Words by Nya Furber
CINECITY is back in Brighton with its 21st programme, and it does not disappoint. From the10th to the 19th of November, venues across Brighton will be showcasing an array of international cinema, honouring both archive and new cinema. Think Brighton's best creative, indie venues - the likes of Lewes Depot, Duke of York's, Komedia - The full list of venues is here. The organisers of CINECITY were kind enough to invite The Channel to this years programme launch at Fabrica, where we got an insight into what's on this year.
CINECITY has two big films for their opening and closing nights this year. Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things is being exclusively previewed on 10th and 18th of November at Duke Of York's, months before its release date on January 12th 2024. Described as a steampunk black comedy film, Poor Things is a hot opening night film for the festival and not one to be missed. While opening night tickets have sold out, there are still a few tickets left for the second screening on the 18th November. The second anticipated film on the bill this year is Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers, featuring possibly the two sexiest Irish men of all time, Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott; I for one will be in that audience, drooling at the screen. All of Us Strangers is closing the programme on Sunday 19th November at Duke of York's.
But CINECITY has more than just hotly anticipated new films on the bill. There's an exciting line up of archive cinema too. I'm particularly excited and intrigued for the multi-sensory screening of Black Narcissus, a British psychological drama about nuns, exhibited as part of BFI's Cinema Unbound season. This multi-sensory screening, so I'm told, is not for those who dislike the scent of the perfume 'Narcisse Noir' which will be incorporated into the screening. Another intriguing event is 'Draw To Film - Mother Joan of The Angels.' More nuns! This is a film about possessed nuns, exorcisms and other cheerful things, but the screening will be paired with drawing materials, with audience members encouraged to draw whatever the film sparks in them while watching. Another highlight of the programme was the New Voices section. My eye was caught by a psychological-horror short by two local film students called Where's The Milk? The description follows: Despite his need for milk, a young man finds himself trapped and unable to leave his home as he relives his traumatic past. Where is the milk? I certainly want to go to the screening and find out. For those who want to experience the work of new young filmmakers, the New Voices event can be booked here. Another new film of note to me was We Will Not Fade Away, a moving coming of age film set against the backdrop of armed conflict in Ukraine. A pertinent reminder, I think, about how film can remind us of the lives of others, especially in a world so divided.
CINECITY is a fabulous event for the film fanatic or even the film ambivalent - it's got a bit of something for everyone. View the full programme and list of venues here.