Cinema Rediscovered Unveils its Bonanza Line-up for 10th Birthday Edition
Posted on Mon 1 June
Tickets are now on sale.
More than 70 events are now on sale for Cinema Rediscovered, the UK’s leading celebration of newly restored films, forgotten gems and classic revivals, taking place at Watershed and other venues in around Bristol UNESCO City of Film from Wed 22 – Sun 26 July 2026.
Presented by Watershed in association with Bristol independent brewery Wiper and True, this milestone anniversary edition of Cinema Rediscovered features dozens of Premieres, plus special guests, talks, workshops, exhibitions, live events, free drop-ins and immersive experiences designed to celebrate the joy of cinema in all its forms.
Festival founder and Watershed Cinema Curator Mark Cosgrove says:
“As befits a milestone edition, Cinema Rediscovered 2026 is our most ambitious festival yet. Alongside an incredible range of newly restored films and rediscoveries from around the world, we’re creating opportunities for audiences to experience cinema in many different ways - from talks, tours and workshops to exhibitions, games and communal film experiences. Whether you want to immerse yourself for five days with a Festival Pass, curate your own journey through a handful of screenings, or simply drop into one of our free events, there are so many ways to be part of the festival this year.”
The programme is now available and on sale. Highlights from this year’s programme include: A celebration of 50 Years of Aardman, offering a rare opportunity to experience early work by Nick Park on the big screen, revisit the groundbreaking Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer music video and explore the story of Morph through screenings and special events. A host of major restoration premieres and rarely-seen classics returning to cinemas, including Claude Chabrol’s masterful thrillers Le Boucher (1970) and La Femme infidèle (1969), both newly restored and unavailable in UK cinemas for many years. A special presentation of Arundhati Roy’s debut screenplay In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989), a cult portrait of student rebellion and creativity in 1970s New Delhi, presented in partnership with Film Heritage Foundation.
The Closing Night screening of Alexandre Rockwell’s beloved American indie In the Soup (1992), accompanied by a special live Zoom introduction from the director. The UK premiere of a new 4K restoration of Mario Bava’s visually dazzling Danger: Diabolik (1968), introduced by director Edgar Wright and launching the festival’s Comics Come Alive strand celebrating live-action comic book adaptations. Rogue Hollywood, a strand exploring the darker side of 1970s American cinema, featuring Taxi Driver, Hardcore, Looking for Mr. Goodbar and Elaine May’s Mikey and Nicky. The World Premiere of a new restoration of John Schlesinger’s Billy Liar (1963), presented by actor, writer and director Alice Lowe. A reconstruction of Erich von Stroheim’s legendary Queen Kelly (1929), presented by film historian Pamela Hutchinson. A celebration of American indie cinema through the work of Steve Buscemi, including a 30th anniversary screening of Trees Lounge (1996).
Beyond the screenings, Cinema Rediscovered 2026 also expands its programme of free and participatory events, encouraging audiences to explore all aspects of cinema culture that go further than the big screen. Free drop-in events include a family-friendly BFI National Archive pop-up exhibition, while audiences can also experience The Movie Orgy (an all-day communal collage of trailers, clips and cinematic ephemera) alongside projection box tours, craft workshops, improv sessions, walks and more interactive events still to be announced.
Cinema Rediscovered 2026 is a Watershed presentation in association with Wiper and True and made possible thanks to the support of the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, alongside principal sponsors Park Circus and STUDIOCANAL.
Following the Bristol festival, a UK-wide touring programme of highlights will launch in August.