Reframing Film
Cinema Rediscovered 2026
Reframing Film invites you to delve deeper into the programme, experience film on film and join in conversations with creatives involved in film programming, projecting, archiving and more.
Join in our lunchtime talks, projection tours, and cinema walks, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved; whether you want to find out more or about the world of repertory and restoration or simply share film enthusiasms. For those of you that are hoping to get into film curation (and who knows perhaps pitch an idea for next year’s festival), join in the Other Ways of Seeing Lunchtime Talk.
We also look at the 50-year history of Curzon Film (including the original inception as Artificial Eye), the influential UK distributor of indie foreign language and arthouse films.
On the centenary of his birth, BFI National Archive presents a brand new 35mm print of Brian Forbes’ directorial debut, which put the North of England on screen and launched the screen career of Alan Bates.
Upcoming screenings & exhibitions & events in this season
Cinema Walk 1
Reframing Film
Bristol has been an UNESCO City of Film since 2017, but Bristol and cinema have been entwined since – some would say before – the beginning of moving pictures. Join local enthusiast and historian Mark Fuller for the first of three gentle walks.
Lunchtime Talk: Curzon Film (and Artificial Eye) at 50
Reframing Film
Join Jake Garriock (Curzon Head of Distribution strategy and group publicity), Mark Cosgrove (Cinema Rediscovered Founder) and guests for a look at the UK distributor who shaped UK tastes for foreign language and arthouse films, past present and future.
Inside the Archive
Reframing Film
Come and find out how a film archive works in this new exhibition, on display in Waterside 1 throughout the festival.
The Liberation Films of Southern Africa
Reframing Film
Join Professor Shawn Sobers, filmmaker Simon Bright and guests to reflect on the vibrant resistance and collaboration of Southern African Transnational Cinema that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s to counter the propaganda of apartheid and the media biases of former colonial powers.
The Pretend Company presents: Improv Cinema Club Part 1
Reframing Film
Join The Pretend Company for this first of two Improv Cinema Club sessions, a unique opportunity to explore some of the films presented at Cinema Rediscovered in a nuanced and in-depth way.
Projection Tour
Reframing Film
Join Watershed’s Charlotte Bendrey and BFI National Archive Curator Rosie Taylor on a tour of Watershed’s projection booth and discover how the films screening at the festival make it to the screen during a festival like Cinema Rediscovered.
The Movie Orgy
classified 18 (CTBA) Reframing Film
Before the era of YouTube mashups came The Movie Orgy (1968), an immense found footage cultural catalogue curated by legendary director Joe Dante in his debut feature.
Cinema Walk 2
Reframing Film
Bristol has been an UNESCO City of Film since 2017, but Bristol and cinema have been entwined since – some would say before – the beginning of moving pictures. Join local enthusiast and historian Mark Fuller for the second of three gentle weekend walks.
Big Films on Small Gauges 9.5mm
Reframing Film
BFI National Archive Curator Rosie Taylor presents two rare comedies of farcical romance, weddings and tomfoolery from the early period of British Lion and Hammer, now only viewable on 9.5mm film.
The Jackal of Nahueltoro (El Chacal de Nahueltoro)
classified 15Subtitled screening
Based on one of Chile's most notorious true crimes, this debut feature by Miguel Littín is a cornerstone of the New Chilean Cinema, ushering in an urgent, realist, and political filmmaking movement.
Lunchtime Talk: Chronically Online: Archiving and Activating Online Moving Image for Audiences
Reframing Film
Join the team behind The Creative Nonfiction Film Weekend (CNFW) for a screening of early internet video and a discussion about what it means to preserve online moving image and to screen it in cinemas.
Big Films on Small Gauges 28mm
Reframing Film
A decade before 9.5mm and 16mm film, Pathé launched 28mm, one of the first non-theatrical film gauges. Explore this forgotten format, featuring original prints projected on a 28mm Victor projector.
Craft & Chat
Reframing Film
Join in a Chat & Craft drop-in workshop, inspired by the films showing as part of Comics Come Alive.
Boorman and the Devil
classified 18 (CTBA) Reframing Film
After his success with Point Blank and Deliverance, Warner Brothers offered John Boorman the opportunity of a lifetime... what could go wrong?
Exorcist II: The Heretic
classified 18 Reframing Film
From the director of Point Blank and Deliverance comes this vision-like metaphysical thriller that confounded audience expectations by delivering something unique and entirely unexpected.
Cinema Walk 3
Reframing Film
Bristol has been an UNESCO City of Film since 2017, but Bristol and cinema have been entwined since – some would say before – the beginning of moving pictures. Join local enthusiast and historian Mark Fuller for the third of three gentle weekend walks.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed & Lotte Reiniger Fairytale Films
classified PGSubtitled screening
To celebrate the centenary of Lotte Reiniger’s beautiful 1926 silhouette animation, The Adventures of Prince Achmed, The Little Film Society bring you an enchanting screening of these magical tales from the Arabian Nights showing alongside some her lesser known, but no less spellbinding, fairytale films.
The Pretend Company presents: Improv Cinema Club Part 2
Reframing Film
Join The Pretend Company for this second of two Improv Cinema Club sessions, a unique opportunity to explore some of the films presented at Cinema Rediscovered in a nuanced and in-depth way.
UK Premiere: Whistle Down the Wind (35mm)
classified PG Reframing Film
On the centenary of his birth, BFI National Archive presents a brand new 35mm print of Brian Forbes’ directorial debut, which put the rural North of England on screen and launched the screen career of Alan Bates.
Shadow Puppet Making Workshop
Reframing Film
Join Dáire Carson (The Little Film Society) for a special shadow puppet making workshop inspired by the work of Lotte Reiniger, the foremost pioneer of silhouette animation.
Cinema Rediscovered 10th Anniversary Film Quiz
Reframing Film
It’s time to prove your film knowledge at this year's 10th Anniversary Cinema Rediscovered Film Quiz — a night where deep-cut movie knowledge meets friendly competition.
Individual events and screenings unless otherwise stated:
£12.00 full (plus 12% booking fee*)
£9.50 concessions / Refugees and Asylum Seekers (plus 12% booking fee*)
£6.50 24 or under (plus 12% booking fee*)
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.