Purchase
AMÉLIE (15)
Get (re)acquainted with AMÉLIE as Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Parisian classic returns to cinemas for its 25th anniversary.
23-year-old Amélie is lonely. After an isolating childhood, she moves to Paris and becomes a waitress at the Cafés des Deux Moulins, a bar restaurant filled with a colourful cast of diners and employees. One night, Amélie happens across a box of treasures hidden in her apartment, left by a little boy in the Fifties, that changes the course of her life. Henceforth, she dedicates herself to giving back to her community, tracking down the owner of these keepsakes, consoling a widowed neighbour and befriending a reclusive artist. When completing these good deeds, she crosses paths with Nino, a photobooth collagist who shares her oddball sensibilities, with whom she soon falls in love with…
AMÉLIE is shown in French with English subtitles.
BACKROOMS (15)
One of the defining pieces of internet horror folklore of the last decade, BACKROOMS sees viral creator Kane Parsons expand his hugely influential found-footage nightmare into a feature film for A24 and producer James Wan, starring Renate Reinsve, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mark Duplass.
When a therapist’s patient vanishes through a mysterious doorway hidden beneath a furniture showroom, she follows him into an impossible dimension beyond reality. Endless yellow corridors stretch in every direction, spaces feel eerily abandoned, and the rules of the world begin to collapse. As she searches for answers, the deeper she ventures into the Backrooms, the more uncertain the nature of the threat becomes…
What makes BACKROOMS so unsettling is the precision with which it captures the atmosphere of Parsons’ original work: quiet, empty spaces charged with dread, nostalgia and strange fascination.
Cannes Dogs 2 Zine Launch: THE WOMAN WHO COULD READ THE MINDS OF DOGS (No Rating)
CANNES DOGS, the DOG-FRIENDLY screening series and zine from STUPID CO returns to the Rio Cinema to premiere a brand new edition of the art-book: CANNES DOGS 2: THE POO EDITION alongside a signing, soiree and London Premiere screening of the new film, THE WOMAN WHO COULD READ THE MINDS OF DOGS.
Illustrated by filmmaker/distributor Kyle Greenberg, CANNES DOGS 2: THE POO EDITION picks up where the first CANNES DOGS zine left off, highlighting Palm Dog 2025 award-winners or contenders, a harrowing encounter on the Croisette with film programmer, artist and wine-maker Jeffrey Bowers, a Top 10 Doggo Movie List from Deeper Into Movies, plus a passionate note from filmmaker Ben Petrie (The Heirloom) after seeing his film screen for dogs at the Lumiere Cinema... and more!
All good pups and people welcome! Every ticket includes both the film and the zine! Doors open at 18:10!
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Classic Matinee: JAWS (12A)
For our June Classic Matinee, we dive into blockbuster history with JAWS, Steven Spielberg?s era-defining thriller that forever changed the summer movie season.
When a shark attack rocks the seaside town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody wants to close the beaches, but local officials fear the loss of tourist income. Teaming up with marine biologist Matt Hooper and grizzled fisherman Quint, Brody sets out to hunt the great white responsible. What follows is a masterclass in suspense, with John Williams? iconic score and three unforgettable central performances driving an edge-of-your-seat battle between man and nature. Taut, thrilling and endlessly rewatchable, JAWS remains a cinematic landmark nearly fifty years on.
Classic Matinee is our monthly senior screening, with tickets just ?2.50 for those over 60, plus free tea, coffee and biscuits for all! Screenings are relaxed and accessible, with the lights left partially on throughout and a mid-film intermission. It?s a welcoming chance to socialise and enjoy the full 1930s atmosphere of the Rio, with the circle open for the classic cinema experience.
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Classic Matinee: THE FULL MONTY (15)
For our July Classic Matinee, we?re heading to Sheffield with THE FULL MONTY, the beloved British comedy that strips away pride, prejudice and plenty of inhibitions.
