The British Film Institute has announced a major cinematic event at BFI IMAX to honor the legendary career of Steven Spielberg. This bespoke season, titled Close Encounters with Spielberg, serves as a grand lead-in to the filmmaker’s highly anticipated return to science fiction with his latest original feature, Disclosure Day. Starting June 10, audiences can experience the director’s newest vision on the UK’s largest screen, featuring a script by longtime collaborator David Koepp and an ensemble cast including Emily Blunt and Colin Firth.
The retrospective kicks off with a curated selection of Spielberg’s most influential works, designed to showcase his mastery of the genre. The lineup includes the profound alien contact drama Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the beloved family masterpiece E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and the high-octane virtual reality adventure Ready Player One. These screenings offer a rare opportunity to witness these visual spectacles in the immersive IMAX with Laser format.
In a unique collaboration for London Climate Action Week, the BFI is also bridging the gap between cinema and conservation. A special screening of Jaws on May 31 will feature an introduction by experts from the Zoological Society London’s Ocean Predator Lab. This session, following the documentary Shark Kingdom 3D, will examine how the portrayal of marine life on screen has influenced public perception of apex predators over the last fifty years.
The celebration continues on June 28 with a 3D screening of Jurassic Park. This event features an introduction by Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, who will discuss the parallels between the film's prehistoric revival and modern-day conservation efforts. Before the main feature, Dr. Cassius Morrison from University College London will join a Q&A following Dinosaurs of Antarctica 3D to share how Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster inspired his scientific career. Tickets for this limited engagement go on sale to the general public on May 8, promising a summer of unrivaled spectacle at Waterloo.
