Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger is a major UK-wide celebration of one of the greatest and most enduring filmmaking partnerships: Michael Powell (1905-1990) and Emeric Pressburger (1902-1988).
Bold, subversive and iconoclastic, their passionate collaborative artistic vision – spanning 24 films, including The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus – is a vital part of the fabric of British cinema history, which continues to inspire audiences and artists alike.
From 16 October to 31 December discover their work on the big screen at venues across the country, on BFI Player and with the free, major exhibition The Red Shoes: Behind the Mirror (from 10 November, BFI Southbank).
All UK screenings
BFI Southbank programme
Join us at our home in BFI Southbank from 16 October and discover the unbounded vision of Powell + Pressburger.
Browse the programmeAcross the UK
Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger is a UK-wide film celebration. Find screenings and events near you.
Find out moreThe Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror
From 10 November, discover a brand new exhibition at BFI Southbank that immerses you in Powell and Pressburger’s The Red Shoes.
Find out moreBFI Player – Powell and Pressburger collection
Discover a selection of highlights from the season.
Explore the collectionBFI Members get cheaper tickets
Join the BFI today to get a discount across all tickets to the Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger season at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX.
Join today25 and Under
If you are under 26 you can get £3 cinema tickets to all films in the Cinema Unbound season.
Join for free todayFeatures
5 reasons to watch A Matter of Life and Death – Powell and Pressburger’s otherworldly masterpiece
By Dr Charles Drazin
Michael Powell in Australia: how the Peeping Tom director made waves down under
By Andrew Nette
5 things to know about The Red Shoes, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s ravishing film about a dancer
By Pamela Hutchinson
Phantom threads: original costume designs for A Matter of Life and Death
Phantom threads: original costume designs for A Matter of Life and DeathThe Tales of Hoffmann: exclusive materials from the making of Powell and Pressburger’s masterpiece
By Nathalie Morris
Black Narcissus at 75: exoticism and eroticism in Powell and Pressburger’s masterpiece
By Adam Scovell
Peeping Tom: inside the restoration of Michael Powell’s shocking serial killer drama
By Philip Concannon
UK-wide programme announced for Cinema Unbound: The Films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
UK-wide programme announced for Cinema Unbound: The Films of Michael Powell and Emeric PressburgerRaise a gin and Dubonnet to Powell and Pressburger’s “I Know Where I’m Going!” at 70
By Nathalie Morris
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp: Powell & Pressburger’s 74-year-old classic hasn’t aged a day
By Sam Wigley
Where to begin with Powell and Pressburger
By Brogan Morris
Peeping Tom: in search of the locations for Michael Powell’s controversial classic
By Adam Scovell
BFI Shop
The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger (Hardback)
A brand new book offering fresh perspectives on the filmmaking duo – including new writing by Joanna Hogg, Sandy Powell and Tilda Swinton.
Buy nowThe Red Shoes: BFI Film Classics (Paperback)
An in-depth study of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's dark classic by Pamela Hutchinson.
Buy nowBluebeard’s Castle (Blu-ray)
Michael Powell directs this stunning adaptation of Bartok’s opera, painstakingly restored and available on Blu-ray for the very first time.
Buy now