The fact that Cinema Rediscovered is celebrating its 10th anniversary is itself testament to audiences’ renewed appetite for rediscovering film’s rich history. When we started, there were limited theatrical re-releases of restorations which was part of the motivation to launch the festival. We have been delighted to see how much the landscape has changed and how attendances have grown for rep films for the festival, the tour and beyond.
Join some of the most inspiring voices in the worlds of exhibition, distribution and restoration to reflect on the rise of rep cinema over the past decade; and what that might mean for the future of cinema.
What does it take to create enough buzz to get audiences to engage with lesser-known titles?
Just how far can we take audiences in their journey with rep cinema - for example reflecting on recent UK wide exhibitor led initiatives such as Bleak Weak: Cinema of Despair and Cinema Expanded: The Films of Frederick Wiseman as well as more localised initiatives.
How might you go about inviting curatorial voices into your cinema or festival?
How do distribution companies and studios approach restorations and re-releases?
PLUS a whole host of opportunities to connect:
Get a sneak preview of upcoming releases from some of the leading rep distributors including Park Circus, BFI, StudioCanal and Curzon Film.
Participate in 1:1 meetings with distributors, your peers and other industry practitioners.
Access FREE networking opportunities such as a complimentary networking lunch thanks to our principal event sponsors Park Circus and StudioCanal.
Make the case for a rep title you would love to see back on the big screen c/o Park Circus's Submission Box
Join in our Craft & Chat station and have a go at making your very own Aardman character (subject to capacity) plus pick up ideas to create your own wraparound activity to celebrate the studio's 50th anniversary year and beyond.
Meet the teams from Christie and Omnex and experience the latest Christie hybrid laser cinema projection technology in situ in Watershed’s projection box. See the system in place and discuss what this type of technology could mean for your own cinema(s).
Why not stay on for a few days or for the whole festival?
Get over 10% discount on Early Bird Festival Passes: £85 (£65 concessions, £50 aged 24 and under) until 27 May, then Full Price: £115 (£85 concessions, £65 aged 24 and under)
Receive an invitation to our Opening Night Drinks 18:00 - 19:00 sponsored by 6 O'clock Gin and Opening Conversation with Ehsan Khoshbakht 19:00 – 20:00.
Also look out for Lunchtime Talks at 1pm Curzon Film & Artificial Eye at 50 on Thu 23 and Other Ways of Seeing on Fri 24 a chance to meet the co-curators involved in putting the edition of Cinema Rediscovered together plus our Cinema Walks 9am on Thu, Sat and Sun.
You're welcome to join us for tea and coffee from 10.30am.
The first session then kick off at 11am and the panel sessions ends at 18:00 but you are welcome to stay on for our Opening Night Drinks 18:00 - 19:00 sponsored by 6 O'clock Gin.
Who can attend?
This event is primarily aimed at BFI FAN Members and associated freelancers. If you are a UK based film exhibitor and are not yet a member, find out how to join BFI FAN (FREE) - contact your regional hub. Archive practitioners, distributors, sales agents and international exhibitors are also welcome to apply and we will do our best to accommodate.
Where should I stay?
There are lots of great places to stay near the festival, from the cheap and quirky to the grand and luxurious. Participants can access an 18% discount off the standard flexible room rate with breakfast courtesy our hospitality partners ibis Bristol Centre Hotel and Novotel Bristol Centre. If you would like to access discount codes, please get in touch with the Cinema Rediscovered team using subject header “CR2026 Hotel & Pass Discount”. We can also make more personalised recommendations.
Get over 10% off your festival pass
Reframing Film attendees get over 10% discount on Festival passes now on sale and FREE access early morning exhibitor previews on Thu 23 – Fri 24 July.
Thanks to our industry sponsors, partners and funders:
Thanks to our principal event and festival sponsors Park Circus and StudioCanal; and the festival's Associate Sponsor Wiper & True. Find out more.
We are also grateful to Curzon Film and Radiance for supporting the afternoon networking event; and Omnex and Christie for providing us with the finest and latest Laser technology.
This is a Film Hub South West led initiative co-presented with the Independent Cinema Office and BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) partners funded through National Lottery. This event is primarily aimed at BFI FAN Members and associated freelancers.
