The word ‘eclectic’ doesn’t even come close to describing the pic ‘n’ mix collection of films being screened as part of this year’s New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival, which starts on Friday.
The range stretches from sublime work like the Wizard Of Oz atop Telegraph Hill to the ridiculous: a compilation of internet cat videos in a pizzeria. The festival, now in its fourth year, sees local volunteers putting on the films they fancy in places around that pocket of south east London, hence the delightfully esoteric programming (there are 57 films altogether).
There’s plenty of political stuff to coincide with the election. Will & Testament is a warm, human documentary about Tony Benn, while Give Us Space focuses on the housing crisis in London. Then there’s an Inequality Double Bill featuring The Spirit Level, about the gap between rich and poor, which is playing with Westmonster: The Movie, directed by artist-activist and taxi driver Mark McGowan.
Elsewhere there are cult favourites Strange Days, An American Werewolf In London, Carrie and Richard Linklater’s early film Slacker. Then a couple of undeniable crowd-pleasers such as Guardians Of The Galaxy, Paddington and a Frozen Singalong.
The festival launches with a screening of Saturday Night Fever (on Friday) with a 70s disco afterwards at Number3 warehouse (pizza and cocktails available). It closes with more music in the form of documentary The Clash: Westway To The World with the film’s director Don Letts on hand for a Q&A and a DJ set afterwards, all of which is in Deptford Job Centre.
New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival 2015 runs 24 April - 3 May. It’s all free!
There are now six free film festivals across London: Peckham & Nunhead, New Cross & Deptford, Camberwell, Herne Hill, South Norwood & Thornton Heath and London Fields. Plus the free film fever is spreading beyond the M25 with an associated festival launching soon in Weston-super-Mare.
