2020

In the Know

TV 

This accelerated, anti-slavery Western from Ethan Hawke examines the defiant tale of real-life abolitionist John Brown, as told by the former slave Henry 'Little Onion' Shackleford (Joshua Caleb Johnson)

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TV 

In episode 2, Lyra (Dafne Keen) enters Will's alternate Oxford and tries to solve the enigma of Dust with particle physicist Mary Malone (Simone Kirby)

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TV 

The first of Steve McQueen's Small Axe anthology series, Mangrove examines the story of the Mangrove Nine, arrested for protesting police brutality in 1970. Letitia Wright stars

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Netflix 

This season examines Queen Elizabeth's (Olivia Colman) reign between 1979 and 1990, introducing Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson) and Lady Diana (Emma Corrin)

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Netflix 

From I May Destroy You to The Crown to The West Wing, here are some of the most absorbing dramas to stream during the second lockdown

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Kids 

In the opening episode of series two, plunging Philip Pullman's The Subtle Knife, Lyra (Dafne Keen) and Will (Amir Wilson) enter the eerie city of Cittagàzze

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TV 

This nine-part docuseries from Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim (The Great Hack) examines the infamous NXIVM cult, and the defectors trying to expose its horrific secrets

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TV 

Devised by Mat Fraser, CripTales is a brilliant, shocking, and funny, collection of monologues about disability. Ruth Madeley (Years and Years) and Liz Carr (Silent Witness) star

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Cinema 

In this family horror debut from Natalie Erika James, Kay (Emily Mortimer) and her daughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) try to find their missing matriarch Edna (Robyn Nevin)

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Cinema 

Josephine Decker's 'anti-biopic' creates fictions to root out the truth of who the Haunting of Hill House author Shirley Jackson really was. Elisabeth Moss stars

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TV 

Big Little Lies writer David E Kelley returns for another star-filled murder-mystery in The Undoing, this time with Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland

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Netflix 

From Princess Diana's wedding in The Crown season 4 to Dolly Parton's brand-new holiday musical Christmas on the Square, Netflix in November is both garish and fun

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Netflix 

Anya Taylor-Joy stars as the young chess champion Elizabeth 'Beth' Harmon in Scott Frank's lavish new Netflix series, based on the novel by Walter Tevis

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Cinema 

BFI produced an excellent LFF this year, even with the lockdown measures, including the likes of Steve McQueen and Spike Lee. Here's a list of our favourites from the selection

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Cinema 

The eighth feature film from Sofia Coppola, On the Rocks follows a quietly difficult father-daughter relationship between Laura (Rashida Jones) and Felix (Bill Murray)

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Immersive 

In the final episode of The Third Day, Helen (Naomie Harris) is finally reunited with her husband Sam (Jude Law), who's become a Christ-like figure on Osea island

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Netflix 

Ben Wheatley directs this Netflix film adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca, starring Lily James, Armie Hammer, and Kristin Scott Thomas

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TV 

Hugh Laurie stars in David Hare's latest TV project Roadkill. The four-part BBC series follows populist MP Peter Laurence, who has some skeletons tucked away. Helen McCrory also stars

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Netflix 

In his second film as director, Aaron Sorkin dramatises the infamous trial against eight anti-war protestors in the late 60s. Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt star

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Immersive 

In the penultimate episode, Helen (Naomie Harris) searches for Sam (Jude Law) who, it turns out, is her husband. And when a pregnant woman needs urgent attention, Helen steps up

Book Now

Cinema 

Boasting big names like Steve McQueen, Spike Lee, David Byrne and Frances McDormand, this looks to be another cracking LFF – even with the Covid-19 restrictions

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Netflix 

Mike Flanagan's anticipated follow-up to The Haunting of Hill House, this new and emotionally intense ghost story adapts Henry James' novella The Turn of the Screw. Victoria Pedretti stars

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Cinema 

In Rose Glass' debut feature film, Morfydd Clarke (David Copperfield) stars as a private care worker who's converted to a dark interpretation of Christianity

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TV 

Hayley Squires stars in Adult Material, Lucy Kirkwood's new Channel 4 series set in the British porn industry. Phil Daniels and Rupert Everett also star

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Cinema 

As Black people continue to face injustice – it's high time we expand our viewpoint, to support and champion Black filmmakers. Here are 12 suggestions to start an education

In the Know

Immersive 

This special 12-hour live broadcast sees one continuous shot moving through Osea island. Sam (Jude Law) has been chosen as the father, but has to fulfil a gruelling initiation first

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TV 

I, Daniel Blake star Hayley Squires chats to Culture Whisper about her latest role in Adult Material, where she plays a 30-something porn star who's also mother to three children

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Netflix 

Suffragette director Sarah Gavron turns to London teenage girls for her new film, the product of extensive workshops: showing a truthful, joyful reality

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Netflix 

From Ben Wheatley's new adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca with Lily James to David Attenborough's witness statement for the world, Netflix in October straddles dreams and reality

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Theatre 

In the third episode, Sam (Jude Law) endures a nightmarish journey to finally escape Osea Island. But everything's against him

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TV 

Keeley Hawes stars in this harrowing and fascinating ITV drama, based on the true story of Banaz Mahmod. Banaz was murdered by her family in an 'honour'-based killing

In the Know

TV 

John Cusack and Rainn Wilson star in this surreal conspiracy thriller, centred around a graphic novel that predicts the apocalypse. It's a US remake of Dennis Kelly's Channel 4 original