Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.

Director Jeff Fowler returns along with our all-star cast including Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter, with Keanu Reeves joining the franchise as Shadow the Hedgehog.

Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. Through snapshots of their life together - falling for each other, building a home, becoming a family - a difficult truth is revealed that rocks its foundation. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in this decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.

Directed by John Crowley (Brooklyn) and scripted by playwright Nick Payne (Constellations), the film takes an unconventional non-chronological route through the steps that lead the couple to a moment of mortal stakes. Joy and sorrow, connection and distance, birth and death: the contradictions that make up our lives are brilliantly juxtaposed in wonderfully conceived moments.

The Taste of Mango, Chloe Abrahams' debut feature, is an enveloping, hypnotic, urgently personal meditation on family, memory, identity, violence, and love. At its center are three extraordinary women: the director's mother, Rozana; her grandmother, Jean; and the director herself. Their stories, by turns difficult and jubilant, testify to the entangled and ever-changing nature of inheritance and the ways in which we both hurt and protect the ones we love.

This exciting new anime-inspired Lord of the Rings tale, set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan.

A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.

Under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), the voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf. Miranda Otto, who delivered an unforgettable performance in The Lord of the RingsTrilogy, reprises her role as Éowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, who serves as the tale’s narrator.

Angelina Jolie shines as legendary opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s empathetic reimagining of her final days in 1970s Paris.

Continuing his run of acclaimed and original biopics (Neruda, Jackie), Pablo Larraín reunites with Spencer writer Steven Knight to explore who Callas really was, away from the fame and tabloid headlines. In poor health, Callas wanders around a picturesque Paris as she recounts to an adoring journalist the highs of her career and litany of past loves. Angelina Jolie gives a transforming performance, capturing the myriad layers and masks of this legendary singer’s personality, from pithy to heartbreakingly vulnerable, while showing flashes of the personality that saw her idolised as an opera star. Featuring a stellar cast that includes Valeria Golino, Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher, Maria is a stunning addition to Larraín’s portrait of iconic women subjected to an alarming degree of scrutiny, while the world looked on.

This show will be English Dubbed

Chihiro thinks she is on another boring trip with her parents. But when they stop at a village that is not all that it seems, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits, shape-shifting dragons and a witch who never wants to see her leave. She must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world.

The second biggest box office hit of all time in Japan, Spirited Away helped redefine the possibilities of animation for Western audiences and a generation of new filmmakers.

Combining Japanese mythology with Alice in Wonderland-type whimsy, Spirited Away cemented Miyazaki’s reputation as an icon of animation and storytelling.

Rave On for the Avon is an independent wild swimming documentary exploring Bristol community’s fight to save their bathing spot in unique, daring & distinctly beautiful ways.

Rave On for the Avon provides an intimate look into a community of wild swimmers in Bristol affected by raw sewage pollution of the river Avon. England is one of the only two countries in the world to have a fully privatised water and sewage disposal system, and with only 14% of English rivers in good ecological health, the mission to keep the rivers clean is not going well. In a series of moving, exciting and thought-provoking scenes, the swimmers create a stunning tapestry of light-hearted yet fascinating probe into how activism starts from the grassroots, and carries a profound universal lesson for all of us. There’s a wedding, drum’n’base, an inflatable turd, and a whole lot of cheesecake in this poignant reflection on innovative people’s fight for the natural world they cherish.

This show will be English Subtitled

Chihiro thinks she is on another boring trip with her parents. But when they stop at a village that is not all that it seems, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits, shape-shifting dragons and a witch who never wants to see her leave. She must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world.

The second biggest box office hit of all time in Japan, Spirited Away helped redefine the possibilities of animation for Western audiences and a generation of new filmmakers.

Combining Japanese mythology with Alice in Wonderland-type whimsy, Spirited Away cemented Miyazaki’s reputation as an icon of animation and storytelling.

January 2021. The UK is in its third lockdown and all entertainment venues remain closed. For theatre actors Sam and Mark, the future looks bleak. As the pandemic drags on, Mark - single and childless -is increasingly socially isolated, while Sam panics about how he is going to support his young family.

They spend their days in the online digital world of Grand Theft Auto and when they stumble across a theatre, they suddenly have an idea to stage a full production of Hamlet within the game.

