Purbeck Film Festival

🗓️ Friday 18^th October – Sunday 3^rd November 2024

Settle into autumn with the 29^th Purbeck Film Festival’s packed programme of over 80 film screenings at 30 fantastic venues across Purbeck.

The annual festival brings a diverse range of cinema to rural areas, with the latest international arthouse cinema as well as much-loved classics showing in a range of venues from local cinemas to village halls.

Swanage’s Mowlem Theatre and The Rex Cinema in Wareham are at the festival’s heart and have become important hubs of this longest-running rural and coastal film festival in the UK, which began life in 1996.

Special, smaller venues are dotted throughout the Purbeck countryside providing an intimate setting for screenings, including at Swanage Waterworks, Carey’s Secret Garden and Creech Grange.

As well as the main film programme there’ll be the opportunity as always to take part in Q&A sessions with directors and producers, as well as special events screenings.

Programme 2024

Here’s a listing of this year’s film screenings.

Take an in-depth look at each movie including synopses, venues and meal options (where relevant) in the official Purbeck Film Festival brochure via its website, where you can also book your tickets: https://purbeckfilm.com

• Online bookings are subject to a booking fee
• Concession rates are available for students and under 25s

Friday 18^th October

1917 (15)

Festival Launch, with guest speaker director Sam Mendes

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £20

The Eight Mountains (Le Otto Montagne) (12A)

• Venue: St Aldhelm’s Parish Centre, Branksome
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Saturday 19^th October

The Holdovers (15)

• Venue: East Dorset Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc)
• Refreshments: Bar & snacks available

My Favourite Cake (Keyke Mahboobe Man) (12A)

Gala Reception

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Gala reception: 6.30pm
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £15 (includes glass of wine & Salt Pig canapés)

Taste of Things (La Passion de Dodin Bouffant) (12A)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Swanage Waterworks
• Film start: 3.45pm
• Drinks & nibbles: 6pm – 6.30pm
• Tickets: £20 (includes glass of wine & canapés)

Big Night (15)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Swanage Waterworks
• Drinks & nibbles: 7pm
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £20 (includes glass of wine & canapés)

Sunday 20^th October

Perfect Days (PG)

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Rose (12A)

Film plus recorded intro by director Niels Arden Oplev

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

La Chimera (The Impossible Dream) (15)

• Venue: Langton Matravers Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc)

Seven Years in Tibet (PG)

Film & Food

• Venue: The 29029, Sandford
• Meal start: 7pm
• Film start: 8.30pm
• Tickets: £29.95 (includes welcome drink & two-course buffet)

The Virgin Spring (15)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Swanage Waterworks
• Film start: 4.30pm
• Drinks & nibbles: 6pm – 6.30pm
• Tickets: £20 (includes glass of wine & canapés)

The Seventh Seal (PG)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Swanage Waterworks
• Drinks & nibbles: 7pm – 7.30pm
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £20 (includes glass of wine & canapés)

Monday 21^st October

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (PG)

• Venue: The Mowlem Studio
• Start time: 2.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Crossing (15)

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Wilding (PG)

Film plus recorded Q&A with Isabella Tree

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin) (12A)

• Venue: St Mary’s Church
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

The Last Metro (Le Dernier Métro) (PG)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Swanage Waterworks
• Film start: 3.45pm
• Drinks & nibbles: 6pm – 6.30pm
• Tickets: £20 (includes glass of wine & canapés)

Jules & Jim (Jules et Jim) (12A)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Swanage Waterworks
• Drinks & nibbles: 7pm – 7.30pm
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £20 (includes glass of wine & canapés)

Tuesday 22^nd October

Anatomy of a Fall (Anatomie d’une chute) (15)

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Monster (Kaibutsu) (12A)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

20,000 Species of Bees (20,000 Especies de Abejas) (12A)

• Venue: The Lighthouse, Poole
• Start time: 7.30 pm
• Tickets: £10.95 (£8.75 conc.)

Afire (Roter Himmel) (12A)

• Venue: Durlston Castle
• Start time: 7.30 pm
• Tickets: £8.50, (£6 conc.)

Bob Marley: One Love (12A)

• Venue: Isle of Purbeck Golf Club
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50, (£5.50 conc.)

Full Time (À plein temps) (12A)

• Venue: Church Knowle Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Wednesday 23^rd October

French Double Bill at The Mowlem:

Paris Memories (Revoir Paris) (15)

• Start time: 6pm

And

The Nature of Love
(Simple comme Sylvain) (15)

• Start time: 8.30pm

• Single Film: £9 (£6 conc.)
• Double Bill: £17 (£11 conc.)

Unmoored (15)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Fantastic Machine (15)

• Venue: Poole Lighthouse
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £10.95 (£8.75 conc.)

Six Inches of Soil (PG)

Film plus live Q&A with ecologist Ian Alexander & farmer Ian Baggs

• Venue: Durlston Castle
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £8.50 (£6 conc.)