Principal Sponsors
Partners
Session Sponsors
Schedule
11:00 – 11:05 Welcome – from the Festival Team
11:05 – 11:15 A short case study about the rise of rep in Bristol (Dr Kathrina Glitre (Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, The School of Arts UWE, Bristol)
Kathrina’s current research focuses on the rise of ‘rep’ film as part of contemporary film culture, inspired by the vibrant film scene in Bristol. She has extensive teaching and research experience, specialising in genre, film style and classical Hollywood cinema. Her academic publications include Hollywood Romantic Comedy (2006) and multiple articles on Cary Grant and screen acting. She is also on the Advisory Board for the Cary Comes Home for the Weekend Festival, and one of the editors of Movie: A Journal of Film Criticism.
A short case study about the rise of rep in Bristol (Dr Kathrina Glitre, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, The School of Arts UWE, Bristol)
11:15 – 12:05 From Bleak Weak to Wiseman: How far can we take audiences?
Get some fresh inspiration from some of the UK’s leading cinemas active in the world of repertory film programming and marketing to explore how far we can take audiences in their journey with rep cinema through distinctive collective and local approaches. Guests including Paul Vickery (The Prince Charles Cinema); Paul Gallagher (Glasgow Film Theatre) and Joan Parsons (Queens Film Theatre) will share how they go about creating a buzz around “riskier” titles and how this sits within their broader audience development strategy for rep cinema.
Hosted by Steph Read (Watershed Cinema Programmer).
Joan Parsons (Queens Film Theatre)
Joan is an experienced cinema professional with over 20 years of work across all operational roles in the cinema sector. In recent years, she has taken on senior leadership positions, reflecting her depth of expertise. Currently, Joan is Head of Culture and Arts at Queen’s University Belfast, where she oversees the Queen’s Film Theatre, Naughton Gallery, and Film Hub NI teams. She is also responsible for developing and implementing wider cultural projects and engagement plans.
Paul Gallagher (Head of Programme, Glasgow Film Theatre)
A visionary cinema leader, Paul Gallagher is Head of Programme for both Glasgow Film Theatre and Glasgow Film Festival; and has been a key member of Glasgow Film’s management team for more than a decade. Key successes during his tenure including the establishment of GFT’s long-running programming strands Scorsese of the Month and Coen Brothers of the Month; the diversification of GFT’s CineMasters programme to spotlight broader film industry talent; and the curation of GFT’s hugely popular 50th Anniversary programme.
Paul Vickery (Prince Charles Cinema)
Paul has taken the lead on the creative and commercial drive of Prince Charles Cinema’s Programme and Marketing departments since 2010. This includes curating and scheduling a unique slate of repertory titles on various formats from 35mm to 70mm, and overseeing the PR as well as coordinating the first UK wide Bleak Weak: Cinema of Despair in partnership with the American Cinemateque.
Steph Read, (Cinema Programmer at Watershed in Bristol)
Steph has worked as Cinema Programmer at Watershed since 2022, after completing a placement in the programme team as part of a Curating MA. They’ve programmed major repertory seasons including All That Melodrama Allows and Color by Technicolor; and various themed seasons including one on the birth of British folk horror and another on wordless animations. They’ve also programmed strands for Cinema Rediscovered and Encounters Film Festival, are a trustee and part of the programming team at Bristol Palestine Film Festival, and have been a BIFA voter for several years.
12:05 - 12:10 5 mins Comfort Break
12:10 – 13:00 How can cinemas and festivals invite curatorial voices in?
Passion, knowledge and connection to the material are key to making your programming stand out for audiences. Bringing in curators beyond your core team means you can expand your lens and invite new communities in authentically. But the exchange between your organisation needs to be right. We’ll hear from three practitioners on both sides of the dynamic to understand how we can embed fair practice into the relationship.
Mosa Mpetha (Film Curator)
Mosa Mpetha is a film curator of Black, African and Archive films. She founded Cinema Africa! a permanent programme at Hyde Park Picture House in partnership with local diasporic communities. Mosa is an advocate for DIY exhibitors, is involved in the Scalarama Leeds Film Festival and mentors new programmers. Mosa has a passion for the preservation and protection of African heritage, and distributes new restorations of African titles. She is also developing her creative archival film practices.