After losing his job at the local steelworks, Gaz is desperate to raise money and prove himself to his young son. Inspired by the success of a touring male dance troupe, he recruits a group of fellow unemployed men to form their own act, promising they?ll go ?the full monty.? What begins as a cheeky scheme becomes a warm and witty story of friendship, vulnerability and working-class resilience, with unforgettable performances from Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy and Tom Wilkinson.
Classic Matinee is our monthly senior screening, with tickets just ?2.50 for those over 60, plus free tea, coffee and biscuits for all! Screenings are relaxed and accessible, with the lights left partially on throughout and a mid-film intermission. It?s a welcoming chance to socialise and enjoy the full 1930s atmosphere of the Rio, with the circle open for the classic cinema experience.
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Cosy Crafts: AMÉLIE (15)
Join us for our first edition of Cosy Crafts, hosted by Matilda Textilez, a relaxed screening where you’re invited to knit, sew or craft while watching a film! With low lighting and no ads or trailers, it’s a calm, communal space to settle in and get making, so please arrive on time and don't forget to bring your crafting materials along!
For our inaugural session we're screening the whimsical Parisian classic AMÉLIE, in honour of it's 25th Anniversary!
23-year-old Amélie is lonely. After an isolating childhood, she moves to Paris and becomes a waitress at the Cafés des Deux Moulins, a bar restaurant filled with a colourful cast of diners and employees. One night, Amélie happens across a box of treasures hidden in her apartment, left by a little boy in the Fifties, that changes the course of her life. Henceforth, she dedicates herself to giving back to her community, tracking down the owner of these keepsakes, consoling a widowed neighbour and befriending a reclusive artist. When completing these good deeds, she crosses paths with Nino, a photobooth collagist who shares her oddball sensibilities, with whom she soon falls in love with…
AMÉLIE is shown in French with English subtitles.
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DIONNE EDWARDS: BOUND on 35mm (18)
RIO FOREVER: DIONNE EDWARDS PRESENTS BOUND ON 35MM
With its scorching soundtrack and astounding performances - particularly from X-Factor star Alexandra Burke - writer-director Dionne Edwards’s Pretty Red Dress is one of the most confident and impressive British feature debuts of the decade so far. As part of our ongoing Rio Forever celebrations, we’re thrilled to invite Dionne to introduce a 35mm print of one of her own favourite films - and another notable debut - the Wachowskis’ boundary-pushing neo-noir thriller Bound.
Something of a headscratcher on its initial release in 1996 - what did a pair of twentysomething Chicago dudes think they were doing, making a movie centring on an explicit lesbian romance? - Bound makes a lot more sense in hindsight, now that the Wachowski Brothers have become Sisters, and have gone on to use the wildly successful career they forged in the wake of Bound’s release to explore themes of identity, gender and self-realisation.
Anchored by a pair of fearless performances from Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon - not to mention a truly irksome turn from future Matrix sleazebag Joe Pantoliano - Bound is a subtly radical statement disguised as a wildly enjoyable popcorn flick.
We’re delighted to welcome Rio Patron Dionne Edwards to the Rio to discuss the film, and its impact on her both personally and creatively.
Post show discussion hosted by Roxy Rezvany.
@roxyrezvany
Roxy Rezvany is a BIFA and London Critics circle nominated writer-director and documentary filmmaker.
RIO FOREVER:
At The Rio, we’re proud to be the UK’s longest-running cinema - a place where films have been screened, shared and loved since 1909. In 2026, we mark 50 years of being run by and for our community, and we’re celebrating with a 6 month-long programme we’re calling RIO FOREVER. Launching in April 2026, RIO FOREVER honours the Rio as a living part of Hackney’s cultural and social history.
We’ll be showcasing what the Rio does best: bold, eclectic programming; archival gems; and gatherings that bring people together. Throughout the year, we’re inviting filmmakers, artists and cultural agitators to dive into our archive of 50 years of cinema programming and choose a title to reintroduce to the public. Each headline screening will act as a fundraiser to help maintain our beautiful, historic building and ensure the Rio remains an inclusive, vibrant, community-run space for generations to come.
