A new documentary offers an incisive, open-minded look at the right to roam debate: the ongoing struggle to judge who holds and crosses Britain’s land.

Despite its many country paths and parks, a huge amount of the UK is closed to the public by private ownership – supposedly, over 90% in England. Since the 1930s, activists have fought to open up more of this land to walkers, struggling against landowners with historic claims of guardianship and with harder questions of environmental responsibility. As this issue rages on today, director Orban Wallace interviews figures from across the battle lines, shedding light on the issue with calmness and thoroughness. Alongside it, his radiant vision of the British countryside reminds us of what’s being fought over, while asking: who gets to experience this, and who takes care of it?

Having taken the same 350-mile walk in their youth, the pair hope to rekindle their once-strong friendship by spending 30 days together in the majestic, raw beauty of the Scottish Highlands.

But while Chris remains preoccupied with work and life back at home, Lluis is determined to finish the trail to prove he can still do it. Amidst the sweeping landscapes, harsh weather and chance encounters with other hikers, the solitude and silence of the trek force the pair to confront truths about themselves and their friendship – and find out what it truly means to stand still and listen.

Shot entirely on the route of the walk, and in chronological order, The North is a beautiful ode to friendship and the healing power of nature.  It’s not only a poignant and powerful drama, but also perhaps the definitive hiking film.

He’s on a mission to save the Earth with no idea how he got there.

Astronaut Dr. Ryland Grace finds himself aboard the Hail Mary, a spacecraft dispatched on a last-chance mission to save Earth from interstellar catastrophe. Based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir, the film shares a similar edutainment-meets-space-adventure tone to his previous work, The Martian. But here, the stakes are far higher - Grace isn’t just on a mission to save himself, but all of humanity as well. And deep in the cosmos, he discovers some unexpected company…

From visionaries Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse), the film is built to be seen on the big screen, with Ryan Gosling continuing to prove himself as the perfect leading man. A testament to scientific knowledge and human endurance, it’s an inspirational, heartfelt story in a truly thrilling sci-fi package.

The Runway office doors swing open once more in The Devil Wears Prada 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the iconic fashion-world comedy drama The Devil Wears Prada.

Years after surviving the whirlwind demands of legendary editor Miranda Priestly, journalist Andy Sachs has built a respected career far from the glossy pages of Runway magazine. But when the publishing industry faces a digital revolution, Andy finds herself drawn back into Miranda’s orbit.

As the formidable editor fights to keep Runway relevant in an era of influencers and instant trends, old rivalries resurface and loyalties are tested. So settle in. Keep up if you can. And if Miranda Priestly fixes you with that famous look, remember the only acceptable response in this office: “That’s all.”

A sweeping and immersive portrait, Michael brings the story of Michael Jackson to the big screen with striking ambition. Rather than simply revisiting familiar hits, the film digs deeper, tracing his evolution from a prodigious talent fronting the Jackson Five to a visionary artist determined to redefine global entertainment.

At its centre is an assured debut from Jaafar Jackson, capturing both the charisma and complexity of his uncle. Director Antoine Fuqua balances spectacle with intimacy, recreating electrifying early performances while offering glimpses into the pressures behind the spotlight.

Stylish, energetic and at times reflective, Michael invites you to experience the origins of an icon, placing you front row for the moments that shaped a legend.

This year sees the latest high-stakes installment in the blockbuster video game franchise in all its brutal glory, Mortal Kombat II.

This time, fan-favorite champions – now joined by Johnny Cage himself – are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds-barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn, which threatens the very existence of Earthrealm and its defenders.

The sequel leans fully into spectacle, delivering bone-crunching fights and slick choreography while expanding its mythic scope. It thrives on relentless pace and unapologetic excess, embracing the franchise’s signature intensity.

Fans will appreciate the deeper roster and sharper nods to the games, while newcomers can enjoy the sheer scale and energy of its action-packed storytelling.

What is the value of art? Does it reside in personal expression? Cultural longevity? Financial worth? These questions fuel Steven Soderbergh’s gloriously entertaining comedy, The Christophers. 

Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen) was once a star of London’s 1960’s and 70’s pop art explosion, but he hasn’t painted in decades and has been broke for years. He’s cursed with two vile, talentless children (James Corden, Jessica Gunning). Desperate for an inheritance they hire Lori Butler, an art restorer –  and former forger (Michaela Coel) – to pose as a prospective assistant in order to access unfinished canvases Julian has buried deep in storage.

