Hull Independent Cinema: Riefenstahl

Leni Riefenstahl is considered one of the most controversial women of the 20th century as an artist and a Nazi propagandist. Her films TRIUMPH OF THE WILL and OLYMPIA stand for perfectly staged body worship and the celebration of the superior and victorious. At the same time, these images project contempt for the imperfect and weak. Riefenstahl’s aesthetics are more present than ever today – but is that also true for their implied message?

The film examines this question using documents from Riefenstahl’s estate, including private films, photos, recordings and letters. It uncovers fragments of her biography and places them in an extended historical context. How could Riefenstahl become the Reich’s preeminent filmmaker and keep denying any closer ties to Hitler and Goebbels? During her long life after the fall of Nazism, she remained unapologetic, managing to control and shape her legacy. In personal documents, she mourns her “”murdered ideals””. Riefenstahl represents many postwar Germans who, in letters and recorded telephone calls from her estate, dream of an organizing hand that will finally clean up the “”shit-hole state””. Then, her work would also experience a renaissance, in a generation or two this time could come – what if they are right?

 

Running Time: 1 hour 56 mins  Language: German with English subtitles  Genre: Documentary  Content Warnings: strong real violence, discrimination, sexual violence references

Hull Independent Cinema: The Wedding Banquet

From Director Andrew Ahn comes a joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating the disasters and delights of family expectations, queerness, and cultural identity.

Angela and her partner Lee have been unlucky with their IVF treatments, but can’t afford to pay for another round. Meanwhile, their friend Min, the closeted scion of a multinational corporate empire, has plenty of family money but a soon-to-expire student visa. When his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris rejects his proposal, Min makes the offer to Angela instead: a green card marriage in exchange for funding Lee’s IVF. But their plans to quietly elope are upended when Min’s sceptical grandmother flies in from Korea unannounced, insisting on an all-out wedding extravaganza.

With a pitch-perfect cast of multigenerational talent that includes Bowen Yang, Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, and Academy Award winner Youn Yuh-jung, this fresh reimagining of Ang Lee’s beloved, Award-winning rom-com teems with humour and heart in a poignant reminder that being part of a family means learning to both accept and forgive.

Running Time: 1 hour 43 mins Language: English Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Content Warnings: strong language and flashing images

Live from The British Library: An Evening with The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club: An Evening with Richard Osman, Chris Columbus and Special Guests

 

Live from The British Library

 

  • Tuesday 19 August
  • 7:00 – 8:30pm
  • Hull Central Library
  • 18+

 

Join us for a special evening celebrating The Thursday Murder Club from page to screen.

Step into the world of Richard Osman’s beloved, bestselling novel, which follows four irrepressible retirees whose casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands. Discover how this much-loved tale has been brought to life in the forthcoming film adaptation, releasing globally on Netflix on Thursday, 28th August.

The film, directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) and with a screenplay by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, features an extraordinary cast including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie to name just a few.

 

This is a live screening direct from the British Library.

Nosferatu X Radiohead: A Symphony of Horror

Silents Synced pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music to bring audiences a unique big screen experience. This reimagining of the iconic Nosferatu (1922) features Radiohead’s Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001) albums.

An unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nosferatu (1922) is the quintessential silent vampire film, crafted by legendary German director F. W. Murnau. Rather than depicting Dracula as a shape-shifting monster or debonair gentleman, Murnau’s Graf Orlok (as portrayed by Max Schreck) is a nightmarish, spidery creature of bulbous head and taloned claws — perhaps the most genuinely disturbing incarnation of vampirism yet envisioned.

Don’t miss out on the chance to experience this imaginative new take on an iconic horror classic!

Whether you’re a movie lover or a rock music fan this is an experience you won’t want to miss!!

 

Priority booking until 01/08.

Love Never Dies (Screening)

Please note this is a recording and not a live, on stage performance.

Love Never Dies continues the story of The Phantom of the Opera. Featuring one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s finest musical scores performed by a 21 piece orchestra, a stunning cast of 36 including Ben Lewis and Anna O’Byrne, over 300 incredible costumes and a magnificent set illuminated by over 5000 dazzling light bulbs.

The year is 1907. It is 10 years after his disappearance from the Paris Opera House and the Phantom has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak-shows of Coney Island. In this new electrically-charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar. All that is missing is his love – Christine Daaé.

