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!
Full details and booking links coming very soon.
Upcoming TV Season launch events:
Classic TV Documentary: 7Up Series:
Thursday 19 September, 11.00am
The iconic and moving 7Up series of documentary films that followed the lives of 10 males and four females in England beginning in 1964, when they were seven years old. The documentary has had nine episodes — one every seven years — thus spanning 56 years.
Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a seven-year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the past seven years. Moving and unique, this is the final episode ever made and encapsulates the entire series in this feature length episode.
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
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!
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, The Clangers and Sooty, 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: