For the fifth consecutive year, Everyman Cinemas is taking its Music Film Festival to venues across the country, with a wonderfully eclectic line-up. This year’s festival programme, running from Thursday 9th May until Sunday 26th May, showcases films about musical icons, artists, and subcultures, that have had a profound impact on the musical landscape and culture at large.
There will be enlightening Q&As and some fantastic live performances and after-screening entertainment, including parties, DJ sets and an underground rave.
The festival will open with two outstanding music films, Amazing Grace and Beats. Amazing Grace, depicts an intimate concert by Aretha Franklin at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in LA in 1972. Originally shot by Oscar winning director, Sydney Pollack, Amazing Grace has only recently made it to screens thanks to the help of modern editing technology. Its screening at the Music Film Festival, in partnership with Boiler Room, will also feature a stirring performance by a gospel choir.
Beats, produced by Steven Soderbergh and directed by Brian Welsh (Black Mirror), is a coming of age film following two friends who head out for one last night at an illegal rave in Scotland before life takes them in different directions. After the screening, guests will step into the world that they’ve just seen on screen, with an underground rave at SUPERMAX.
Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix is also the subject of a film showing at the festival. Electric Church, tells the story of his unforgettable 4th July concert, which took place against a backdrop of civil rights unrest and the unrelenting toll of the Vietnam War. To celebrate the screening, Handel & Hendrix in London, a museum dedicated to the lives of both musical icons will transform Everyman Baker Street into a trippy 1970’s house party, complete with DJs playing sets inspired by Hendrix and his contemporaries so that Hendrix fans can fully immerse themselves in the psychedelic vibes he popularised.
Then, looking at the infamous Haçienda Club, Do You Own The Dancefloor? explores the Manchester institution and hub of the 90s UK rave scene, which closed in 1997. The picture tells the story of those unique parts of the venue that were auctioned off, as well as the people so moved by their experiences at The Haçienda, that they had to come to back Manchester to bid for bricks, toilets, exit signs and even pieces of the hallowed dance floor.
Elsewhere in the festival, there are documentaries about Teddy Pendergrass, the evolution of the human voice and the Baha Men anthem ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’, as well as Elton John biopic Rocketman. Rounding off the programme is the UK premiere of Teen Spirit, which stars Elle Fanning as a shy teenager looking to escape her small town using her passion for song.
Full listings information can be found below and the public can register to attend the various performances by visiting
everymancinema.com Amazing Grace + Live Gospel Choir Presented by Boiler Room/4:3
Thursday 9th May
Everyman Crystal Palace
In the early 1970s, having just won numerous Grammy Awards and with her music proving to be extremely popular, Aretha Franklin decided her next project would take her back to where she started, gospel. Using a Baptist church in Los Angeles for a two-night recording session, she recorded Amazing Grace, her most successful album and the top-selling gospel record of all time.
This film, which depicts a concert she gave at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in LA, was shot in 1972 by Oscar winning director Sydney Pollack and has only just made it to screens in 2019 with the help of modern editing technology.
The screening is in partnership with Boiler Room/4:3 and will feature a live gospel choir.
BEATS London Gala Screening + Afterparty
Thursday 9th May
Everyman Kings Cross
Produced by Steven Soderbergh, and directed by Brian Welsh (Black Mirror), this coming of age film follows two best friends in a small Scottish town in the summer of '94 who head out for one last night together before life takes them in different directions. Going to an illegal rave, the boys journey into an underworld of anarchy, freedom and collision with the law as they share a night that they will never forget.
The screening will be also followed by an afterparty at SUPERMAX, a hidden bar opened by our friends at Spiritland, right under our cinema in Kings Cross.
Who Let The Dogs Out
Monday 13th May
Everyman Baker Street & Bristol
Many people are unaware that the hook from the Grammy-winning Baha Men classic “Who Let The Dogs Out” dates all the way back to 1959. This film traces the history of the song backwards, chronologically, interspersing interviews with the musicians involved, industry experts and fans of the song and the phrase itself. Viewers are transported from to the Bahamas, Trinidad, England, Florida, New York, Seattle, Michigan and Texas with the aim of hopefully shedding some light on who did in fact let the dogs out?
Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me + Q&A
Tuesday 14th May, Wednesday 15th May
Everyman Baker Street & Crystal Palace
The untold and ultimately inspiring story of legendary soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, this documentary, made by BAFTA-winning Olivia Lichtenstein, speaks to people who knew Pendergrass personally; his friends, family and industry insiders to depict the man who was poised to become the biggest R&B artist of all time until a tragic accident changed his life.
The screenings will be followed by a live Q&A with director Olivia Lichtenstein.
We Speak Music + Live Q&A / Performance by Reeps One
Wednesday 15th May, Saturday 18th May
Everyman Bristol & Crystal Palace
We Speak Music is an exploration of the unexpected evolution of the human voice and technology. Fronted by visual artist and world-class beatboxer Harry Yeff (aka Reeps One) and presented by world-renowned technological innovators Nokia Bell Labs, this series of six short documentaries investigates the unstudied and emerging areas of voice and communication beyond speaking, that reframe our understanding of the human voice and its potential.