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Doc'n Roll x Rio: PARADISE UK Premiere + Q&A (18)
Doc?n Roll presents the UK Premiere of PARADISE (PARA?SO), followed by a Q&A with director Daniel Mota and producers Jo?o Ervedosa and Maria Guedes. This exhilarating documentary dives into Portugal?s early 90s dance music explosion, with raves of epic proportions and a new sound which was then referred to as ?underground house music from a paradise called Portugal?.
Deftly knitted together by director Daniel Mota from never-before-seen VHS archives, home footage and prime-time TV clips, we're dropped us into castle raves, sweat-soaked dancefloors and the heart of decentralised DIY movement that spread far beyond Lisbon and Porto. First-hand interviews with DJs, promoters, dancers and producers map the birth and evolution of a scene built by community, curiosity and euphoria.
More than simply a nostalgia flick, PARADISE is a vivid portrait of cultural revolution and its afterlives. It captures a moment when dance music reshaped identity and possibility, while quietly questioning how nations remember, support or neglect their cultural pioneers. Euphoric, emotional and defiantly independent, this is none other than rave history.
PARADISE is shown in Portuguese and English and is part-subtitled.
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Doc'n Roll: Big Mama Thornton - I Can't Be Anyone But Me + Q&A (18)
The untold story of Big Mama Thornton, the groundbreaking blueswoman
whose voice launched legends, defied conventions, and carved her place
in music history on her own uncompromising terms.
Willie Mae “Big
Mama” Thornton was a towering force in American music for over forty
years. Born in rural Alabama, she defied gender norms with her imposing
stature, masculine dress, and commanding stage presence. “Hound Dog,”
written specifically for her, became a #1 R&B hit in 1952, yet she
struggled for fair recognition in the years that followed. Rediscovered
during the 1960s blues revival, she electrified audiences in the U.S.
and Europe, and her song “Ball & Chain” helped launch Janis Joplin’s
career. Living hard and touring relentlessly, Thornton died at 57,
leaving behind an indelible musical legacy.
This screening is followed by a live Zoom Q&A with the director, Robert Clem.
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HUNGAMA: CACTUS PEARS + Q&A (15)
Hungama presents Cactus Pears Q&A with director, Rohan Kanawade, hosted by Hungama founder, Ryan Lanji.
The internationally acclaimed, queer South Asian feature, Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda),
written and directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, made history at the
Sundance Film Festival in 2025, becoming the first Indian fiction
feature and the first Marathi-language film to win the World Cinema
Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. Further awards include the Jury Prize at the
inaugural SXSW London.
Set in rural Maharashtra, CACTUS PEARS follows Anand, a Mumbai call-centre worker who returns to his ancestral village to observe the ten-day mourning ritual following his father’s death. While navigating the pressures of family expectations and marriage, he reconnects with Balya, a childhood friend facing similar struggles. Over the course of the mourning period, their bond deepens into a tender and intimate relationship, creating a quiet exploration of grief, identity and queer love within a traditional rural community.
CACTUS PEARS will screen with BAFTA-winning short TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE, by Baz Sells.
CACTUS PEARS is shown in Marathi with English subtitles.
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Hackney History Festival presents: EXPLODERS (12A)
A Rio Dalston Premiere
Hackney History Festival presents
EXPLODERS
The story of the Exploding Galaxy
1967 - 1969
A film by Jill Drower
Witness the moment when these flower child
performance artists first hit Dalston
Based on the book, The Exploding Galaxy: Performance Art,
LSD and Bent Coppers in the Sixties Counterculture
Who were the Exploding Galaxy?
Were they.............................
* a hippie ballet troupe?
* a confluence of transmedia activators?
* Britain's answer to anarchy in dance?
* a brave rebuttal of schizoid aesthetics?
See what you think, in the Festival's first ever showing about those galactic activators known as The Exploding Galaxy.
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Hackney History Festival: CAZENOVE WARD STORIES (U)
As part of Hackney History Festival, CAZENOVE WARD STORIES brings together four short documentaries exploring community, memory and local change across Hackney. Spanning archives, oral histories and first-hand testimonies, the programme captures the people, places and organisations that have shaped life in and around Cazenove Ward across decades.