Priority booking until 01/08.

NT Live: Mrs Warren’s Profession (Encore Screening)

Please note this is a recording and not a live, on stage performance.

Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic.

Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune – but at what cost?
Filmed live from the West End, this new production reunites Staunton with director Dominic Cooke (Follies, Good), exploring the clash between morality and independence, traditions and progress.

Bat Out of Hell – the Musical (Screening)

Get ready for the ultimate rock experience as Bat Out of Hell roars onto the big screen this Halloween!

The cast of the West End production will bring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s iconic anthems to life, including I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), Paradise By The Dashboard Light, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, Dead Ringer For Love, and, of course, Bat Out of Hell.

Bat out of Hell -The Musical promises a spectacle that will leave you breathless! This heart-pounding experience, with a powerhouse eight-piece live band on stage, delivers a new production with sprawling multi-level platforms to transport you from Raven’s bedroom to the underground world of the Lost in a visual feast that pushes the boundaries of live theatre.

Priority booking until 01/08.

NT Live: The Fifth Step (Encore Screening)

Please note that this is a recording and not a live, on stage performance.

Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.

After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.

Finn den Hertog directs the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from @sohoplace on London’s West End.

Priority booking until 01/08.

Exhibition on Screen: Caravaggio

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.
Caravaggio’s masterpieces are some of art’s most instantly recognisable. No one else uses his signature blend of dramatic light, intense naturalism and bold, striking figures. His incredible paintings have captivated audiences for centuries. But there lies a deeper mystery — one that still beckons us to explore. What do these masterpieces reveal about the man behind the brush? Join us as we explore the intriguing clues that help us to finally understand the life – and death – of this remarkable man.

Priority booking until 01/08.

NT Live: Inter Alia (Live Screening)

Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn) is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind Prima Facie.

Jessica Parks is a smart Crown Court Judge at the top of her career. Behind the robe, she is a karaoke fiend, a loving wife and a supportive parent. When an event threatens to throw her life completely off balance, can she hold her family upright?

Writer Suzie Miller and director Justin Martin reunite following their global phenomenon Prima Facie, with this searing examination of modern motherhood and masculinity.

Priority booking until 15/7.

Castration Movie Anthology i. Traps (18)

Castration Movie is a labyrinthine post-modern epic about gender.

The first part of this two part film includes Chapter i. Incel Superman and Chapter ii. Traps Swan Princess.

Incel Superman follows Turner Stewart, a production assistant who sees his world spiral out of control as he uncompromisingly attempts to shape his life into the one he feels he deserves.

Traps Swan Princess follows a trans woman named Michaela “Traps” Sinclair, a sex worker in Vancouver who splits her time between seeing clients and hanging out with her group of trans friends, who finds her relationships strained when she decides to pursue motherhood.

Outdoor Cinema: Top Gun (1986)

Join us for a Summer Outdoor Cinema evening at Burton Constable Hall on Saturday 17th August 2025, with an exclusive open-air screening of the popular movie, Top Gun (1986).

Grab your aviators, bring your friends and family, and take off into this thrilling outdoor cinema event. Sing along to the unforgettable soundtrack as Maverick and Goose soar through the skies, navigating friendship, rivalry, and the need for speed. It’s time to “take it to the danger zone” and relive the unforgettable rush of Top Gun!

 

About Top Gun

The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. When hotshot fighter pilot Maverick is sent to the school, his reckless attitude and cocky demeanor put him at odds with the other pilots, especially the cool and collected Iceman.

 

Event Details:

Date & Time: Saturday 17th August 2025 – 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Location: Burton Constable Hall

Tickets: £16.56 entry I £27.32 VIP Deck Chairs

Family & Child tickets also available.

 

Outdoor Cinema Event Guidelines:

  • On the day of the event, please bring your ticket on your smartphone. A staff member will scan the QR code for entry.
  • In the event of heavy rain, the Outdoor Cinema event may be canceled, with full refunds issued by Outdoor Cinema.
  • Attendees are advised to bring their own blankets or chairs.
  • Bringing your own snacks is permitted. Please ensure all rubbish is disposed of responsibly.
  • Toilets are available on-site.
  • Alcohol consumption must be responsible; intoxicated attendees may be asked to leave.
  • Please come prepared with warm clothing, a torch, extra layers, and appropriate footwear.
  • BBQs are not permitted.