This film charts their ridiculous, hilarious and moving adventure as they battle violent griefers and discover surprising truths about life, friendship and the enduring power of Shakespeare.

Please note only those with babies under 12 months can be admitted to this screening. There is no charge for the baby, and no ticket is needed, as children under 1 year old are expected to sit on an adult’s lap. These screenings offer a safe space and a relaxed environment in which you can care for and feed your baby without concern about disturbing others.

This screening will be unallocated seating to allow guests to sit where they like.

Take time-out in a relaxed and comfortable environment, and enjoy a great movie with your baby (under 12 months) for the off-peak price of £7.50

Film Synopsis;

Maria Callas, the world's greatest opera singer, lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris, as she confronts her identity and life.

Four women: four curious love stories. Juan Diego Flórez leads a fantastic cast in Offenbach's dream-like opera.

Adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Nickel Boys focuses on the story of Elwood (Ethan Herisse), a black teen sent to the Nickel Academy. Despite the school’s cruelty, he makes a connection with Turner (Brandon Willis) as they find hope against the odds. As the former students reconnect later in life, we are witnesses not only to the scars left by their youth, but also the healing power of human connection.

Director RaMell Ross, fine art photographer and documentary filmmaker (Hale County This Morning, This Evening), launches into feature filmmaking with this audacious and profoundly moving tale of a mid-century reform school, based on true stories that warped and destroyed the lives of thousands of children.

Reminiscent of the delicate touch of Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight, Nickel Boys is a sophisticated and profound experience of friendship and transformation.

"Mufasa: The Lion King" enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka--the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny--their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

Merchant Ivory is the first definitive feature documentary to lend new and compelling perspectives on the partnership, both professional and personal, of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and their primary associates, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins.

Footage from more than fifty interviews, clips, and archival material gives voice to the family of actors and technicians who helped define Merchant Ivory’s Academy Award-winning work of consummate quality and intelligence.

With six Oscar winners among the notable artists participating, these close and often long-term collaborators intimately detail the transformational cinematic creativity and personal and professional drama of the wandering company that left an indelible impact on film culture.

Contributors include Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, and Helena Bonham Carter amongst many more.

Thai with English subtitles

A box office sensation in Thailand, Pat Boonnitipat’s irresistible feature debut is a proven tearjerker (it went viral after users of social media began a trend of videoing themselves crying after watching the film).

After his grandmother Amah (Usha Seamkhum) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, the lackadaisical M (Putthipong Assaratanakul) moves in to care for her. How noble – but his newfound devotion isn’t altruistic; really, he hopes to secure her multi-million-dollar fortune. Unfortunately, it turns out it’s harder to win his shrewd grandmother’s favour than he thought… Plus, he’s only one in a number of interested parties.

Dementia Friendly Screenings are open to all, but aim to make cinema more accessible to local dementia communities by providing an fun, friendly and inclusive experience for people living with dementia. The lights are left on low, there are no adverts or trailers and the audience is allowed to move around – or sing along to any musical numbers! – should they wish to.

Free tea, coffee and biscuits are served for half an hour before the film to give people the chance to meet and socialise with others, and to familiarise themselves with the cinema space and there is extra signage put up to help you navigate the building.

Tickets are at the Off-Peak price of £7.50 per person, with a free place for accompanying carers.

Film Synopsis;

Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson) likes to report suspicious behavior to the police. Unaware of her reputation, the dapper thief Professor Marcus (Alec Guinness) rents rooms in the elderly widow's home for himself and his band of cohorts. Posing as a string quintet, the thieves pull off a bank robbery, but slip up in front of the old woman as they try to escape. Agreed that they need to murder her, the bumbling crooks wind up double-crossing each other and slowly killing themselves off.

A modern take on the erotic thriller comes from Bodies Bodies Bodies director Halina Reijn; a high-powered CEO (Nicole Kidman) puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern (Harris Dickinson).

“It’s the sort of intelligent, elegant adult filmmaking that is frequently lacking in modern cinema, approaching a complex theme not only with nuance and empathy but refreshing candour, all while being genuinely erotic and stylish.” – Hannah Strong, Little White Lies

Directed by Halina Reijn, starring Nicole Kidman

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part cinematic event.