The shorts, directed by Winstan Whitter and Niti Acharya, celebrate the North London Muslim Community Centre, the Boiler House community hall and the ever evolving streets of Dalston and Clapton. Through interviews, photography and local voices, they trace stories of migration, youth, faith, creativity and everyday connection, revealing how communities are built, sustained and remembered.
From wedding portraits and Caribbean nurses to changing high streets and youth-led interviews, CAZENOVE WARD STORIES forms an affectionate portrait of Hackney’s social fabric. Collectively, the films preserve fragments of local history that might otherwise disappear, while reflecting on how communities continue to adapt through generations of cultural and political change.
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Hackney History Festival: Dear Mr Manley + Q&A (U)
“Dear
Mr Manley…” These words begin the hundreds of letters sent from the
trenches of the First World War to Ralph Manley, the dedicated secretary
of Stoke Newington’s Mildmay Club, then known as the Mildmay Radical
Club & Institute.
Discovered
several years ago in the Club’s building, the letters were written by
soldiers thanking Manley for the care parcels of cigarettes and
chocolate he sent them, along with news from home. There were hundreds
of them, all mixed together.
First
catalogued by the Club’s historian and later carefully conserved by the
Mildmay Club Archive Group, the letters offer a raw, emotional and
often humorous glimpse into the lives of Mildmay members who went off to
fight. As researchers began to follow the stories behind the letters, a
fascinating mystery about Mr Manley himself began to emerge.
Following the screening of Dear Mr Manley, a Q and A will be hosted by Research Historian Tony Rich with members of the production team, including the documentary’s writer and director, David Baksh, genealogists, and members of the Mildmay Club Archive Group. The discussion will explore both the uncovering of the story and the process of making the documentary.
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Kino Polonia: ASHES AND DIAMONDS (15)
The story centers on Maciek Chelmicki, a young resistance fighter tasked
with eliminating a high-ranking communist official. After a fatal error
causes innocent people to die, he is forced to confront both the
consequences of his actions and the need to attempt the mission again.
During this time, he becomes emotionally involved with Krystyna, a
bartender at the Hotel Monopol. Their connection awakens in him a desire
for a normal life and makes him reflect on the futility of continued
violence in postwar Poland.
This screening will have no ads and trailers but will include a special introduction before the film.
Organized by Kino Polonia
@kino.polonia
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MARE'S NEST + Q&A (PG)
Responding to a world that seems evermore surreal, disastrous, and doomed by the day, the latest speculative feature from Ben Rivers immerses us into an unsettling natural terrain entirely devoid of adults. We follow a girl called Moon (an astonishing Moon Guo-Barker, then 9 years old), who adventures alone through the uncanny landscapes, encountering a turtle and other children along the way.
The film invokes our present climate catastrophe and human division, and features Don DeLillo’s one-act play “The Word for Snow”. Shot in a tactile mix of colour and B&W Super 16mm, the images we see are supernal, and consistently imbued with wonderment. An important contribution to work made with children and a meaningful exploration of the ways in which stories can be formed, told, and transmitted, Mare’s Nest is all at once a film of plants and animals, of car graveyards and caves, of games and imagination.
This screening will be preceded by a live in-person Q&A with director, Ben Rivers.
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NORTHERN SOUL: STILL BURNING (15)
An exploration of the cultural phenomenon that is Northern Soul, charting how this movement has weaved and transformed itself musically and culturally through the decades. Northern Soul continues to re-invent itself more than any other music genre, remaining as vibrant and relevant today as when it first evolved.
Features exclusive interviews with Richard Searling, Paul Mason, Elaine Constantine, Kev Roberts, Russ Winstanley, David Nathan, Wayne Hemingway, Dave Evison, Keith Gildart, Levanna McLean, Tony Blackburn and many, many more.
ORPHAN (15)
Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker László Nemes (Son of Saul), ORPHAN is a visually stunning historical drama from a true cinematic visionary.
