News

Dates and some (but not all) of the programme for the 23rd annual Widescreen Weekend have been announced by the National Science and Media Museum. Lovers of classic cinema, film projection and widescreen presentations can already snap up festival passes.

Housed at the museum's Bradford complex, which features three screens (including Europe's first IMAX cinema, and the only public Cinerama theatre outside of the US, the Pictureville Cinema opened in 1992), the Widescreen Weekend celebrates film history through a curated four-day programme of screenings, guest talks and special events.

Movies lined up for the 2019 version so far include 1965 classic The Sound of Music, shown via a new 70mm print; Panavision cold war epic Ice Station Zebra (1968), and a Marvel Superhero double-bill, where a 35mm presentation of Blade will be followed by Black Panther in IMAX 3D.

The Widescreen Weekend will continue to champion film over digital with the return of its Celluloid Saturday, which will feature a full-day of non-digital screenings 'across an eclectic mix of genres and eras.' Film historian Sir Christopher Frayling will also appear as a guest curator, serving up a selection of films set in 'ancient times'.

Available to buy now are Full Passes – £120/£100 (concession)/£110 (Picturehouse member) – and day passes (£40) 
for Celluloid Saturday. Expect individual screening tickets to go on sale later this summer.

The full programme for the festival, which runs from October 10 to October 13, will be announced in August. Visit the Widescreen Weekend website for more information.