With his rousingly entertaining directorial debut, Sidney Poitier, alongside actor-producer Harry Belafonte, helped rewrite the history of the western, bringing Black heroes to a genre in which they had always been sorely underrepresented.

Combining boisterous buddy comedy with blistering, Black Power–era political fury, Poitier and a marvelously mischievous Belafonte star as a tough and taciturn wagon master and an unscrupulous, pistol-packing “preacher,” who join forces in order to take on the white bounty hunters threatening a westward-bound caravan of people recently emancipated from slavery.

A superbly crafted revisionist landmark, Buck and the Preacher subverts Hollywood conventions at every turn and reclaims the western genre in the name of Black liberation.

Screening as part of Black History Month - all tickets are just £6!

Seeing is believing.

Casper is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat. Casper quickly falls in love with Kat, but their budding relationship is complicated not only by his transparent state, but also by his troublemaking apparition uncles and their mischievous antics.

All tickets are just £6!

Tim Burton's macabre, mirthful stop motion classic Corpse Bride celebrates 20 years of unholy matrimony in 2025, and we’re devilishly delighted to be resurrecting her once again in a frightful new 4K restoration this halloween.

In a 19th-century European village, a young man about to be married is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious corpse bride, while his real bride waits bereft in the land of the living.

All tickets just £5!

On the 25th October there will be facepaiting in our cafe/bar from 1:30-4:30pm.

Free for Members this Halloween is the sumptuously stylish gothic ghost story from Guillermo del Toro, Crimson Peak.

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds… and remembers.

"Guillermo del Toro's showmanship is evident from the off in this addictively watchable, macabre Hitchcockian fantasy."

- Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

A widowed fisherwoman (Emma Thompson), travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realizes that she is the young girl’s only hope.

“Emma Thompson lights up icy Fargo country thriller… outrageously enjoyable.”

- The Guardian  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Audiences are invited to bring their little ones to enjoy the magic of Disney on the big screen, with a fun-filled interactive cinema experience.

Whether it’s their first time in the cinema, or they regularly enjoy the movies, it’s something you can enjoy together as a family, and you’re encouraged to join in!  Sing aloud, stand up and dance, clap and join in with the interactive games. As Mickey Mouse, your host leads you and your little ones, through shows, songs and games over the course of an hour. With all your favourite Disney Junior characters making an appearance on screen.

All tickets just £6!

Dive into a majestic mermaid world with Dora! After playing a magical charango, Dora and Boots turn into mermaids and go on a series of mer-mazing underwater adventures with their new friend, Marisol the Mermaid and her dolphin bestie, Rosa.

All tickets just £6.

Mystery, intrigue, beauty, passion, murder – shine a new light on Caravaggio in this dramatic biography.

Five years in production, this is the most extensive film ever made about one of the greatest artists of all time – Caravaggio. Featuring masterpiece after masterpiece and with first-hand testimony from the artist himself on the eve of his mysterious disappearance, this beautiful new film reveals Caravaggio as never before.

Multi-award-winning filmmakers David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky delve into the hidden narratives of Caravaggio’s life, piecing together clues embedded within his incredible art. The intriguing self-depictions within his works — sometimes disguised, sometimes in plain sight — offer a rare window into his psyche and personal struggles. Join us as we unravel the story of one of history’s most brilliant, complex and controversial figures.

Frida Kahlo is a phenomenon. She is arguably the world’s favourite female artist – beloved by young and old. Exhibition on Screen’s award-winning film – first released during covid to a restricted audience - is back by popular demand with an exciting new addition from the blockbuster transatlantic exhibition from Tate Britain and MFA Houston 'Frida Kahlo: the Making of an Icon'. Back in the cinemas in May 2026, one month before the Tate exhibition opens, allowing audiences to watch both the film and see the show.

Who was Frida Kahlo? Everyone knows her face but who was the woman behind the bright colours, the big brows and the floral crowns? Take a journey through the life of a true icon, discover her art, and uncover the true story of her rebellious, passionate and turbulent life.

Making use of the latest technology to deliver previously unimaginable quality, we take an in-depth look at key works throughout her career. Using letters Kahlo wrote to guide us, this definitive film reveals her deepest emotions and unlocks the secrets and symbolism contained within her art.

Created in close collaboration with world experts and those who knew her.

Additional new material from the curators of the groundbreaking new Tate Britain and MFA Houston exhibition.

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, this unmissable new documentary explores Turner and Constable’s intertwined lives and legacies alongside the groundbreaking Tate exhibition.

Two of Britain’s greatest painters, J.M.W. Turner and John Constable were also the greatest of rivals. Born within a year of each other, both used landscape painting to reflect the changing world around them. Tate Britain is bringing these two greats together for a groundbreaking exhibition, in London from November 2025 to April 2026, and Exhibition on Screen once again has exclusive and privileged access to bring their extraordinary art and remarkable stories to the big screen in February so that you can enjoy both film and exhibition together. Discover unexpected sides to both artists with intimate views of sketchbooks and personal items and insights from leading experts.