In
1957 Budapest, after the uprising against the Communist regime, a young
Jewish boy, Andor — raised by his mother with idealised tales of his
deceased father — has his world turned upside down when a brutish man
appears, claiming to be his true father.
Channeling
the greatest 20th century neorealist cinema, Nemes’ latest feature
offers a haunting and deeply moving exploration of identity and memory,
tracing the fragile process of rebuilding a sense of self against the
shadow of history.
ORPHAN is shown in Hungarian with English Subtitles.
Pink Palace: Decoder (18)
Pink Palace presents this iconic, rarely seen 80’s sci-fi counter-culture masterpiece, now fully restored. Based (loosely) on the writings of William S. Burroughs (Queer).
"Information is like a bank. Our job is to rob the bank..."
F.M. discovers that different sonic frequencies induce different patterns of behaviour in listeners, first in his own studio but later in the local “H-Burger” restaurant where the passive muzak appears to be wiping people’s emotions.
Aside from leg warmers, MTV and arcade games, the Eighties was a time of searing paranoia, increased surveillance and mutated sex… all reflected in underground cult classics of the era like LIQUID SKY, REPO MAN and CAFE FLESH. This pantheon wouldn’t be complete without DECODER: the masterpiece of German queer punk surrealism.
Co-starring F.M. Einheit (of Einstürzende Neubauten), William Burroughs and the IRL Christiane F., this criminally underseen immersive mood piece blends arresting New Wave visuals, industrial aesthetics, fast-food satire, real-life street protest chaos, a Philip K. Dick-ian sci-fi mindset, vaporwavey liminal space and moments of shocking violence that will destroy you. Buckle up!
Set to a soundtrack or early 80’s electro – Soft Cell, Psychic TV, Einsturzende Neubauten and The The.
Pink Palace is a super low fi highly relaxed weekly queer film club that takes place in the basement bar, its a safe space so come along and catch some queer film and pop culture history, each week the film is introduced by curator Andrew Woodyatt, feel free to stay and chat afterwards, participation is encouraged!
Trailer Link
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Pink Palace: SEXTOOL & SPY ON THE FLY (18)
Its Double Bill time with a pairing of two iconic rarely seen queer vintage underground titles, SEXTOOL directed by Fred Halstead and SPY ON THE FLY, produced by the Gay Girls Riding Club.
SEXTOOL
USA, 1975
57 mins
Fred Halsted was a legend in his own time. His self-created public persona—that of the leather-clad sadist—instantly made him both feared and revered as one of the first openly gay sex symbols. And his taboo-shattering films broke new ground in the gay erotic cinema for their portrayal of sadomasochism and other forms of perversity. These works sent a shockwave throughout the fledgling gay liberation movement and the art establishment alike, leading to their eventual acquisition by the Museum of Modern Art. But despite their significant cultural importance, these films have long been available only in neutered form, if at all.
Altered Innocence and Anus Films are proud to present the first-ever uncut release of Sextool, a ground-breaking and fiercely controversial film, beautifully restored by MoMA.
On its release Sextool was considered too shocking for mainstream arthouse cinemas, but to arty for the porn circuit with its experimental narrative, plot, dialogue and diverse cast ranging from leather daddies, twinks and sex hunters to divine polymorphous non binary characters including early positive representation of trans women. The film has gained a cult following in recent years and we are very excited to show this newly restored gem.
SPY ON THE FLY
USA, 1967
43 mins
Spy on the Fly is a 43-minute James Bond parody produced by the Gay Girls Riding Club (GGRC), a pioneering 1960s LA-based underground queer filmmaking group led by Ray Harrison.
When Agent Fonda Peters meets her tragic demise in a freak hair-dryer accident at Madam Tussaud’s Beauty Salon, Agent 0069 steps in and dons drag to stop stolen atomic bomb plans falling into the wrong hands, by far the most ambitious film by the GGRC featuring campy, high-energy scenes, car chases, groovy nightclubs, sinister opium dens and big hair.