It’s another exhilarating late career opportunity for McKellen to really bare teeth, following on from The Good Liar and The Critic, but this time he has a script that’s actually able to match him. A sharp and remarkable tale of creativity, legacy, and avarice.

Hugh Jackman leads the all-star cast of a delightful underdog murder mystery, as a shepherd avenged by his sheep-turned-sleuths.

Living out of a campervan in the hills, George Hardy needs nothing more from life than his flock, whom he entertains daily by reading from crime novels. When he is found dead one morning, the grief-stricken herd must band together, remember his precious teachings, and scour the nearby village for his murderer – and save themselves from a new, less merciful owner. Working from the beloved German bestseller Three Bags Full, director Kyle Balda (Minions) and screenwriter Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) turn an irresistible story into a broad but charming family adventure, anchored by strong vocal work from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and many others. Exquisite location work also helps: Hertfordshire was, apparently, among the home counties used.

There’s no business like Monroe business! Few screen icons have ever burned as brightly as Marilyn Monroe. Join us as we celebrate 100 years of Monroe with Some Like It Hot.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made, Billy Wilder’s sizzling classic showcases Monroe at her most captivating.

When two jazz musicians witness a mob hit, they go on the run, disguising themselves as women in an all-female band bound for sunny Florida. Among their new bandmates is the irresistible Sugar “Kane” Kowalczyk, played by Monroe.

Despite personal struggles and declining health, Monroe delivered what many consider the finest and most beloved performance of her career. Even director Billy Wilder, who faced challenges during production, later remarked, “All I can tell you is if Marilyn was around today, I’d be on my knees, saying ‘please let’s do it again!’”

“Nobody’s perfect!” may be its unforgettable closing line, but more than 60 years later, no other big-screen comedy has come quite so close to perfection.

Two artists and activists set out to transform their street by bringing solar power to each home, one step at a time. As climate breakdown intensifies alongside the cost-of-living crisis and rising fuel poverty—and with little meaningful action from the UK government—the question becomes: what can ordinary people do? Their answer is simple: take control.

“Every home a power station” is the rallying cry behind Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn’s community-driven initiative, inspired by the spirit of mutual aid that emerged during lockdown. Power Station offers a heartfelt, often humorous portrait of their journey to build local energy independence—showing that real power lies in collective action.

Join us alongside Alban Community Energy (ACE), a Community Benefit Society focused on strengthening energy resilience across St Albans City and District, as we explore a vital question: what does a people-powered energy transition look like in St Albans District?

To find our more about ACE, visit: https://albancommunityenergy.org/

Featuring a post film Q+A with panel.

To avoid being separated by their divorcing parents, brothers Finn and Charlie flee home and venture cross-country to the west coast of Ireland.

They’re seeking their eccentric grandfather John (Bill Nighy), who they haven’t seen since all the fighting began. Across a 500-mile journey, they must survive the streets, assisted by the kindness of strangers, including free-spirited musician Kait (Maisie Williams), who is escaping troubles of her own.

Starring Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit all grown up!) as Finn and Dexter Sol Ansell as Charlie, this heartfelt tale of family and resilience is not one to be missed.

A feel-good story that strikes a chord between comedy and drama, set against the backdrop of the cut-throat music industry.

When wedding singer Rick Power (Paul Rudd) and former boy-band singer Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas) meet at a gig, they instantly bond over their love of music. But this friendship is put to the test when Danny steals one of Rick’s songs, becoming a number-one hit and reigniting his faded career.

From writer-director John Carney (Sing Street, Once), this uplifting film is anything but one-note, exploring ambition, revenge, and the power a truly good song can have.

Oscar-winner Daniel Roher masterfully directs this slick crime thriller, diving into the world of high-stakes criminal activity.

Niki White (Leo Woodall) is a talented piano tuner, whose uses his heightened sense of hearing to tune Steinways for the wealthy elite. But after stumbling into an active burglary, these skills are put to a different use: cracking safes. Niki suddenly becomes caught up in a dangerous, unpredictable web of criminal activity, crescendoing into a dramatic balance of this new double life.