Radical (12A)

• Venue: Dorchester Corn Exchange
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7

Moonlight (15)

• Venue: Boscombe Arts Depot
• Start time: 7pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Wicked Little Letters (15)

Film & food

• Venue: Holme for Gardens (Orchard Café)
• Meal start: 6.30pm
• Film start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £20

Thursday 24^th October

Io Capitano (15)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Exhibition On Screen: Klimt & The Kiss (12A)

Film plus special Q&A with director Ali Ray

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £12 (£6.50 conc.)

If Only I Could Hibernate (Baavgai Bolohson) (12A)

• Venue: Poole Lighthouse
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £10.95 (£8.75 conc.)

The Nettle Dress (12A)

Film plus recorded Q&A with director Dylan Howitt

• Venue: Durlston Castle
• Start time: 7.30 pm
• Tickets: £8.50, (£6 conc.)

Gaslight (PG)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Creech Grange Country House
• Reception: 2.45pm
• Film start: 3.45pm
• Tickets: £35 (includes prosecco & canapés)

The Long Good Friday (18)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Creech Grange Country House
• Reception: 6.30pm
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £35 (includes prosecco & canapés)

Chef (15)

Film & Food

• Venue: The Cowshed, Lytchett Matravers
• Meal start: 7pm
• Film start: 8.30pm
• Tickets: £29.95 (includes food & a margarita)

Friday 25^th October

The Promised Land (Bastarden) (15)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Sport Double Bill at The Mowlem:

Power Alley (15)

• Start time: 6pm

And:

Copa 71 (PG)

• Start time: 8.30pm

• Single film: £9 (£6 conc.)
  Double bill: £17 (£11 conc.)

About Dry Grasses (Kuru Otlar Üstüne) (15)

• Venue: Poole Lighthouse
• Start time: 6.30pm
• Tickets: £10.95 (£8.75 conc.)

Back to Black (15)

Film plus food option

• Venue: East Burton Village Hall
• Meal start: 7pm (£5 extra on the door)
• Film start: 8.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Oppenheimer (15)

Film plus food option

• Venue: Knoll House Hotel
• Start time: 7pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)
• Meal: Two-course pre-film supper, £25

Saturday 26^th October

The Monk and the Gun (12A)

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (Sing-along) (PG)

Sing-along film plus guest speakers

• Venue: The Mowlem Studio
• Start time: 2.30pm
• Tickets: £12 (£6.50 conc.)

Uproar (12A)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Close Your Eyes (Cerrar los Ojos) (12A)

• Venue: The Lighthouse, Poole
• Start time: 7.30 pm
• Tickets: £10.95 (£8.75 conc.)

The Great Escaper (12A)

• Venue: Corfe Castle Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30 pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

The Holdovers (15)

• Venue: Studland Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30 pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Anatomy of a Fall (Anatomie d’une chute) (15)

• Venue: Bridport Electric Palace
• Start time: 5pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6.50 conc.)

Small Things Like These

Preview

• Venue: Bridport Electric Palace
• Start time: 8pm
• Tickets: £11 (£9 conc.)

Sunday 27^th October

The Old Oak (15)

• Venue: Harman’s Cross Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Evil Does Not Exist (Aku wa sonzai shinai) (12A)

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc)

Fungi: The Web of Life (U)

Film plus guest speaker

• Venue: Carey’s Secret Garden
• Start time: 11am
• Tickets: £10 (£6 conc)

The Biggest Little Farm (PG)

• Venue: Carey’s Secret Garden
• Start time: 2.30pm
• Tickets: £10 (£6 conc)

Slow (15)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

The Rider (15)

• Venue: Stoborough Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50)

Taste of Things (La Passion de Dodin Bouffant) (12A)

• Venue: Bridport Electric Palace
• Start time: 5pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6.50 conc.)

La Chimera (The Impossible Dream) (15)

• Venue: Bridport Electric Palace
• Start time: 8pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6.50 conc.)

Monday 28^th October

Kensuke’s Kingdom (PG)

Film plus recorded intro by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

• Venue: The Mowlem Studio
• Start time: 2.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

The Teachers’ Lounge (Das Lehrerzimmer) (12A)

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Fremont (12A)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Driving Madeleine (Une belle course) (15)

• Venue: Worth Matravers Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc)

Wicked Little Letters (15)

Film plus refreshments option

• Film venue: Sandford Heritage Hall
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Refreshments: 6.15pm at Pine Martin Grange
• Tickets: £8.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Tuesday 29^th October

Babette’s Feast (Babettes Gæstebud) (U)

• Venue: The Mowlem Studio
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Kidnapped – The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara (Rapito) (12A)

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Frances Hodgkins, Anything But A Still Life (NR)

Film plus recorded intro by director Blandine Massiet du Biest

• Venue: Durlston Castle
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £8.50, (£6 conc.)

Empire of Light (15)

• Venue: Harman’s Cross Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Wednesday 30^th October

All We Imagine as Light (15)

Preview

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Exhibition On Screen: John Singer Sargent – Fashion & Swagger (PG)

Film plus Q&A with director David Bickerstaff

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £12, (£6.50 conc.)