Ellen Smith (Freelance Programmer & Writer)
Ellen is a freelance film programmer and writer. She has previously programmed a monthly pop-up film night at Rare Mags in Stockport. She also currently works at HOME Manchester as a Projectionist. Ellen is a co-curator on the Rogue Hollywood strands at this year’s Cinema Rediscovered, testament to a period when some in the Hollywood mainstream went very rogue and provide a fascinating snapshot of America which resonates today.
Claire Harrison (Audiences Manager / Duty Manager Rio Cinema)
Claire Harrison is a Film Programmer and the Audiences Manager at the Rio Cinema in London. After graduating with a Masters in Film Curation from Birkbeck University in 2024, she began working at the Rio cinema where she cofounded Category H, a late night film club that specializes in horror genre double bills. She also manages the paper archive of the Rio’s history held on site. Her other interests include event cinema and researching specialty cinema audiences.
Hosted by Duncan Carson (ICO’s Project and Business Manager)
Duncan is a cinema worker interested in how to bring audiences to films of all kinds. He works for the Independent Cinema Office, leading on their Screening Days conference, distribution, partnerships and cinema consultancy. He is also a freelance consultant and curator, working with clients to help them find audiences for independent cinema. He writes a newsletter about independent cinema and is working towards opening his own cinema in London’s Waltham Forest.
13:00 – 14:00 Networking Lunch
A FREE (vegan/vegetarian) Networking lunch sponsored by StudioCanal and Park Circus.
14:00 – 14:05 A few words from Christie on the latest in cinema technology
14:05 – 15:25 Slate Presentation
A look at some of the forthcoming restorations and re-releases coming up in the months ahead. Join in our Restored & Rediscovered slate presentation hosted by film critic Neil Ramjee to hear more from leading distribution and sales companies about campaign plans, the context of re-issues and connecting with audiences.
Kate Coventry (Sales Manager, Park Circus)
Kate Coventry has been at Park Circus for 6 years as part of the Sales team, working across a number of international territories. As Sales Manager, she now leads on sales across the UK and Ireland, working on re-release campaigns for restorations and re-issues as well as booking the wider studio library.
Jack Chase (Senior Marketing Manager, Park Circus)
Based in London, Jack has been at Park Circus for 7 years and has recently taken on a new role as Senior Marketing Manager. Jack loves seeing classic films return to the big screen, leading on re-release campaigns for some of the greatest movies ever made and working across the wider Park Circus library of titles from all the major British and Hollywood studios. LinkedIn.
Gareth Haworth (Theatrical Sales Manager at STUDIOCANAL, UK)
Gareth has spent over a decade working in the UK and Ireland theatrical film distribution space, bringing stories to audiences with passion. Starting his career in distribution at Metrodome, he worked up to Theatrical Sales Manager after seven years at StudioCanal. Gareth has been at the forefront of fresh releases and treasured catalogue titles, ensuring films find their audience. His expertise lies not just in sales but in championing diverse theatrical releases. A true advocate for the big-screen experience, Gareth also has a deep love for cult and horror classics, fuelling his enthusiasm for bold and unique cinematic storytelling.
John Rodden (Head of UK Home Entertainment & Library, STUDIOCANAL)
John Rodden is responsible for overseeing the commercial strategy and distribution of the STUDIOCANAL Library in the UK.
Rod Rhule (BFI Releasing Manager)
Rod has been a member of the BFI Distribution team since 2015. As BFI Releasing Manager, Rod overseas the theatrical and non-theatrical bookings operation for BFI releases and rights owned titles; playing an active role in their strategy and delivery. Prior to joining the BFI, Rod worked in film exhibition and was programmer for a number of cinemas; including Tricycle/Kiln Cinema (Kilburn), Rich Mix Cinema (Shoreditch) and Forum Cinema (Northampton).
Jade Turner (BFI Film Distribution Officer)
Jade is part of the BFI Distribution team, bringing new releases, re-releases and the extensive BFI catalogue to audiences in the UK, Ireland and internationally. After completing her MA in Film Studies, Programming and Curation at the National Film and Televison School, Jade started her career in exhibition, programming Northampton Filmhouse from 2019-2022. She has gone on to programme for Curzon Home Cinema, Curzon Cinemas and most recently at the Independent Cinema Office and Borderlines Film Festival. She has also previously curated film festivals including Open City Documentary Festival and Film Africa.