Pink Palace is a super low fi highly relaxed weekly queer film club that takes place in the basement bar, its a safe space so come along and catch some queer film and pop culture history, each week the film is introduced by curator Andrew Woodyatt, feel free to stay and chat afterwards, participation is encouraged!
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Pink Palace: Saturday Night at the Baths (18)
Pink Palace presents a new 4k restoration of this landmark of gay and bisexual cinema.
David Buckley's excursion into bisexuality, 70s relationship politics, and the historical importance of gay bathhouse culture is celebrated in this 1975 film Saturday Night at the Baths. When struggling pianist Michael lands a job at the legendary Continental Baths in NYC, his wife Tracy encourages him, even emphasizes how special this institution is. Michael however struggles with his own homophobia yet at the same time starts developing feelings for his confident and sexually free co-worker Scotti.
“Shot on-location inside the famous Continental Baths and featuring an unforgettable 12-minute scene of the actual entertainment, both musical and sensual alike, the film is a sublime example of the compelling and sensual queer cinema of one of the most ground-breaking periods in gay and bisexual film history.”
Altered Innocence
Pink Palace is a super low fi highly relaxed weekly queer film club that takes place in the basement bar, its a safe space so come along and catch some queer film and pop culture history, each week the film is introduced by curator Andrew Woodyatt, feel free to stay and chat afterwards, participation is encouraged!
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QUEER EAST: WATER EMOJI X5 SHORTS PROGRAMME (18)
In these well-lubricated short films,
water (or lack thereof) becomes a slippery conduit for queer intimacies,
from stolen glances between laundry cycles to sweaty embraces amid a
deadly drought. Across oceans, bathtubs, and bottles of mysterious
yellow liquid, bodies of water big and small ignite fantasy and fear
alike. Staying afloat in rough seas is no easy feat, but having a crush
might just make it worth the ride.
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RIO FOREVER / NEVER EVER: BLOOD AND BONES (18)
BLOOD X BONES
As part of Category H’s late night season Rio Forever/Rio Never Ever, you are invited to an evening of BLOOD and BONES. On Friday the 17th of July at 23:30, see two films which explore the house as a place of horror. Where strange inhabitants commit unspeakable deeds or where past inhabitants can’t quite seem to put their bad habits to rest, even from beyond the grave.
BLOOD (1973), directed by cult filmmaker Andy Milligan, is a sprawling tale of multiple monsters who move into a new home in order to conduct scientific experiments. Led by one Dr Orlofski and his beautiful sunlight hating wife Regina, the monsters attempt to find ways to make their strange family work in a hostile new town. BLOOD plays as a strange melodrama featuring constant injections, arguments and the odd carnivorous plant, creating an entertaining completely one of a kind film. Screening at the Rio for the first time X years, leave any ideas of typical plot development at the door and prepare to be injected with Milligan’s infectious cinematic world.
After a short break, we will return to the cinema for BONES (2001). BONES is a truly original 00s horror film that was sorely overlooked upon release, and which we cannot wait to bring to the Rio Cinema for the first time. Starring Snoop Dogg and featuring Pam Grier, BONES is a ghost story tinged with giallo. Twenty years after his unlawful death, former man of the people Jimmy Bones’s ghost remains haunting his now run down neighborhood. After a group of teenagers acquire his old house and plan to turn it into a nightclub, they accidentally summon his vengeful spirit who is looking to take revenge on those who have ruined his beloved former home. Featuring incredible practical effects and excellent performances, BONES is a film ripe for reappraisal.
Rio Forever/Rio Never Ever is a season curated by Category H horror film club as part of the Rio Cinema’s Rio Forever celebrations. Running from April-November 2026, Rio Forever/Rio Never Ever consists of double bills where one film has been shown at the Rio before, while the other has never graced the cinemas silver screen. Expect unusual pairings and plenty of surprises as we honor the cinema's rich archive, and celebrate our diverse history of late night screenings.
Category H is a late night horror film club programmed by Molly Miles and Scary Claire. Keep up with their screenings on Instagram @categoryhfilms and feel free to message them there with any questions about the screening.