This suspenseful thriller is fast-paced and exciting, seamlessly moving across a symphony of genres; Oscar-winning sound designer Johnnie Burn (The Zone of Interest) immerses the audience in Niki’s world through clever use of silence and sudden blats of noise.

Quentin Tarantino’s highest-grossing film - a stylised, revisionist tribute to European spaghetti Westerns.

Set three years before the Civil War, freed slave Django (Jamie Foxx) travels across America with unorthodox German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Together, they attempt to rescue his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from the sadistic plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

The film garnered critical and public acclaim, receiving five Academy Award nominations - winning Best Supporting Actor and Best Original - and becoming the highest grossing Western film of all time.

There are bad cops and there are good cops ... and then there's Bullitt.

Police lieutenant Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) is placed in charge of protecting Johnny Ross, a key witness in a Senator’s efforts to bring down a notorious crime boss. But when two hitmen enter the fray, Bullitt follows.

Originally conceived as a star vehicle for Steve McQueen, the film became a critical darling (including two Oscar nominations) and commercial smash hit. With a jazz-inflected Lalo Schifrin score, a whip-smart screenplay, and one of cinema’s most iconic car chases, it’s a quintessential crime thriller not to be missed on the big screen. If you’re looking for a great way to spend Father’s Day, there’s nothing quite like Bullitt.

Across six chapters in a century-spanning Chinese epic, a ‘Deliriant’ hides inside movies to sustain his dreams.

Auteur director Bi Gan (who decided to pursue filmmaking after watching Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker) directs this ambitious sci-fi drama starring Chinese actor and pop star Jackson Yee. He portrays a ‘Deliriant’, who resists his world where humanity has given up dreaming in exchange for longevity.

Shifting across timelines and astral planes, the Deliriant is reincarnated as six different characters in distinct worlds. Each segment corresponds to one of the six senses recognised in Buddhist thought: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mind.

With picture-perfect cinematography (including a thirty-minute-long continuous shot), sharp performances and visual nods to German expressionist cinema, there’s plenty to contemplate and feast your eyes on.

In 1970s Germany, up-and-coming promoter Vera Brandes organises a concert for jazz pianist Keith Jarrett at the Cologne Opera.

Köln 75 fictionalises the true story behind one of the best-selling jazz records of all time, Keith Jarrett’s “Köln Concert” from 1975. The event almost failed to happen – before a formidable German teenager, 18-year-old Vera Brandes, who started her career as a concert promoter while still at school, pulls out all the stops.

Vera believes in the power of music and has never seen anyone play in the way that Keith Jarrett does. Made without Jarrett’s or the record company’s cooperation, this is a film about Brandes, her youthful energy and rebellious spirit.

Directed by Stanley Donen, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers bursts onto the screen with high-spirited performances from Howard Keel and Jane Powell in one of MGM’s most energetic and colourful musicals.

Set in the rugged backwoods of 1850s Oregon, the film follows frontiersman Adam Pontipee and his six unruly brothers as their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of Adam’s new bride, Milly. What unfolds is a lively tale of romance and transformation, where etiquette lessons meet exuberant masculinity - with plenty of chaos along the way.

The film is best remembered for its exhilarating dance sequences, especially the barn-raising number, choreographed by Michael Kidd, which remains a dazzling showcase of athleticism and precision. With music by Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, the songs bring warmth, humour, and heart to the story.

Enjoy this bold, toe-tapping musical packed with romance, laughter, and the spirited charm of the American frontier.

PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS A DEMENTIA FRIENDLY SCREENING. To help create a more enjoyable environment, the auditorium lights will be kept at a low level, and films begin without adverts or trailers. Audience members are free to move around, and for those who feel inspired, singing along to musical moments is very much encouraged.

Three years after their last Disney+ adventure, daring bounty hunter Din Djarin and his adorable green accomplice are back!

But you don’t need to have seen or know anything about The Mandalorian to enjoy this big-screen return to the Star Wars Galaxy. Pedro Pascal’s titular chrome-clad warrior is an outcast from his people, who travels with Grogu (otherwise known as Baby Yoda), clearing up the ruins of the fallen Empire. Here, the Mandalorian and Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic to rescue a relative of Jabba the Hutt in exchange for dangerous information…

Directed by Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau and co-written with his fellow Star Wars architect Dave Filoni, it’s the first live action Star Wars film since 2019 - a vote of confidence from Lucasfilm that these beloved characters will help to anchor the franchise for years to come.