Charlotte Saluard (Head of Film Sales, Curzon Film)
Charlotte started her career as an exhibitor, managing then heading the programming team at the Cine Lumiere in London working across arthouse/indie new releases, special events, festivals and repertory cinema. After 8 years, she moved to distribution, working for Modern Film and New Wave until she joined Curzon in 2020. She started at Curzon managing theatrical sales until she was promoted as Head of Film sales to oversee theatrical, physical and digital home entertainment sales of new releases as well as the 450+ library films owned by Curzon.
Bruno Savill De Jong (Operations and Marketing Executive, Radiance Films)
Bruno Savill De Jong joined Radiance Films in 2024 as Operations and Marketing Executive. His role encompasses e-commerce and logistics for the label’s home entertainment releases, as well as external communications, press, social media, newsletters, and theatrical bookings. A graduate of the National Film and Television School’s Film Studies, Curation and Programming course, he is committed to broadening the visibility and appreciation of Radiance’s diverse catalogue of underseen world cinema.
Sonali Joshi (Day for Night and M+)
Sonali Joshi is a curator, writer and subtitler based in Tokyo, and Founder of UK exhibition and distribution organisation Day for Night. Her curatorial practice focuses on underrepresented areas of Asian cinema, with particular interests in architecture and cinema, archives, restoration and filmmaking collectives. She is currently collaborating with M+ (Hong Kong) on the M+ Restored project as a consultant. Through Day for Night’s distribution activities, Sonali has sought to champion the work of filmmakers such as Dominga Sotomayor, Anocha Suwichakornpong and Pema Tseden. Sonali’s work in subtitling and access has run in tandem with her work in film exhibition and distribution, with specific expertise in subtitling for translation (particularly for major international film festivals), D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences and audio-description for blind and partially sighted audiences.
Maddy Probst (Cinema Rediscovered Festival/Tour Producer)
Maddy is the Cinema Rediscovered Festival Producer and Head of Film at Watershed overseeing the strategic development and delivery the cinema and initiatives such as Film Hub South West and BFI NETWORK. She joined Watershed in 2002, after working for independent music distribution company Vital Distribution and is on the board of Europa Cinemas (and was Vice President from 2014 – 2024) and has directed several Audience Development Innovation Labs for cinema practitioners across the world.
A Word from our partner Cinelogue: Rehana Esmail – Film Curator (Cinelogue)
Rehana Esmail is the founder and director of Cinelogue, a digital curatorial platform dedicated to cinema from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and their diasporas. Her work examines cinema as an emancipatory practice within postcolonial and neocolonial contexts, with a focus on expanding access to historical and contemporary films that remain outside dominant distribution networks. Before founding Cinelogue, she spent nearly a decade working in independent media, teaching filmmaking to marginalized communities in New York and Berlin. Her curatorial research and international network of archives, filmmakers, and collectives have contributed to a database of more than 1,000 films. Esmail is also presenting The Widow at the festival this year.
Hosted by Neil Ramjee
Neil Ramjee is the Community Manager for Film Hub South West. In previous lives, he has worked in both the community and commercial film scene for the last 10 years, whilst moonlighting as a culture and film critic for both print and radio. He has also employed his skills behind the camera on everything from Bollywood blockbusters to shoe-string features.
15:25 – 15:30 Short Comfort Break
15:30 – 16:30 The Rise of Theatrical Rep – from studios to audiences
Representatives from major studios Disney and Paramount join European production and distribution powerhouse StudioCanal and leading repertory distributor Park Circus to discuss the evolution and future of theatrical rep cinema. The panel will explore some of the catalysts for new film restorations, dig into the practicalities of getting films restored and rediscovered including studio’s evolving distribution strategies in cinemas, non-theatrical venues and beyond. This will also be an opportunity to reflect on key factors that have driven the last decade’s rep boom in cinemas from their perspectives.