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RIO FOREVER / NEVER EVER: GEMINI SEASON (18)
SISTERS X ALMOST DEAD
Brothers sisters and siblings alike, twins or not come along and celebrate GEMINI SEASON, a late night double bill of SISTERS X ALMOST DEAD. Presented by horror film club Category H as part of their season Rio Forever/Never Ever, this screening takes place Friday the 12th of June, 23:30-late.
First up Brian DePalma's iconic SISTERS (1972). After a reporter witnesses a murder in the apartment opposite hers, she contacts the police but is met with indifference by law enforcement. Frustrated, she decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate the case herself, leading her down a dark rabbit hole and into the underbelly of the world around her. In classic DePalma style, SISTERS pays homage to Hitchcock while incorporating unique directorial choices, such as a split diopter, in order to create a neo-noir horror which oozes with atmosphere.
After a short break, we return to the screen for the incredibly strange ALMOST DEAD (1994). Starring Shannen Doherty (Heathers, Charmed) and Costas Mandylor (Saw franchise), ALMOST DEAD is the bizarre tale of a psychiatrist who specializes in researching twins being haunted by the ghost of her mother. The plot thickens when she enlists the help of a police detective and discovers the body of her mother is missing from its grave. ALMOST DEAD is a descent into madness, with an odd cast of characters and even odder direction choices. A film which defies the boundaries of good cinema, ALMOST DEAD should be a cult classic and is definitely best viewed with an audience. Nearly forgotten to time, Category H could not be prouder to resurrect ALMOST DEAD for our Gemini Season evening!
Rio Forever/Rio Never Ever is a season curated by Category H horror film club as part of the Rio Cinema's Rio Forever celebrations. Running from April-November 2026, Rio Forever/Rio Never Ever consists of double bills where one film has been shown at the Rio before, while the other has never graced the cinemas silver screen. Expect unusual pairings and plenty of surprises as we honor the cinema's rich archive, and celebrate our diverse history of late night screenings.
Category H is a late night horror film club programmed by Molly Miles and Scary Claire. Keep up with their screenings on Instagram @categoryhfilms and feel free to message them there with any questions about the screening.
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RIO FOREVER X QUEER HORROR NIGHTS: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (DIRECTOR’S CUT) (18)
Queer Horror Nights celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the much-loved cult movie musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with a special midnight screening of the radical 2012 Director’s Cut. Join us for an outrageous night of queer monstrosity featuring a passionate intro by film fanatic Token Homo (BAR TRASH), live commentary by cult icon Loose Willis (FIST CLUB), lip-synch by the incredible Miss Terri Boxx (SLAYSTATION), some special guests, and you, singing your queer heart out! This is a ‘costume, kink and fetish-friendly’ event that’s strictly for adults 18+ only.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT
Directed by Frank Oz with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by LGBTQIA+ legend Howard Ashman from their Off-Broadway smash, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986) is a queer cult classic. Our previous Queer Horror Nights screening at The Rio in 2023 sold out incredibly quickly. People said this about it:
"Still scraping myself together after Token Homo’s late-night screening of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, complete with dental drag, freaks on leashes and full-on William Castle-style chicanery. Nobody in London stages shows like this!” and "That was absolutely amazing. I've never had so much fun or felt so at one with an audience. People are singing 'Suddenly Seymour' at bus stops and on the London Overground!”.
Queer Horror Nights is stupidly proud to revive one of our most-loved shows as part of RIO FOREVER, a celebration of both community and cinema itself. The film about a hapless florist and his flesh-eating plant features an iconic cast, monumental songs, several hardcore kinks, and boundary-pushing special FX. Deemed too transgressive at test screenings, the original finale was dramatically re-shot before its 1986 release to create a ‘happy’ heteronormative ending. If movie monsters are the queer disrupters, then the 2012 Director’s Cut is a radical re-edit where queer monstrosity wins, Audrey is the ultimate ally, and Black trans power is plant-based!
This will be an anniversary screening unlike any other as we celebrate two outrageous queer icons.