Turner’s blazing sunsets and sublime scenes from his travels and Constable’s idealised depictions of beloved places from home whipped the public of the time into a frenzy of enthusiasm. Constable represents the very best of the old school of realism and pastoral nostalgia; Turner, an exciting new way of depicting emotion and dreamlike impressions. Critics compared their starkly different styles to a clash of ‘fire and water’. Don’t miss this opportunity to see these greats side-by-side, as they so often were in life, on the big screen for the first time.

Running time TBC

A stunning French chiller that operates as both an unnerving gothic melodrama and a surreal poetic fantasy screens this Halloween.

At his secluded château in the French countryside, a brilliant, obsessive doctor attempts a radical plastic surgery to restore the beauty of his daughter’s disfigured countenance—at a horrifying price.

“Perhaps the most elegant horror movie ever made.”

– Pauline Kael, critic.

We are pleased to welcome Tyne Valley filmmaker Dave Brewis to the cinema for an inside look at his new series, Gatherings.

We will enjoy two episodes plus insights from Dave and discussion in a post-film Q&A, which will include Doc Rowe, archivist and longest serving council member of The Folklore Society.

Gatherings is a six-part documentary series exploring some of Britain’s most enduring folk traditions—ancient games, customs and rituals that continue to bring communities together in remarkable ways.

The films are told entirely via the voices of those who participate, without the use of a presenter or narrator. The result is an honest and direct record of these living traditions, capturing how they are prepared, performed and passed on within their communities. Gatherings is a documentary series which reveals much about continuity and our sense of place and belonging.

The two featured episode on the evening will be :

Episode One: The Burry Man

This documentary explores an extraordinary and unique practice which takes place annually in August. Covered head-to-toe in sticky burrs the Burry Man walks the streets of South Queensferry as this living tradition unfurls before our eyes. The story is told via interviews with the man inside the costume, and with those who have gone before him. Folklorist and 'dresser' Doc Rowe helps us delve into this act of endurance and sacrifice. The result is a rare unfiltered portrait of a custom deeply rooted in memory, place and community.

Episode Three: Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

Once a year a small group of locals remove a set of horns from the local church and set out on an extraordinary journey via the lanes and fields and farms around Abbots Bromley.  This episode grants access to what is widely regarded as England's oldest living traditional dance. Told entirely by those who take part, the film invites viewers into a world where continuity and ritual moves in time with the dance. Via the voices of its custodians and unseen archives, Abbots Bromley Horn Dance reveals itself not as a performance, but as a living thread connecting the village to its past.

£5 for Friends of the Forum Members!

Presented by Tyne Valley Film Festival.

Hammer alumni and bona fide British horror royalty Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee reunite for this tale of mad monks, primitive humanoids and glowing-eyed zombies set aboard a train bound for Moscow, in what remains one of the most thrilling science fiction-horror efforts of the 70’s.

We’re pleased to be joined by Mark Iveson, author of Peter Cushing, The Reluctant Globetrotter for a post-film Q+A, moderated by author Harry Pearson, in collaboration with Hexham Book Festival.

£5 tickets for our Friends of the Forum members.

For an extra fix of Peter Cushing and Chrisopher Lee - join us on October 2nd for The Curse of Frankenstein, making its worldwide debut on 4K.

Inspired by the life of Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson, charting his journey from a misunderstood teenager in 1980’s Britain to a present day advocate for the understanding and acceptance of Tourette Syndrome.

“Funny, fierce and full of heart.”

  ★ ★ ★ ★

- Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

"An Unforgettable, Important Triumph."

★ ★ ★ ★★

- Filmhounds Magazine

Please note we have an extra performance on Sunday November 2nd that is a relaxed screening. For more info on what to expect from a relaxed performance please visit here. To book for this show please visit here.

Inspired by the life of Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson, charting his journey from a misunderstood teenager in 1980’s Britain to a present day advocate for the understanding and acceptance of Tourette Syndrome.

“Funny, fierce and full of heart.”

  ★ ★ ★ ★

- Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

"An Unforgettable, Important Triumph."

★ ★ ★ ★★

- Filmhounds Magazine

Please note this is a relaxed performance. For more info on what to expect from a relaxed performance please visit here. To book for a regular show please visit here.

Join us for the Kendal Mountain Cinematic Tour 2026! This exclusive film-only event brings you a handpicked selection of Kendal Mountain Festival’s award-winning adventure films, showcasing daring feats, breathtaking locations, and powerful stories of human resilience.

Experience the thrill and excitement from the comfort of your seat; whether you're a seasoned adventurer, or simply someone who loves a great story, this is your chance to escape into the world’s most stunning landscapes and be inspired by the extraordinary journeys of those who dare to explore them.