Charlotte Barker, Director, Film Preservation & Restoration, with the Paramount Archives (remote contribution)
Charlotte Barker is the Senior Director of Film Restoration and Preservation at Paramount Pictures, where she has worked since 2005 and has led the studio’s restoration program since 2019. She oversees a team dedicated to safeguarding and revitalising Paramount’s motion picture legacy, with major projects including White Christmas, To Catch a Thief, Sunset Boulevard, and Dragonslayer. Under her leadership, Paramount’s restoration of Sunset Boulevard received the first DEG EnTech Award for Technology Innovation in Film Restoration in 2025 and in 2023, her team earned the inaugural Hollywood Professional Association Award for Best Restoration for The Godfather. Charlotte is one of the leading historians on the VistaVision widescreen process and is currently writing the definitive book on the subject.
Kevin Schaeffer, Director of the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Library Management Department (remote contribution)
Kevin Schaeffer has been with the Disney company over 30 years. He and his team oversee all the film vaults, the preservation of film elements, and the restoration of Disney Studio, 20th Century Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Selznick International Pictures, and ABC Circle Films titles.
Jack Reid Bell, Director of Marketing & Programming Strategy
Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Jack has worked at Park Circus for 15 years and now oversees the company’s international marketing operations and programming strategy. Working with over 100 countries worldwide, Park Circus ensures theatrical distribution for many of the greatest films ever made, distributing the back catalogues of all the major Hollywood studios and British libraries. Jack has extensive knowledge in classic film curation, marketing and licensing and has the privilege of working with programmers of cinemas and festivals around the world who share the same passion; seeing films back on the big screen.
Candy Vincent-Smith, Director of Catalogue Content and Editorial at Studiocanal UK
Candy has worked for European production and distribution powerhouse STUDIOCANAL for over 15 years, having started out in film PR and independent distribution following a degree in Film and Media Production at the University of Westminster. Candy produces and acquires content for STUDIOCANAL to compliment its vast library of classic films, for use across multiple platforms including cinema, Home Entertainment, digital and streaming platforms including Studiocanal Presents. She also manages and markets restorations, reissues and events from the catalogue, encompassing everything from Hitchcock to Paddington, Ealing Comedy to Hammer Horror, Agatha Christie to the Carry On Films and everything in between… She is also a trustee for Paignton Picturehouse.
Hosted by Mark Cosgrove (Watershed Cinema Curator & Cinema Rediscovered Founder)
Mark has worked in and been a champion of independent cinema exhibition for over 30 years. He has curated seasons and touring programmes ranging from 1971: The Year Hollywood Went Independent and Out of Their Depth: Corruption, Scandal and Lies in the New Hollywood to a retrospective of Claire Denis, Ulrich Seidl and Bernard Herrmann. He is Cinema Curator at Watershed in Bristol, one of the UK’s leading independent cinemas and founded Cinema Rediscovered in 2016.
You are welcome to use our Waterside spaces to book in one-to-one meetings with distributors and other guests involved in our Slate presentation. Please free to book these independently in advance and there will be a sign-up sheet on the day too and/or use the space to network with exhibition colleagues. Tea & Coffee will be provided.
Other activity:
ICO Know Your Rights - Drop-in
Want to show a specific film but don't know who to contact to book it? Or perhaps you want to share a film rights story that could benefit others? Drop by the Independent Cinema Office’s FREE surgery table to talk rights. Long-standing Cinema Rediscovered partner the Independent Cinema Office offers a programming and booking service for film exhibitors, professional training and consultancy to help start, save and grow cinemas and free advice and information to make sure that everyone can show films and take part in our sector.
Aardman Clay Station
Have a go at making your very own Aardman character plus pick up ideas to create your own wraparound activity to celebrate the studio's 50th anniversary year and beyond.
Chat & Craft Drop-in workshop - led by Cressida Williams (Cinema Rediscovered Project Coordinator.)
Inspired by the films showing at Cinema Rediscovered, we will be providing a clay modelling station, badge stamping, friendship bracelet making and much more. You're also welcome to bring your own creative activity or project to share with the group.
16:30 - 18:00 C1 Meet Christie and Omnex: laser projection in practice
A chance to meet the teams from Christie and Omnex and experience the latest Christie Hybrid projector cinema projection technology in situ at Watershed. Christie will introduce the projector technology and its capabilities, while Omnex will be on hand to discuss the practical side of bringing new cinema technology into a working venue, including installation, integration, commissioning and long-term technical support. Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit the projection box, see the system in place and discuss what this type of technology could mean for their own cinemas.