All That Breathes (12A)

• Venue: Durlston Castle
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £8.50, (£6 conc.)

Run Lola Run (Lola rennt) (15)

Stunt Special

• Venue: Boscombe Arts Depot
• Start time: 7pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

The Remains of the Day (U)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Creech Grange Country House
• Reception: 2.45pm
• Film start: 3.45pm
• Tickets: £35 (includes prosecco & canapés)

The Duellists (PG)

Film & Canapés

• Venue: Creech Grange Country House
• Reception: 6.30pm
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £35 (includes prosecco & canapés)

Monster Kaibutsu (15)

• Venue: Dorchester Corn Exchange
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7

Anatomy of a Fall (Anatomie d’une Chute) (15)

• Venue: St James’ Church, Kingston
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)
• Refreshments: Bar & refreshments available – proceeds to support church maintenance)

Thursday 31^st October

A Haunting in Venice (12A)

• Venue: Isle of Purbeck Golf Club
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50, (£5.50 conc.)

Horror Night Double Bill at The Mowlem:

Late Night With The Devil (15)

• Start time: 6pm

And:

The Shining (15)

• Start time: 8pm

• Single Film: £9 (£6 conc.)
• Double Bill: £17 (£11 conc.)

Radical (12A)

Rex Gala with Purbeck Gin

• Venue: The Rex
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £12 (includes complimentary glass of G&T)

Like Father, Like Son (PG)

• Venue: Durlston Castle
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £8.50, (£6 conc.)

The Fall Guy (12A)

Stunt Special

• Venue: Carey Hall, Wareham
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc)

Friday 1^st November

Anora (18)

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 4pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

The Critic (15)

Film plus Q&A with director Anand Tucker

• Venue: The Mowlem
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £12 (£6.50 conc.)

Past Lives (12A)

Film plus food option

• Venue: Coombe Keynes Church
• Start time: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)
• Meal: 6.15pm (Korean rice bowl supper available to book with ticket)

Nuts in May (PG)

• Venue: Corfe Castle Village Hall
• Start time: 7.30 pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Saturday 2^nd November

One Life (12A)

Film plus food option

• Venue: Lytchett Matravers Village Hall
• Meal start: 6.15pm (Fish & chip supper available to book with tickets
• Film start: 7.30pm
• Tickets: £7.50 (£5.50 conc.)

Stunt Saturday:

Young Persons’ Stunt Workshop

• Venue: Bovington Memorial Hall
• Timings: 10am – 12pm
• Suitable for: Ages 10 – 16
• Cost: Free

The Train (U)

• Venue: The Mowlem Studio
• Start time: 11am
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Fury (15)

Film plus talk from stunt tank driver Jim Dowdall

• Venue: The Tank Museum, Bovington
• Talk: 2pm
• Film start: 2.30pm
• Ticket: £20 (includes talk, film & entry to Tank Museum)

The Kid Who Would Be King (PG)

Film plus talk from stuntwoman Annabel Canaven

• Venue: The Mowlem Studio
• Talk: 2pm
• Film time: 2.30pm
• Tickets: £9 (£6 conc.)

Stunt Double Bill at The Mowlem:

Hollywood Bulldogs: The Rise and Falls of the Great British Stuntmen (12A)

• Start time: 5pm

Plus:

Stunt Panel: Art of Action

• Timings: 7.30pm – 8pm

And:

Spectre (12A)

• Start time: 8.15pm

• Tickets: £20 (includes both films and stunt panel)

Sunday 3^rd November

The Purbeck Short Film Competition

• 5.30pm – 6.15pm: Focus on Filmmaking: Writers’ Forum
• 7pm – 10.15pm: Main Shorts presentation & awards (including interval for judges’ deliberations)

Purbeck Shorts Competition

Every year, the festival runs an international competition, giving budding filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talent in categories such as animation and live action.

Prizes are awarded at The Mowlem on the last day of the festival.

For more information or to enter visit the competition’s web page: filmfreeway.com/PurbeckFilmFestival

Open-Air Cinema

In addition to the main October festival, there are various outdoor screenings held in the summer at a range of fantastic locations across Purbeck, such as within the grounds of Corfe Castle, The Blue Pool and Durlston Country Park.

It’s a great way to enjoy the warm summer evenings – simply book your ticket, and bring along a blanket and some snacks for a memorable movie night under the stars.

Support the festival

If you want to support the annual PFF film festival you can become a member, sponsor or donate online.

Membership includes an invitation for two people to the festival’s opening gala event, as well as other fun perks. Upgrade to Gold to enjoy two free shows and have your name credited as a supporter.

• Festival member: £35 a year
• Festival Gold member: £165 to sponsor a film
• Buy vouchers: Pick up the perfect present for your film-buff friend by buying PFF vouchers
• Donate online: www.purbeckfilm.com/donate/

The Purbeck Film Festival is a registered charity going from strength to strength thanks to local and filmgoers’ support, and the support of the British Film Institute.