On Valentine’s Day in 1900, a group of schoolgirls went to picnic at Hanging Rock in Victoria, Australia. Some of them never came back.

There is a pervasive myth that the events that unfold in Peter Weir’s classic 1975 mystery film occurred in real life. It is entirely a work of fiction, but much like the characters’ uncertainty about what is really happening within the narrative itself, the film elides definitive interpretation or full clarity as to what is real and what is only imagined. The dreamlike nature of the cinematography and the otherworldliness of many actors’ performances soon lulls the viewer into a nebulous world that refracts reality and hints at the darkness lurking in its lesser-known corners.

The first in a string of genre-defining classics in Weir’s filmography (Witness, Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show), Picnic at Hanging Rock is a truly unique and deeply unsettling portrayal of paranoia and dread.

BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) joins Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new staging of Christopher Hampton’s celebrated adaptation of the classic novel, where among the glittering salons of the super-rich, one misstep can mean ruin.

Marquise de Merteuil is a master in the art of survival. Alongside the magnetic Vicomte de Valmont, they turn seduction into strategy and weaponise desire. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path.

Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) directs this thrilling game of love, lies, and social warfare.

Set against the backdrop of 18th century England, a devastating pox outbreak, and the simmering tensions of the Jacobite Uprising, this is a timely and darkly satirical story of Sir Chauncey Savage and Lady Savage’s blind pursuit of a better life.

It is not without a tinge of irony that their family name is the Savages, for this is a Savage House indeed. Filled with duels, decadence, and bloodshed, the film revels in its own excess, presenting a madcap critique of class and power. Grant delivers a deliciously unhinged performance, while Foy balances ambition with chilling detachment.

Together, they anchor a narrative that is as grotesque as it is compelling, exposing the absurdities of social climbing in a world already on the brink of collapse.

Kenneth (Peter Mullan) works in the Arberloch visitor centre as a tour guide, dressing up as the town’s most notable historical figure, Sir Douglas Weatherford, an 18th century philosopher and inventor who Kenneth proudly claims as his ancestor.

When the village becomes the base of a big-budget fantasy TV show, ‘The White Stag of Emberfell’, the visitor centre is transformed into an Emberfell fan experience. With the show’s costumed fans descending on the town, Kenneth’s sanity crumbles as the traditions he holds dear are casually dismissed — a mental decline his daughter Anna (Gayle Rankin) attributes to grief over the loss of his wife.

Kenneth’s crisis takes an even darker turn when his ire becomes fixated on the show’s handsome star, Oscar Sorenson (Jakob Oftebro). The Fall Of Douglas Weatherford is a dark comedy exploring the thin line between history and fantasy.

The world will end in 28 days.

Often regarded as one of the greatest independent films ever made, Richard Kelly’s directorial debut is a tour-de-force in low-budget filmmaking. While it made a minor splash upon its initial release, the film soon developed a cult following which thrust Jake Gyllenhaal into superstardom.

Donnie Darko is a troubled high schooler who narrowly survives a plane crash by sleepwalking. He soon begins seeing visions of Frank, a man dressed in a rabbit suit, who warns that armageddon is nigh.

A deeply atmospheric time capsule of early 2000s uncertainties, the film features many iconic shots and moments which continue to influence young filmmakers today. Don’t forget to join us for the post-film discussion with some fellow local film fans!

Step into this Oscar-winning classic featuring Doris Day as a bold, sharp-shooting force of the Wild West.

In the lively frontier town of Deadwood, Calamity Jane is a loud, fearless firebrand - equally quick with her wit as she is with a gun. When she’s not causing a stir around town, she’s busy trading barbs with Wild Bill Hickok.

The story kicks off when Jane boldly vows to bring sophisticated Chicago performer Adelaide Adams to Deadwood’s local theatre. But a mix-up leads her to return instead with Adelaide’s maid, Katie, who unexpectedly becomes a sensation in her own right.

Bursting with vibrant Technicolor scenery, energetic dance numbers, and an unforgettable score by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster, the film features the timeless hit “Secret Love.”

What are you waiting for, you wild coyotes?  Whip-crack-away and book now!

Viva Maastricht!

This year, André Rieu celebrates a spectacular milestone - the 20th anniversary of his iconic summer concerts on the magnificent Vrijthof square.