’ only feature film to date, 1998’s influential crime drama Belly. The film stars New York hip-hop legends NAS and DMX in their debut roles, alongside T-Boz of TLC and Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man. The story revolves around crime lords Tommy (DMX) and Sincere (NAS), who lead a group of criminals encountering difficulties while expanding their drug-dealing business. Throughout the film, the pair begin to realise that their lives are headed towards a dead end and start to consider taking different paths.
R.I.P. Germain’s immersive exhibition “After GOD, Dudus Comes Next!” (2024) is on display at FACT from Friday 5 July to Sunday 13 October 20204.
