July 2025 programme for BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX: Moviedrome, Dorothy Dandridge and films censored in their own country

Launching a two-month season on 4 July, Moviedrome: Bringing the Cult TV Series to the Big Screen celebrates the influential BBC2 series that introduced audiences to the weird and wonderful world of cult cinema.

Between 1988 and 2000, Moviedrome aired over 200 films, accompanied by insightful introductions from hosts Alex Cox and later Mark Cousins. The BFI season opens with a special conversation featuring Cox, series producer and season curator Nick Freand Jones, and broadcaster Samira Ahmed.

Featured films include:

• Sweet Smell of Success (1956)
• The Fly (1958 and 1986)
• Get Carter (1971)
• Shaft (1971)
• The Wicker Man (Final Cut) (1973)
• An American Werewolf in London (1981)
• Scarface (1983)
• Exotica (1994)
• La Haine (1995)
• Clockers (1995)

Many screenings will include the original Moviedrome introductions and live appearances by Cox and Freand Jones.

This season, curated by Miriam Bale, shines a spotlight on the trailblazing career of Dorothy Dandridge — the first Black woman nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.

Known for her elegance and determination, Dandridge challenged Hollywood norms and left a lasting legacy despite limited opportunities.

Featured films include:

• Sun Valley Serenade (1941)
• The Harlem Globetrotters (1951)
• Bright Road (1953)
• Carmen Jones (1954)
• Island in the Sun (1957)
• The Decks Ran Red (1958)
• Tamango (1958)
• Moment of Danger (1960)
• Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999)

This powerful season explores the global history of film censorship and the resilience of artistic expression. Featuring films once banned or suppressed, the programme highlights how restoration and reappraisal have brought these works back to life.

• My Grandmother (1929) – followed by an extended introduction by curator Giulia Saccogna

Featured films include:

• L’Atalante (1934)
• Le Rendez-Vous des Quais (1953–55)
• Viridiana (1961) – with intro by Peter Strickland
• The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
• Accattone (1961)
• Andrei Rublev (1966)
• The Cow (1969)
• The Ear (1970)
• The Long Farewell (1971)
• The Dupes (1972)
• Sambizanga (1972)
• A Woman Alone (1981)
• Stars in Broad Daylight (1988)

Saccogna will also lead a special 25 & Under Introduction on 7 July.

From 26 to 27 July, the inaugural We Crip Film Festival (formerly Busting the Bias) celebrates Disability Pride Month with a weekend of films by and about disabled creatives, curated by Charlie Little and Tara Brown.

• Deaf President Now! (2025) – UK festival premiere with pre-recorded intro from directors Nyle DiMarco and David Guggenheim

• Oska Bright Film Festival: Joyful Intersections – films by women with learning disabilities and autism
• It’s Not You, It’s Ableism – a vibrant short film programme
• An Audience with Kyla Harris: Cripping the Screen Industries – a conversation with the award-winning writer, actor and producer

Revisit two favourite episodes of Psychoville (Matt Lipsey, 2009–2011), the irresistible horror/thriller/comedy that introduced us to unforgettable characters like David and Maureen Sowerbutts, Mr Jelly, Lomax, and the Silent Singer. Followed by a Q&A with stars Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.

The cult classic of the ‘Cool Cymru’ era, Human Traffic (Justin Kerrigan, 1999), returns in a stunning 4K restoration. Screening ahead of its BFI Blu-ray and UHD release on 21 July, this unapologetic celebration of 90s club culture follows five Cardiff friends on a wild night out.

A preview of Happyend (Neo Sora, 2024) introduces a group of teenage rebels in near-future Tokyo who secretly pursue their love of early electronic music. A playful yet allegorical coming-of-age story set in a society marked by xenophobia and authoritarianism.

Returning for its 16th year, the London Indian Film Festival brings a rich selection of premieres from India and South Asia to BFI Southbank. Highlights include the 8K restoration of Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata (2024), screening at BFI IMAX.

Film critic Mark Kermode returns with his popular live show, joined by surprise guests from across the industry. Expect sharp critiques, cinematic deep dives, industry news, and a few guilty pleasures.

Films playing on extended run throughout the month at BFI Southbank will include:

• Hot Milk (Rebecca Lenkiewicz, 2025)
• Savages (Claude Barras, 2024)
• The Shrouds (David Cronenberg, 2024)

Plus re-releases of:

• Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975)
• Amadeus (Miloš Forman, 1984)

New releases playing at BFI IMAX in July include:

Directed by James Gunn, this reimagining of the original superhero launches the new DC universe. Gunn’s signature blend of epic action, humour, and heart delivers a Superman driven by compassion and a belief in the goodness of humankind.

Tickets for BFI Southbank screenings in July are on sale to BFI Patrons on 2 June, BFI Members on 3 June, and to the general public on 5 June.