Mark Kendall, regional sales manager, Cinema, Christie
Mark has nearly 25 years of experience in the cinema industry, with expertise spanning sales, marketing, and business development for projector and signage solutions across the UK and EMEA. Over the course of his career, he has developed deep technical and commercial knowledge of the global cinema market, working closely with both major and independent exhibitors to support the adoption of new technologies. Since joining Christie in October 2024, Mark has helped drive the company’s continued growth and leadership in the region. He also serves as vice-president of the Cinema Technology Community (CTC), where he supports the growth of technical knowledge across the industry.
Simon Tandy, Managing Director of Omnex
Omnex is a specialist cinema technology company supporting cinemas across the UK and Ireland with projection, sound, seating, installation, maintenance and event cinema services. Since joining Omnex, Simon has focused on offering the right choice of cinema technology at the very best-value for cinemas. With a strong focus on customer service and the very best technical support, helping cinemas adopt technology that enhances both operational performance and the audience experience. He is particularly interested in laser projection, energy efficiency and the practical delivery of new cinema technology. Simon is also a long-standing Board Director of the Cinema Technology Community, supporting the development of technical knowledge and training across the sector.
16:30 – 18:00 C2 State of Emergence: The Films of Black and Asian Workshops, 1982
Still credit: The Passion of Remembrance. 1986. Directors Maureen Blackwood and Isaac Julien. Sankofa Film and Video
BFI invites colleagues from across exhibition, curation and audience development to join a conversation on State of Emergence – a major initiative to remaster, preserve and reintroduce films from the Black and Asian Workshops.
These pioneering, community-led collectives reshaped Britain’s cultural landscape in the 1980s and early ’90s, addressing race, migration, identity and working-class life through bold, urgent and innovative work that remains strikingly relevant today. As we look to share this season more widely, we’re keen to discuss how it might reach audiences across the UK in thoughtful and locally responsive ways. This session will introduce the programme and open up conversation around exhibition, partnerships and audience engagement. Hosted by Will Fowler (Season Curator; Curator, BFI National Archive), Miranda Gower-Qian (Cultural Partnerships Manager, BFI), Selma Kerlow (Head of Cultural Partnerships, BFI) and Xavier Pillai (Season Curator; BFI Southbank TV Programmer)
Join them to help shape how this vital body of work can connect with audiences today.
Selma Kerlow, Head of Cultural Partnerships at the BFI
Selma Kerlow leads UK‑wide and international collaborations that extend the reach of the UK’s screen culture through the BFI National Archive. Previously Deputy CEO at Rich Mix, she specialises in audience and stakeholder engagement and is committed to broadening access to culture.
Will Fowler, Curator of artists' moving image, BFI National Archive
William Fowler is a film archivist. His restoration projects include This Is Now: Film and Video After Punk, Together: The London Films of Lorenza Mazzetti and Queer Pagan: Derek Jarman He programmes the Experimenta stand at BFI Southbank and in 2022 he co-curated People Make Television at Raven Row gallery. His co-authored book The Bodies Beneath: The Flipside of British Film and Television - which draws on his research as BFI Flipside co-founder - is available through Strange Attractor/MIT.
Miranda Gower-Qian, Cultural Partnerships Manager, BFI National Archive / Co-curator of State of Emergence: The Films of the Black and South Asian workshops
Miranda Gower-Qian is Cultural Partnerships Manager at the BFI. She leads the development of strategic partnerships that connect screen heritage with diverse audiences in the UK and internationally. Her work brings together stakeholders across the screen industries, cultural organisations, and global networks to expand the access, collaboration, and impact of BFI cultural programmes.
Xavier Pillai, Film and TV programmer, BFI National Archive / Co-curator of State of Emergence: The Films of the Black and South Asian workshops
Xavier Alexandre Pillai is a London-based curator and film programmer who has programmed for festivals such as the London Film Festival and the Trinidad Tobago Film Festival. In his role at BFI, he curates the ongoing TV preview strand at BFI Southbank, as well as one off initiatives such as the TV season Constructed, Told, Spoken: A counter history of Britain on TV and the BFI Big Screen Classics season Cinema of Duty. His research focuses on histories of archipelagoes and issues of restitution in film; his chapter on Institutional Memory and Return is forthcoming in Restitution and the Moving Image: Decolonising Global Film Heritage (Taylor & Francis, 2026).
