The NXDFFF returns with over 30 free events at 21 unusual venues
Hatty Uwanogho
Film fan?
Able to get to South East London?
Don’t want to fork out tons of money?
The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival is back for its fifth year and you are invited! Starting on 22nd April, the NXDFFF will be showing 10 days’ of free film events in New Cross and Deptford across 21 different venues from shops to parks to churches.
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LAUNCH PARTY
For starters, why not join the launch party on Friday 22nd April? The Spike Lee film Summer of Sam (18 certificate) will be screened at The Duke and after that the DJs will be recreating the excellent soundtrack for your very own 70’s disco. Dressing up is allowed.
OUTDOOR PEDAL-POWERED SCREENINGS
Every year the Festival puts on two outdoor film screenings, powered by human power. Electric Pedals sets up the big screen and connects up a row of bikes – it is up to you to keep pedalling to keep the film running.
On Saturday 23rd April there will be a bike-powered event for all you skaters out there. The NXDFF is showing the seminal skateboard film City of Rats (PG certificate) directed by ‘Hold Tight Henry’ aka Henry Edwards-Wood in skate-friendly Giffin Square, followed by a Q&A and the appearance of a surprise pro-skater.
The second Saturday of the festival, 30th April, brings you Jim Henson’s cult fantasy film Labyrinth (U certificate), voted for by the social media supporters of the festival – and an outright winner from the start. I can think of no better place to watch this than from the high vantage point of Telegraph Hill Upper Park. Bring lots of energy for the pedalling, and a tissue in honour of guest star David Bowie.
Grease, Telegraph Hill Park, NXDFFF 2014. Copyright: Electric Pedals
SHAKESPEARE STRAND
23rd April 2016 is the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare, and the NXDFFF commemorates this with a set of Shakespeare-themed films. In true NXDFFF eclectic style, this ranges from The Lion King (Hamlet according to Walt Disney), to Roman Polanski’s Macbeth via Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and Johnny Hamlet, a Spaghetti Western version of Hamlet from the 60’s.
The festival ends with a musical special on Bank Holiday Sunday 1st May, based at Deptford’s newest bar on the block Buster Mantis. In the afternoon, in conjunction with the Jamaican Film Festival, they are screening a collection of films from Jamaica, with guest speakers and filmmakers. At the closing party they will screen Rubble Kings, the story of New York street gangs in the 70’s, and this year’s free film festival will end in party mode, with DJ sets by Ross Allen of Mi-Soul, and Keith Yearsley.
Rubble Kings
For full details and listings check out New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival’s brand new festival website and keep up with what’s happening on the Facebook page here or on Twitter here.
See you there!
What: New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival 2016
Where: In various venues across New Cross and Deptford
When: 22nd April to 1st May 2016
Cost: Free
