Northwest Film Event Highlights – January 2015

It’s 2015. We’re officially living in the future. Did you know that in between Back to the Future Part II jokes, there are actually a few decent film events happening this month? The guys at Liverpool’s Philharmonic invite you to kick off your new year with an immersive cinema experience on 3 Jan with two screenings of Walt Disney’s risky passion project Fantasia. Both showings (a matinee and evening screening) will be scored live by conductor Neil Thomson and incorporate iconic excerpts from Walt’s original 1940 release and the beefed-up Fantasia 2000. A magical way to start 2015.

Indie doc Beyond Clueless plays in both Liverpool and Manchester this month with two events that are equally exciting. Directed by film critic Charlie Lyne, this analytical doc delves deep into the portrayal of adolescence in cinema, taking aim at films like Mean Girls, Ginger Snaps and Jeepers Creepers and even enlisting the narrating talents of 90s teen icon Fairuza Balk to guide you through the ups and downs of teens on screen. Lyne will be on hand at Liverpool’s FACT on 19 Jan for a post-screening Q&A, while over in Manchester, The Dancehouse invites cult band Summer Camp to perform their score live during a screening on 24 Jan. All the cool kids in class will be there.

Swedish alt-comedy Klovn (that’s Klown to you and me) plays at Liverpool’s Scandinavian Seamen’s Church on 26 Jan and is guaranteed to have you cringing and giggling in equal measure. Meanwhile, Manchester goes Manics-crazy on 31 Jan with Manic Street Preachers documentary No Manifesto, complete with a post-screening Q&A with director Elizabeth Marcus and producer Kurt Engfehr. Boasting footage of recording sessions, live performance and candid interviews, this is a must for fans.

Grimm Up North’s Tim Burton season continues to keep us entertained throughout the remaining winter months with piercing fairy tale Edward Scissorhands appearing on 15 Jan and the neck-slicing Sleepy Hollow arriving by horseback on 29 Jan. Both can be found at Manchester’s Printworks.

Grimm also have a treat in store for marionette nuts with This Is Supermarionation Marathon, an all-day event at Gorilla on 11 Jan celebrating the prolific puppetry of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Expect the Filmed in Supermarionation documentary plus over four hours of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Stingray, Joe 90 and The Secret Service all in stunning HD and complete with retro adverts. Fancy dress encouraged, strings and all.