HOME Reopening Film Programme

We’ve been missing HOME. The cinema, theatre and arts space is reopening on Friday 4 September with a whole raft of new safety procedures and a first rate film programme that picks up where it left off. The reopening programme features a mixture of new releases, restored 4K classics and new partnerships with the likes of Sheffield Doc/Fest and BFI London Film Festival. There’s also a chance for audiences to get back to ¡Viva! Spanish and Latin American Festival, as screenings recommence from the second week in September.

The blockbuster title is Christopher Nolan’s eagerly anticipated sci-fi action film Tenet. The director behind The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar always draws a crowd, and his latest spectacle — starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki and Michael Caine — surely benefits from the big screen treatment. There are plenty of other new releases too though, including Gints Zilbalodis’ dreamy animation Away, and French drama Les Misérables, directed by Ladj Ly.

Included amongst the programme are a number of films that missed out on a cinema release due to lockdown. HOME did plenty to support digital cinema during this period, and they will continue their digital programme through to Autumn for those unable to make it into the city. But films making their big screen bow from September include Kitty Green’s restrained depiction of film industry abuse, The Assistant and Make Up — Claire Oakley’s mysterious drama set on the Cornish coast.

With HOME’s theatre space awaiting the resumption of live shows, the space will be used for film screenings, allowing for further capacity, and more space for filmgoers across the venue. Alongside the new films, HOME is picking up some of the recent 4K restorations and re-releases. Look out for restorations of Mathieu Kassovitz’s blistering La Haine, Mike Hodges’ sci-fi romp Flash Gordon, and David Lynch’s darkly mesmerising The Elephant Man.

“We look forward to welcoming our audiences back – safely, of course.” – Jason Wood, Creative Director: Film and Culture at HOME

Awards season seems a long time ago now, but Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite also returns to HOME with a new black-and-white edition that sounds intriguing. Meanwhile, the Sheffield Doc/Fest link up promises two yet to be confirmed screenings a month. The upcoming partnership with BFI London Film Festival is also exciting, given that the festival usually features early UK premieres of the year’s best movies.

The venue has also confirmed that the bar and restaurant will reopen on 4 September for those vital pre/post-film refreshments. Safety measures will be in place to ensure reduced capacity in all areas to allow for social distancing, while there will be additional cleaning, PPE for staff and online booking encouraged to limit contact at the box office. It has also been confirmed that visitors will be expected to follow the latest Government requirements around face coverings.

HOME is a vital part of Manchester’s cultural ecosystem, and we’re glad to see it reopen considerately, with a film programme that refuses to compromise on quality. Jason Wood, Creative Director: Film and Culture at HOME, says: “It’s more important than ever to speak to societal issues, and as always HOME remains invested in these conversations and we will play a part in acting as a force for change. We look forward to welcoming our audiences back – safely, of course.”