 

Additional Notes:

  • Ambient noise is to be expected during the outdoor cinema experience, particularly at family screenings.
  • The sound system is located at the front of the venue, where volume levels will be higher.

Outdoor Cinema: Monsters Inc.

Join us for a Summer Outdoor Cinema afternoon at Burton Constable Hall on Sunday 17th August 2025, with an exclusive open-air screening of the popular kid’s movie, Monsters Inc!

Get ready for a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming adventure as we bring you Pixar’s beloved tale of friendship, fun, and furry monsters. Follow Mike, Sulley, and Boo through the colourful world of Monstropolis in a film that proves laughter really is the best energy.

Bring your blankets, snacks, and your best monster giggle for a monstrously fun afternoon the whole family will enjoy!

 

About Monsters Inc.

Lovable monsters Mike and Sulley work at Monsters, Inc., the top scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. But when a little human girl accidentally finds her way into their world, chaos unfolds! As the duo scrambles to get her home, they uncover a conspiracy that could change the monster world forever.

 

Event Details:

Date & Time: Sunday 17th August 2025 – 11:30am – 2:00pm

Location: Burton Constable Hall

Tickets: £13.36 entry I £27.32 VIP Deck Chairs

Family & Child tickets also available.

 

Outdoor Cinema Event Guidelines:

  • On the day of the event, please bring your ticket on your smartphone. A staff member will scan the QR code for entry.
  • In the event of heavy rain, the Outdoor Cinema event may be canceled, with full refunds issued by Outdoor Cinema.
  • Attendees are advised to bring their own blankets or chairs.
  • Bringing your own snacks is permitted. Please ensure all rubbish is disposed of responsibly.
  • Toilets are available on-site.
  • Alcohol consumption must be responsible; intoxicated attendees may be asked to leave.
  • Please come prepared with warm clothing, a torch, extra layers, and appropriate footwear.
  • BBQs are not permitted.

 

Additional Notes:

  • Ambient noise is to be expected during the outdoor cinema experience, particularly at family screenings.
  • The sound system is located at the front of the venue, where volume levels will be higher.

Outdoor Cinema: Wicked!

Join us for a Summer Outdoor Cinema evening at Burton Constable Hall on Sunday 17th August 2025, with an exclusive open-air screening of the popular movie-musical, Wicked (U).

Bring your blankets and gather your friends and family for an unforgettable sing-along experience. Enjoy favourites like ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘For Good,’ as Elphaba and Glinda take you on a heartwarming journey through friendship, self-discovery, and the magical world of Oz.

 

About Wicked

Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.

 

Event Details:

Date & Time: Sunday 17th August 2025 – 3:00pm – 6:30pm

Location: Burton Constable Hall

Tickets: £13.36 entry I £27.32 VIP Deck Chairs

Family & Child tickets also available.

 

Outdoor Cinema Event Guidelines:

  • On the day of the event, please bring your ticket on your smartphone. A staff member will scan the QR code for entry.
  • In the event of heavy rain, the Outdoor Cinema event may be canceled, with full refunds issued by Outdoor Cinema.
  • Attendees are advised to bring their own blankets or chairs.
  • Bringing your own snacks is permitted. Please ensure all rubbish is disposed of responsibly.
  • Toilets are available on-site.
  • Alcohol consumption must be responsible; intoxicated attendees may be asked to leave.
  • Please come prepared with warm clothing, a torch, extra layers, and appropriate footwear.
  • BBQs are not permitted.

 

Additional Notes:

  • Ambient noise is to be expected during the outdoor cinema experience, particularly at family screenings.
  • The sound system is located at the front of the venue, where volume levels will be higher.

Outdoor Cinema: Mamma Mia!

Join us for a Summer Outdoor Cinema evening at Burton Constable Hall on Saturday 16th August 2025, with an exclusive open-air screening of the popular movie-musical, Mamma Mia! (PG).

Grab your blankets and round up your friends and family for an unforgettable sing-along night. Delight in classics like “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia,” as Sophie, Donna, and the whole gang take you on a super-trouper journey filled with love, laughter, and the sunny spirit of the Greek islands.