Wicked reveals the untold story of the witches of Oz, who forge a friendship that is tested at a crossroads which takes them down two very different paths and fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Starring Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and global pop superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. Plus supporting performances from the beloved Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.

Written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

The year of 1962. A physics congress in the Alps. An Iranian guest. A mysterious pianist. A bizarre cloud formation in the sky and a booming mystery under the mountain. The Theory of Everything. A quantum mechanical thriller in black and white.

Johannes is a young man on the verge of completing his thesis on quantum theory and is accompanying his grudging professor to a scientific congress in the Swiss Alps where quantum theory is the main topic on the menu.

At the resort, the jazz pianist Karin seems to know more about Johannes than can be easily explained. There is an avalanche, things that go bump in the night, and whole slew of mysteries, which a pair of incompetent yet hard-boiled policemen keep failing to solve.

From The VVitch and The Lighthouse director Robert Eggers, Nosferatu is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.

A passion project for the modern folk horror master, inspired by the 100-year-old German expressionist vampire classic, finally comes to fruition with an all-star cast including Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin and of course, Willem Dafoe.

Set in a brutal, totalitarian future world, director Asif Kapadia draws on science fiction as a lens through which "to examine the huge questions we are facing as a species" in the hope that society may find solutions before extinction. Inspired by Chris Marker’s 1962 film LA JETÉE, Kapadia's hybrid documentary drama delivers an unsettling commentary on the state of the world today… and tomorrow.

Official Selection Venice Film Festival 2024 - World premiere

Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2024

A standout selection from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE is a dark fairy tale about one woman's search for tenderness and morality in a cruel world. Both eerie and exquisite, writer-director Magnus von Horn's latest film tracks young factory worker Karoline as she struggles to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen. When she ends up unemployed, abandoned and pregnant, the charismatic Dagmar takes her in to help run an underground adoption agency for unwanted children. The two women form an unexpected bond, until a sudden revelation changes everything. Based on a chilling true story, THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE presents a masterful gothic vision with profound contemporary resonance. Denmark's Best International Feature Film entry to the 97th Academy Awards® also features EFA-nominated performances from Vic Carmen Sonne and Trine Dyrholm, gorgeous cinematography by EO's Michał Dymek, and a spellbinding score by Frederikke Hoffmeier (Puce Mary).

Sisters Pansy and Chantal are chalk and cheese, but their close bond is the foundation that their extended family is built upon.  

Lately, life has proven too much for Pansy, her anguish manifests in relentless criticism of the world, leaving her husband Curtley, son Moses, and Chantal walking on eggshells. Things come to a head over the course of a Mother’s Day weekend.

Leading British filmmaker Mike Leigh returns with another well-observed drama that delicately traces the bonds that bind families together. In Hard Truths, Leigh reunites with Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies), who delivers a performance so intimate in its details, it could almost be moments from a home movie.

The third film in the series follows Paddington and the Brown family as they visit Aunt Lucy in Peru, but a mystery sends them to the Amazon rainforest and up Peruvian mountains.

Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. He forges intimate relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history.

The film also stars Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie.

Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate. Max Webster (Life of Pi) directs this hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance, filmed live from the National Theatre in London.

This influential German science-fiction film presents a highly stylized futuristic city where a beautiful and cultured utopia exists above a bleak underworld populated by mistreated workers. When the privileged youth Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) discovers the grim scene under the city, he becomes intent on helping the workers. He befriends the rebellious teacher Maria (Brigitte Helm), but this puts him at odds with his authoritative father, leading to greater conflict.

Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting. When one of the swans turns into a beautiful woman, Odette, he is enraptured.

The greatest love story ever told – through ballet. An ancient family feud casts a long shadow over the town of Verona.

Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece Dr. Strangelove.

When a rogue U.S General triggers a nuclear attack, a surreal race takes place, seeing the Government and one eccentric scientist scramble to avert global destruction.

This explosively funny satire is led by a world-renowned creative team including Emmy Award-winner Armando Iannucci and Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley.

Hebden Bridge Film Festival is proud to present a day celebrating SHORTS. We will be having 3 sessions: A showcase, a Calderdale competition and our loved HBFF National and International shorts competition along with a panel and award ceremony. We cannot wait to bring you a day of exciting new shorts that will challenge, surprise and delight you. Come and join us!