Winter Warmers

Christmas, as the ads since early November have kindly brought to our attention, is here. Fully embracing the importance of seasonal films for all ages, cinema across the country are bringing festive movies old and new to screens for everyone from small to senior.

Christmas, as the ads since early November have kindly brought to our attention, is here. Fully embracing the importance of seasonal films for all ages, cinema across the country are bringing festive movies old and new to screens for everyone from small to senior.

For the more extreme of dedicated cinema goers, Mayfair’s swanky Hush Brasserie is putting on a series of the season’s finest feature lengths in its courtyard this December. Whether you’re dancing round number 10 with Hugh Grant in Love Actually or running down your high street like Jimmy Stewart circa It’s A Wonderful Life, the programme runs until Saturday the 17th and comes with blankets, cocktails and an equally swish popcorn menu. Book your tickets here

Pop up favourites Nomad will be bringing its infamous travelling screen to the shelter of Whiteley’s Shopping Centre in Queensway, London, for a series of arguably not so festival but still very brilliant films for a more varied audience. Ranging from Phsycho to Toy Story 3, shoppers can congregate to enjoy a diverse cinematic experience throughout early December. Tickets and further details here.

A decent supply of tissues should be to hand for this screening as the Warwick Arts Centre plays The Snowman as part of its Raymond Briggs evening. This beautiful slice of animation will be making grown ups well up on December 17th, with luckily his equally charming Father Christmas following straight after for a little comic relief. Buy your tickets and brace yourself here.

The trusty BFI will be bleeding colour and festive joy this year as it’s seasons of MGM musicals and Dickens adaptations meeingt head on with a few Crimbo classics thrown in for good measure. It’s a Wonderful Life will be shown throughout most of the month, as well as classic singalongs like Meet Me In St Louis and Singin’ In The Rain, whilst the Dickens season spans everything from Oliver to the rather relevant Muppets Christmas Carol. Find information about all BFI events at their site.

If you happen to be around Middlesbrough way during this chilly month their Winter festival have got it spot on for proper family Christmas films, showing The Grinch, Home Alone and White Christmas on a large screen in the Centre Square. Thrusting a festive finger to the British climate the screening will be outdoors so blankets are recommended should the sense of community fail to keep you warm. Full details of the festival are shown here.

The lovely Jersey Arts centre is indulging in a little seasonal good will by putting on a weekend of free films for residents and visitors alike. The muppets are back but Polar Express will be featured as well as the debatable Jingle All the Way and the giggly British Nativity starring Martin Freeman. Films are free but you have to book in advance, and you can do so here.

With a bulging sack of cinema offerings still to come, we’ll be bringing a second dishing up of national events shortly.