When a meteor crashes into Colepepper Zoo, it unleashes a virus that transforms the zoo animals into zombies. Gracie, a quirky young wolf, teams up with a gruff mountain lion named Dan to lead a wacky team of animals on a perilous mission to escape the virus and rescue their zoo, on one spooky NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE!

This fresh fun family film comes just in time for Halloween season and is packed with eccentric characters and hilarious hijinks.

All tickets for Night of the Zoopocalypse are just £6.

On the 25th October there will be facepaiting in our cafe/bar from 1:30-4:30pm.

Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, There Will Be Blood) has made perhaps the best film of the year and of his lustrous career with this epic oddball action-adventure, and incendiary political thriller - think Dr Strangelove meets the Big Lebowski.

Bob, (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a washed up revolutionary living in a state of constant paranoia with his teenage daughter, following the bust of his former comrades by Military Col. Lockjaw (an incredible Sean Penn, both terrifying and hilarious). With his cover blown and his daughter taken, Bob with the help of friends old and new enters the fight of his life to bring her home.

Please note that for our 12:30 screening on Tuesday 21st, any guests joining us that purchase a hot drink from our cafe also recieves complimentary biscuits.

Rediscover the timeless masterpiece in a glorious new 4k restoration, the winner of 5 Academy awards One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is back in cinemas for its 50th anniversary.

A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.

When a young girl’s sketchbook falls into a strange pond, her drawings come to life -  unpredictable, chaotic, and dangerously real. As the town unravels, she and her brother must track down the creatures before they leave permanent damage. Their father, racing to find them through the fallout, must navigate a town in crisis to reunite his family and stop the disaster they never meant to unleash.

“Sketch is a miracle. It’s the kind of big, warm-hearted family film with just a tinge of fantastical horror that I grew up with in the ’80s and ’90s—think films like “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” or “Jumanji.” It feels wholly original and just a little bit frightening, the way kids’ drawings and imaginations can be.” - Roger Ebert

Every second of Souleymane’s new life in France is precious. Having fled Guinea his asylum interview looms. He powers through the streets of after dark Paris as a delivery rider, sleeps in hostels and prepares for his make-or-break appointment. Pressure builds as his date with destiny approaches.

Steeped in compassion, Souleymane’s story combines the pace of a thriller with the emotional wallop of a social drama. An award winning French production in which the dynamic storytelling is matched by a star-making performance from charismatic newcomer Abou Sangare as Souleymane.

Screening as part of Black History Month - all tickets are just £6!

“Sangare is magnetic... there appears to be no limit to how much soul and sensitivity the actor can bring”

– Variety

“A breathtaking thriller”

– ★★★★★ Téléram

We are back with our 3rd annual FOSCARS, an evening of community celebration and cinema.

This year we have teamed up with our friends at Stage Fright, Gateway into the Community, Hexham Priory and We Can Enable. Each group has worked hard to produce a short film to share with us on the big screen before a special Halloween screening of Hocus Pocus.

The night will end with an awards ceremony where members of the group will be awarded for their creativity with our very special, Forum Oscars.

The event is open to all members of the public, and we encourage smart dress (or a Halloween costume!) and a celebratory attitude.

Approx schedule

6:30pm - Doors open / non-alcoholic fizz reception

7pm - Community short films (approx 40 minutes)

- Awards ceremony -  (approx 30 minutes)

- Short interval -

8:30pm - Hocus Pocus

Adapted from Edith Wharton's classic novel, Terence Davies’ BAFTA-nominated drama features an acclaimed performance by Gillian Anderson as a young woman looking to make a good marriage, drawn into a downward spiral when her honour and her love for another prevent her from accepting the advances of a wealthy banker.

The film proved Davies a master of period filmmaking and literary adaptation, and deserves to be regarded as one of the best British features of its era.

Disgruntled sous-chef Cathy Marie leaves her job at a high-end gourmet restaurant to pursue her dreams of becoming a head chef at her own restaurant. But when her plans don’t quite work out, she finds herself strapped for cash and with a new job running the cafeteria at the local migrant shelter.

In charge of a run-down kitchen and needing to make food for hungry young men, Cathy hates her job, but it’s not long before she realises that she can provide valuable life skills – and maybe learn something herself too!

Charming, and brilliantly performed by a talented ensemble cast, The Kitchen Brigade packs mouth-watering food, big laughs and a valuable message into its runtime.

£5 for Friends of the Forum.

The railway, the children… and the wonderful secret they’ll share with you!

After the enforced absence of their father, the three Waterbury children move with their mother to Yorkshire, where they find themselves involved in several unexpected dramas along the railway by their new home.

Friends of the Forum members can claim a £5 ticket as well as a complimentary hot drink in our cafe on arrival.