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A and performance by Reeps One.
Do You Own The Dancefloor?
Friday 17th May, Tuesday 21st May
Everyman Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Altrincham, Kings Cross
World renowned night club, The Haçienda, closed down in 1997. Three years later, as it faced demolition, parts of the building were auctioned off to raise money for charity. This documentary tells the story of those unique mementos, as well the people so affected by their times at The Haçienda, that they had to come to back Manchester to bid for bricks, toilets, exit signs and even pieces of the hallowed dance floor.
The screening in Kings Cross will be followed by a live Q&A with director Chris Hughes and an after party at SUPERMAX.
The Pigeonhole
Friday 17th May
Screen on the Green
After a sell out debut, the Pigeon Hole is back for round two. Hosted by Natty Wylah, there will be celestial sounds from the likes of Vincent Deighan, MA.MOYO and Marysia Osuchowska, and beguiling images in 'To Live And Die In Manilla', which follows musicians responding to the socio-political turbulence in the Philippine capital.
There will also be a showcase of animations in response to music with Sam Bell's morphing colours dance to Al Dobson Jr rhythms, bizarre CGI imagery from Dylan Serventi and BFI Future Film Festival prizewinner Alice Bloomfield beautiful work in Puma Blues' 'as-is' video.
Teen Spirit (UK PREMIERE)
Monday 20th May
Screen on the Green, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Altrincham, Bristol, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Hampstead
Starring Elle Fanning and Rebecca Hall, and directed by Max Minghella, Teen Spirit is a visceral and stylish spin on the Cinderella story that follows Violet, a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition.
AUDINT Presents: Holo Dissonance
Monday 20th May
Everyman Kings Cross
AUDINT is a research cell investigating the ways in which different frequencies are deployed to control psychological and physiological states. Currently consisting of Steve Goodman/Kode9, Eleni Ikon, Toby Heys, Souzana Zamfe, and Patrick Defasten, they will be giving a presentation exploring these ideas, presenting a brief historical overview of the notion stretching from 1944 to 2064. From the Ghost Army to the Wandering Soul strategy; from phantom sonic economies to the Walking Dead Syndrome; from exhumed holographic rappers to holosonic warfare.
The presentation will be followed by a screening of the 1974 fantasy film The Invention of Morel, and the evening will close with a screening of Ghostcode, a short film by AUDINT.
Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church
Tuesday 21st May, Wednesday 22nd May, Thursday 23rd May
Newcastle, Liverpool, Altrincham, Bristol, Glasgow, Baker Street
Electric Church presents the legendary guitarist in full flight at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival before the largest US audience of his career. This critically acclaimed film combines colour, 16mm footage of Hendrix’s unforgettable 4th July concert in its original performance sequence together with a new documentary that traces his journey to the festival amidst the dark shadow of civil rights unrest, the relenting toll of the Vietnam War and a burgeoning festival culture that drew together young people across the country inspired by Woodstock.
The Baker Street show on the 23rd May, will see Handel & Hendrix in London convert the cinema into a 1970’s house party with live music and psychedelic lighting as well as DJs who will play sets based on Hendrix, his contemporaries, and artists he influenced, all on vinyl.
Agile Films Showcase + Live Q&A
Wednesday 22nd May
Screen on the Green
Agile Films presents an evening showcase of music videos and shorts from their directors.
Expect films for artists such as Zara Larsson, Loyle Carner, Gorillaz, Maribou State and Yellow Days. There will also be an exclusive screening of LSFF & UK Film Festival short film winner ‘Mothering' by Lucy Bridger.
There will also be a live DJ set and food and drink will be provided.
Khartoum presents: A Night In Paris
Thursday 23rd May
Screen on the Green
After packing out the Screen on the Green for their single launch last November, Khartoum are back to present A Night in Paris.
Transporting guest back to an age old Parisian brothel come discotheque with an orgy of music, burlesque, circus, theatre and film to excite you from every angle. One of the hottest bands from Paris will be leading the affairs and a DJ duo will keep the party going into the early hours.
See Know Evil (UK PREMIERE) + Q&A
Thursday 23rd May, Friday 24th May, Saturday 25th May, Sunday 26th May
Kings Cross, Hampstead, Altrincham, Glasgow, Bristol
An uncensored look into the life of 90's fashion photographer and youth culture icon, Davide Sorrenti. one of the photographers responsible for fashion's move away from glamour and towards the real. The film pays tribute to Davide's humble beginnings as a young graffiti artist, his years as New York's golden boy and the complexity of the 'heroin chic' aesthetic that his work has since, perhaps unfairly, become synonymous with.
The screenings at Kings Cross, Hampstead, Bristol and Altrincham will be followed by a Q&A with director Charlie Curran. Francesca Sorrenti, Davide’s mother will also join the Q&A in Hampstead and Kings Cross.
Rocketman
Friday 24th May, Saturday 25th May, Sunday 26th May
Everyman Cinemas across the UK
Taron Edgerton (Kingsman, Robin Hood) stars alongside Richard Madden (Game of Thrones, The Bodyguard) in an epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years.
Tickets for Rocketman will go on sale from 18th April 2019.