 

About Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia is set on a colourful Greek island, the plot serves as a background for a wealth of ABBA songs. A young woman about to be married discovers that any one of three men could be her father. She invites all three to the wedding without telling her mother, Donna Sheridan (Meryl Streep), who was once the lead singer of Donna and the Dynamos. In the meantime, Donna has invited her back-up singers, Rosie Mulligan (Dame Julie Walters) and Tanya Wilkinson (Christine Baranski).

 

Event Details:

Date & Time: Saturday 16th August 2025 – 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Location: Burton Constable Hall

Tickets: £16.56 entry I £27.32 VIP Deck Chairs

Family & Child tickets also available.

 

Outdoor Cinema Event Guidelines:

  • On the day of the event, please bring your ticket on your smartphone. A staff member will scan the QR code for entry.
  • In the event of heavy rain, the Outdoor Cinema event may be canceled, with full refunds issued by Outdoor Cinema.
  • Attendees are advised to bring their own blankets or chairs.
  • Bringing your own snacks is permitted. Please ensure all rubbish is disposed of responsibly.
  • Toilets are available on-site.
  • Alcohol consumption must be responsible; intoxicated attendees may be asked to leave.
  • Please come prepared with warm clothing, a torch, extra layers, and appropriate footwear.
  • BBQs are not permitted.

 

Additional Notes:

  • Ambient noise is to be expected during the outdoor cinema experience, particularly at family screenings.
  • The sound system is located at the front of the venue, where volume levels will be higher.

SAFAR Film Festival: A State of Passion

A STATE OF PASSION
Dir Carol Mansour, Muna Khalidi | Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan | 2024 | 90 mins | Unrated | Arabic, EnglishAfter 43 horrific days working round the clock under constant bombardment in the emergency rooms of Gaza’s Al Shifa and Al Ahli hospitals, British-Palestinian reconstructive surgeon, Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah, emerged to find himself as a face of Palestinian resistance. With news footage of him pale and shell-shocked reverberating around the world, he spoke of a catalogue of horrors from lacerated bodies, to amputations without anesthetics, orphaned children with no surviving family, and the deliberate targeting of medics and hospital facilities. This was Ghassan’s sixth and most horrific trip to Gaza.  Where does he find the strength to face it again and again? How does his family process the risks he takes? The answer lies simply in their shared passion: Palestine, a passion they articulate through their support of his perilous humanitarian work.Premiering at the 2024 Cairo International Film Festival and awarded the Saad Eldin Wahba Award for Best Arabic Film, A State of Passion offers a deeply human perspective on the cost of survival and the ongoing fight for dignity.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Cairo Int’l FF: Winner, Best Arab Film, Best Documentary Special Jury Prize
International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights: Nominee, Best Documentary

REVIEWS
“Grief, heartbreak, pride, rage, disbelief, and finally a renewed determination. This documentary isn’t merely about Abu-Sittah’s bravery or dedication, but about Gaza itself.” Ruwan Teodros, Institute for Palestinian Studies

“The remarkable thing is that despite its modest visual style, A State of Passion unfolds with the dynamics of a tense action film, unexpectedly culminating in spiritual catharsis.” Mariana Hristova, The New Arab

“Rest assured, this is not just a story of suffering – it’s also a story of hope. [The Abu Sittah family] are people you’ll enjoy spending time with, who will remind you of the good in the world and motivate you to keep fighting for what’s right.” William Mullally, The National

ACCESSIBILITY
Subtitles

This film will be presented with dialogue subtitles. Descriptive Subtitles are not available for this screening.

AGE RATING
A STATE OF PASSION is unrated. Unless it receives a rating before screening, only 18+ will be admitted.

Programme Details
The venue is open all day, so why not come along early to grab a drink and a snack? The programme run time includes an allowance for introductions and up to three trailers. While we will endeavour to accommodate latecomers, this may not always be possible. Please note that we reserve the right to refuse entry, without a refund, to anyone arriving after the advertised start time.

Please note the pedestrian entrance to Princes Quay is either via the Quayside entrance (next to Nandos), via the footpath from Waterhouse Lane / Bonus Arena, or via the Monument Bridge entrance. The Carr Lane entrance (next to Primark) is closed after 6pm. The car park entrance remains unaffected.

Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions, please drop us a line at hello@hullindependentcinema.com or on social media.

Event Details

Unrated 18+ only.
Doors Open at 7:00PM
From 7:30PM to 9:15PM

Location

Vue Hull, Hull, HU1 2PQ