The programme for January is set to include seasons dedicated to master Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and the beginning of a three-month countdown of Sight and Sound’s Greatest Films of All Time 2022.
The BFI has confirmed the programme for January 2023 at BFI Southbank. Highlights include the first month of a complete two-month retrospective dedicated to master Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, the beginning of a three-month countdown of Sight and Sound’s Greatest Films of All Time 2022, following the results of the10-yearly poll revealed on 1 December, and The Cinematic DNA of ENYS MEN, a season of films curated by BAIT director Mark Jenkin to mark the release of his new film ENYS MEN.
Many filmmakers cite cite the legendary director Akira Kurosawa as a source of inspiration for their own work, with his enduring titles such as IKIRU (1952), THRONE OF BLOOD (1957), THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958), YOJIMBO (1961) and RAN (1985) responsible for promoting Japanese cinema and culture to an international audience. KUROSAWA, a complete retrospective season, takes place across January and February and will include the BFI Distribution re-release of the director’s groundbreaking RASHÔMON (1950), in cinemas UK-wide and on BFI Player from 6th January.
Meanwhile, once every decade for the last seventy years, the editorial team at Sight and Sound, the BFI’s film culture magazine, has asked film critics, programmers and curators from around the world to contribute to a poll of the 100 Greatest Films of All Time. After the 2022 poll results are announced on 1 December, from the 1st January,a three-month season counting down the top 100 films kicks off at BFI Southbank. . Until the end of March, every film will be playing at BFI Southbank with Under 25s able to buy tickets from just £3.
Mark Jenkin’s The Cinematic DNA of ENYS MEN is a season of films curated by the director that have inspired and informed his second feature, which is set to be released cinemas in the UK and Ireland by BFI Distribution on 13th January after premiering at the BFI London Film Festival. Each of the film screenings are linked to ENYS MEN through form, content, or both, while others are examples of work made by people who were, and are, willing to take risks; to experiment, maybe even fail, all in the name of expanding the language of film. Films to be screened include: BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO (Peter Strickland, 2012), DAGUERRÉOTYPES (Agnès Varda, 1975), HAUNTERS OF THE DEEP (Andrew Bogle, 1984), JEANNE DIELMAN, 23 QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES (Chantal Akerman, 1975), LONG WEEKEND (Colin Eggleston, 1978), LOST HIGHWAY (David Lynch, 1977), PENDA’S FEN (Alan Clarke, 1974), REQUIEM FOR A VILLAGE (David Gladwell, 1975), THE STONE TAPE (Peter Sasdy, 1972), SYMPTOMS (José Ramón Larraz, 1974), TWO YEARS AT SEA (Ben Rivers, 2011) and WALKABOUT (Nicolas Roeg, 1971).
Further highlights of this month’s events programme include the Woman with a Movie Camera Summit on the 14th January. This year the programme focuses on creativity and exploration. Summit passes will give access to a day packed with talks, Q&As and panel discussions with filmmakers, curators and creatives, as well as workshops and drop-ins. The full programme lineup and ticket information will be posted online in early January. A number of talks and panels will be available to watch on the BFI YouTube channel in addition to Woman with a Movie Camera film collections on BFI Player.
For more information and to book tickets visit: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp