Next batch of films on Bristol’s biggest screen at the former IMAX cinema revealed

Twentieth Century Flicks and Bristol-based Film Noir UK are among the organisations taking advantage of the reopening of the former Bristol IMAX cinema to show films on its giant 19m x 15m screen. There’s also going to be a gala screening of Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley’s directorial debut, Blackbird, for which the phrase ‘eagerly anticipated’ seems inadequate.

Russell Crowe in ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Pic: Twentieth Century Fox.

Following the recent screening of Tollywood blockbuster RRR, the Around the World with Twentieth Century Flicks season continues with six more Sunday matinees of films shot in spectacular locations around the globe, which have been selected to show off that enormous screen in all its glory. The programme kicks off with Master and Commander – The Far Side of the World (Aug 14), followed by Roman Holiday (Aug 28), The African Queen (Sept 11), Thelma & Louise (Sept 25), Hero (Oct 9) and Pathfinder (Oct 23). Each screening starts at 3pm and tickets are available here, price £10/£6 (concessions). You can also buy a season ticket for all six films for £45.

Film Noir UK, a spin-off from South West Silents and the UK’s first film organisation dedicated solely to noir, takes over the cinema for a Michael Mann double bill on September 18. Screened to celebrate the publication of Heat 2: A Novel by Mann and Meg Gardiner, the bill comprises Heat and Thief (starring the late James Caan and featuring a magnificent Tangerine Dream soundtrack). Tickets are priced at £8.50 for each film and are available here.

Finally, on September 2 we’re promised a gala screening of Blackbird – the big screen debut of Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley. Not only does Flatley star in the film but he also produced, wrote and directed it. The production, which Flatley has described as “a spy thriller of the classic genre”, has been shrouded in mystery since its world premiere at London’s Raindance Film Festival back in 2018. Journalists were not admitted and not a single review appeared anywhere. Then it disappeared altogether, acquiring what the Hollywood Reporter called “almost mythical status”. So is this an absolute stinker of a vanity project destined to find its guffawing audience on the booming cult circuit or an unheralded masterpiece awaiting long-overdue acclaim? There’s only one way to find out. You can buy tickets here, price £7.50.

The original IMAX projection equipment: all still in place. Pic: Sunny Hubbard

After the Bristol IMAX closed back in April 2007, all the equipment was signed over to new owners the Bristol Aquarium. The auditorium hadn’t been used for outside screenings until the Forbidden Worlds festival came along back in May. They managed to get the full sound system up and running, although its likely to cost tens of thousands of pounds to restore the 70mm IMAX projection equipment to working order – which is way beyond the budget of local film groups. So they’re using a specialist lens to fill as much of the giant screen as possible.

“After our prolonged closure over lockdown, the aquarium began to explore options for running events for the public,” explains aquarium Events Supervisor Chloe O’Dell of the welcome decision to make this widely forgotten resource available again. “Since the Bristol IMAX closed, we have been using the space to host talks for large school groups about marine conservation and also host business presentations. But I felt like it wasn’t being used to its full potential and endeavoured to find a way to screen films on it again. Technology eludes me somewhat, so in the beginning we were using a small Epson projector and amplifiers, as turning on the IMAX sound system was a daunting task. I am so grateful to the Forbidden Worlds team for approaching me and working with Bristol Aquarium to make the auditorium what it is now. The space has been rejuvenated and it is brilliant to see people coming together to watch films here again.”

The Forbidden Worlds film festival returns to the former IMAX from October 28-30, with a Halloween programme to be announced. Anyone else who wants to use the auditorium to screen films is invited to contact Chloe at the aquarium.

Main pic: Hero. Buena Vista International

Read more: The sad and sorry story of Bristol’s short-lived IMAX cinema