During September we invite you to join us for a weekend of special TV-focused unique screenings to launch our new long-running TV Season, highlighting some forgotten gems from TV history.
With a selection of events including a treat for Dr Who fans, archive rare kids '80s TV classics, and the Spirit of Invention event night, a celebration of John Logie Baird with artist Jude Montague and Exploding Cinema's Duncan Reekie, we are looking forward to sharing many gems from the small screen on the big screen!
Upcoming TV Season launch events:
Classic TV Documentary: 7Up Series
Thursday 19 September, 11.00am
We are thrilled to launch our TV Festival next weekend to celebrate the invention of TV by John Logie Baird right here in Hastings in partnership with the Spirit of Invention Festival. We kick start this special weekend with a feature length screening of the 63 Up, the 7Up series that encapsulates the entire original reality TV project.
63Up is the 9th and final episode of this epic documentary series that everyone should watch at some point in their lives. It is so powerful with its simplicity and honesty that anyone can easily find something relevant to them. Witnessing how people change over the years but also how they don't change, understanding the importance of our early years and how they shape our future, the goals that we want to achieve in life and the ones we fail to achieve. It's all here.
The series as a whole has received numerous accolades and has been called 'the Noblest Project in Cinema History' by Roger Ebert and forms one in his list of the 10 greatest films of all time.
Classic TV Sci-Fi: Doctor Who Night with extra special guests
Thursday 19 September, 7.30pm
An evening of classic sci-fi TV with 3 episodes from vintage Doctor Who, plus extra special guests!
Join us for a journey spanning decades to visit different doctors and different enemies and give you the chance to learn more and quiz our special guests.
Also as part of our special Doctor Who night we are also delighted to preview new Doctor Who inspired artwork by Leroy Henry, St Leonards based artist and printmaker. Artworks for sale throughout the TV Festival weekend.
Book now for Doctor Who night >>
Classic TV Comedy: Smack the Pony, with Doon Mackichan Q&A hosted by David Quantick
Friday 20 September, 7.30pm
British TV comedy is some of the best in the world, and we are delighted to host an evening of classic TV comedy with special guest, Smack the Pony's Doon Mackichan. Originally "Spot the Pony", the series title was changed to "Smack the Pony" which some people mistakenly assumed was some kind of sexual euphemism. Also starring the wonderful Sally Phillips and Fiona Allen.
Deliberately silly, the show's surreal humour proved popular and the series had a regular audience of around 2.5 million viewers in the UK. We are delighted to show 3 classic episodes,from each of the 3 series .... and welcome Doon Mackichan for a Q&A after the screening, hosted by David Quantick, who also contributed to the series!
Book now for Smack the Pony night >>
Spirit of Invention - Films and Live Music Event in partnership with PhotoHastings
Saturday 21 September, 7.30pm
Celebrating the centenary year of the invention of television by John Logie Baird in our very own Hastings! We present a extra special night of live music and cinema performance with artist Jude Montague and Exploding Cinema's Duncan Reekie.
Inspired by the inventor and outsider that was John Logie Baird, enjoy an evening of inventive and expeirmental films celebrating the self-propelled genius of John Logie Baird and his 'seeing by wireless' that made the first successful manifestation right here in Hastings 100 years ago.
Book now for Spirit of Invention night >>
Classic Kids TV plus puppet workshop
Sunday 22 September, 11.30am
Join us for an interactive romp through five decades of classic kids TV curated and hosted by local artist and puppeteer, Lorna Crabbe. From Bill and Ben to Thunderbirds, Roland Rat and Basil Brush, we present an interactive morning of best-loved puppet characters from British kids TV that will take adults back to their childhoods, and children back to the joys of puppet characters and making.
Doors open 30 mins before the screening for a hands-on finger puppet workshop before watching the screening and scoring the classics!
With thanks to the BFI National TV Archive.
Don't miss out - keep up to date with our latest screenings and events: