The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms + short film

Screening as part of our Neurodiversity Film Festival 2025.

Ellen Prebble, artist, B-movie enthusiast and Electric Palace newcomer, is delighted to host this special screening of a film that inspires and delights her.

An inspiration for the director of Godzilla (the subject of Ellen’s current work in process canvas), The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms pioneered the “atomic monster” genre. It follows a ferocious dinosaur, awakened by an atomic test in the Arctic, that terrorizes the North Atlantic and, ultimately, New York City.

Professor Tom Nesbitt, only witness to the beast's existence, is not believed, but all doubts disappear, when palaeontologist Thurgood Elson is swallowed whole during an oceanic bathysphere excursion to search for the creature. Soon thereafter the beast emerges from the sea and lays waste to Manhattan Island until Nesbitt comes up with a plan to try to stop the seemingly indestructible beast.

This screening is curated by Ellen Prebble of Project Art Works*, who will also be sharing some of her paintings as part of the screening.

The programme includes an Oska Bright short film before the feature: Frame Frumble by Alexander Griffin.

*Project Art Works collaborates with people with complex support needs, families and circles of support. Challenging paradigms of inclusion, it spans direct practical and holistic support, film, events, projects and exhibitions. Project Artworks studios provide the conditions for a broad range of autonomous and collaborative practices with neurodivergent artists, who take part on their own terms.

About our Neurodiversity Film Festival 2025

Neurodiversity Film Festival 2025 is a celebration of autism and neurodiversity on screen, making visible the characters and stories that are often invisible in contemporary mainstream cinema.

Presented by autistic and neurodivergent creatives and curators, we bring you a weekend of films showcasing autistic and neurodiverse film characters and narratives.

Developed in partnership with Autism Spectrum, Eggtooth, AMAZE, Project Artworks, The Roebuck Centre and Oska Bright Film Festival, and made possible with funding from the BFI and National Lottery.

Bring a trusted friend for free!

Tickets for our relaxed screenings and Neurodiversity Film Festival in March 2025, include our £10 double ticket option where you can bring a trusted friend along for free! Or come along on your own and meet some friendly faces eager to enjoy cinema in a relaxed environment.

A relaxed screening is where people can watch a film in a relaxed environment. They are different from regular film screenings because:

• the lights are low instead of completely off, so you can still see where you're going
• the volume is a little lower than a standard screening
• you can move around the cinema freely as you wish during the screening
• you can leave the cinema room during the screening and return without having to worry
• you can make noise, stim, and enjoy yourself
• there is a friendly atmosphere
• there are people around if you need any help

These screenings are for anyone who would feel safe and welcome in this environment.

At Electric Palace, we think the cinema should be for everyone, that's why we offer relaxed screenings.

These events are supported by BFI Film Audience Network and Film Hub South East.

In partnership with Eggtooth and  Oska Bright Film Festival.

How you can support the Electric Palace:

• Book a ticket to a screening.
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• Hire the cinema for a private party
• Buy a gift voucher
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• Sign up to receive our enewsletter
• Play our piano before a screening and see the film for free!
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• Find out more about our ticket prices
• Problem booking online? See our FAQs

Thank you.