Reframing Film Sessions delegates are also invited to join in our opening drinks and conversation:
18:00 – 19:00 6 O’Clock Drinks Opening Drinks
Join us for drinks and canapés to celebrate our 10th birthday.
Cinema Rediscovered launched its first edition in July 2016, taking inspiration from the pioneering Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna, Italy, and giving our approach a Bristol twist. Both festivals celebrate big birthdays this year, with Il Cinema Ritrovato turning forty and Cinema Rediscovered turning ten.
To celebrate, we are delighted to welcome Il Cinema Ritrovato’s Co-director Ehsan Khoshbakht, also an author, filmmaker and one of the world’s leading rep curators, for a conversation with our founder Mark Cosgrove hosted by film critic, historian and long-standing collaborator Pamela Hutchinson.
It will be an opportunity to get insights into Ehsan’s illustrious career as a film curator for key international festivals such as Il Cinema Ritrovato and Locarno and institutions the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Cinémathèque française and BFI Southbank; as well as his wider creative practice. Mark and Ehsan will also reflect on how our respective festivals and the wider repertory film exhibition scene have evolved over the past decade.
Ehsan Khoshbakht co-directs Il Cinema Ritrovato, the festival of film history and film restoration in Bologna. Since 2024, he has curated the retrospective section of the Locarno Film Festival. His programmes have been presented at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Harvard Film Archive, the Academy Museum, BFI Southbank, the Cinémathèque française, the Danish Film Institute, Filmoteca Española, and Cinemateca Portuguesa, among many other venues and festivals around the world. He is the author or editor of a dozen books on cinema, including Red and Black: Hollywood Left and the Blacklist (forthcoming, 2026), Great Expectations: British Postwar Cinema 1945–1960 (2025), Lady with the Torch: Columbia Pictures 1929–1959 (2024), and In the Cities of Cinema: Conversations with Jonathan Rosenbaum (2025). Ehsan is also a filmmaker and his last work, Celluloid Underground, was premiered in 2023.
Concessions apply to Full Time Students, Job Seekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance, 66+ who have retired, Equity and BECTU members and disabled people. Where applicable please produce proof of eligibility when collecting a ticket.
*Booking fee applies to online and phone booking only.
Complimentary tickets are available for Personal Assistants accompanying customers who are Deaf / Disabled and can be booked through the Box Office, or online after joining our Access Register.
Cinema Rediscovered Festival Pass
The Cinema Rediscovered Pass allows you to select from 60+ Cinema Rediscovered screenings and events between Wed 22 - Sun 26 July. Subject to availability, terms and conditions apply. Buy your Pass here. Pass holders get 25% off monthly or annual subscriptions to streaming platform Cinelogue.
Pass prices: £130 full / £100 concessions / £80 24 and under.
Multi-Ticket Package Offer
Get 15% off the regular ticket price when you book 4-10 Cinema Rediscovered screenings and/or events. The discount will automatically apply when you add the tickets to your basket.
Club Shed members get 15% off all individual Cinema Rediscovered tickets.
All Cinema Rediscovered Pass and ticket holders can get 20% off any 6 O'Clock Gin & Tonic (including Watershed’s very own) at the Café & Bar and Undershed Bar during the Festival. Pass and ticket holders can also enjoy 20% off Wiper and True draught products after 20:00 at the Café & Bar and Undershed Bar during the Festival.
Please note: the Cinema Walks, Projection Tours, Improv Workshops, Family Workshops and the Film Quiz are excluded from the Pass and Package.
Access
Cinema seat widths
Our cinema seats are 46cm wide, with wooden armrests on either side of each seat that can’t be moved.
We can provide seats without armrests or bean bags as alternatives at the front of the cinema if that is more comfortable for you. Please just call our Box Office on (0117) 927 5100 or book in-person to arrange.
Our building is accessible, our staff are trained in basic BSL and Deaf awareness, we have toilets for everyone and we run an accessible programme of screenings, events and exhibitions. Find out more on our Access page.
Concessions
Concessions apply to Full Time Students, Job Seekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance, 66+ who have retired, Equity and BECTU members and disabled people.
Where applicable please produce proof of eligibility when collecting a ticket or showing your ticket at the entrance to the cinema.
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