BRING YOUR FREAK:
Queer Horror Nights is a ‘costume kink and fetish-friendly’ event that’s strictly for adults 18+ only. Come dressed as your favourite horror character or liberate that underused fetish gear from the back of your wardrobe and rubber-up for the show (just cover your bits so we don’t stain the seats…). Changing areas available from open to close. Of course, regular clothes are fine too!
PRE-DRINKS:
Join us in The Rio bar from 22:30+ for pre-drinks and a free souvenir photo.
SHOW TIMES:
23.30 – Costume Competition & Pre-Show
00:00 – LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT
01:45 – Finale + Survivors’ Photo
02:00 – Event Close
// Follow @tokenhomo on IG or visit tokenhomo.com for more #QueerHorrorNights //
RIO FOREVER
At The Rio, we’re proud to be the UK’s longest-running cinema - a place where films have been screened, shared and loved since 1909. In 2026, we mark 50 years of being run by and for our community, and we’re celebrating with a 6 month-long programme we’re calling RIO FOREVER. Launching in April 2026, RIO FOREVER honours the Rio as a living part of Hackney’s cultural and social history.
We’ll be showcasing what the Rio does best: bold, eclectic programming; archival gems; and gatherings that bring people together. Throughout the year, we’re inviting filmmakers, artists and cultural agitators to dive into our archive of 50 years of cinema programming and choose a title to reintroduce to the public. Each headline screening will act as a fundraiser to help maintain our beautiful, historic building and ensure the Rio remains an inclusive, vibrant, community-run space for generations to come.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUILDHOLLYWOOD
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RIO FOREVER: APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR (15)
RIO FOREVER: APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR WITH DESIREE AKHAVAN AND CORRINA ANTROBUS
One of the most vital and entertaining queer films of the century so far, writer-director-actor Desiree Akhavan’s 2014 debut Appropriate Behaviour screens as part of our ongoing Rio Forever celebrations - and we’re thrilled to welcome Akhavan to the Rio to discuss the film in person.
Inspired by events from her own life without being strictly autobiographical, Appropriate Behaviour plays with the familiar conventions of the New York romcom to tell the story of Shirin, a bisexual woman of Iranian descent who, after the breakdown of a relationship, moves into a shared flat and takes a job teaching filmmaking to the children of privileged Brooklynites. Witty, insightful and deeply heartfelt, the film bears comparison with the likes of Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig (not to mention Fleabag), but with a uniquely intimate and quietly radical twist.
It’s our honour to welcome Desiree Akhavan to discuss the film on stage, in conversation with local film writer and Rio board member Corrina Antrobus, author of the wonderful I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist.
RIO FOREVER:
At The Rio, we’re proud to be the UK’s longest-running cinema - a place where films have been screened, shared and loved since 1909. In 2026, we mark 50 years of being run by and for our community, and we’re celebrating with a 6 month-long programme we’re calling RIO FOREVER. Launching in April 2026, RIO FOREVER honours the Rio as a living part of Hackney’s cultural and social history.
We’ll be showcasing what the Rio does best: bold, eclectic programming; archival gems; and gatherings that bring people together. Throughout the year, we’re inviting filmmakers, artists and cultural agitators to dive into our archive of 50 years of cinema programming and choose a title to reintroduce to the public. Each headline screening will act as a fundraiser to help maintain our beautiful, historic building and ensure the Rio remains an inclusive, vibrant, community-run space for generations to come.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUILDHOLLYWOOD
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RIO FOREVER: NEUROSPICY 3 (15)
Neurospicy Is Back!
Prepare to watch amazing brand new short films created by up and coming neurodivergent talent. Featuring Award Winning Short Film 'Meat Puppet' starring BAFTA Winning David Jonsson and many other great shorts! There will also be Q&A with some exciting industry guests Brick & Parvinder Shergill. Get ready to be inspired, moved, and entertained by the unique perspectives showcased on screen. Don't miss out on this exciting gathering of innovative storytellers! This is a safe intersectional screening for neurodiverse creatives and allies to come together and to connect over a love of cinema.
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RIO STAFF SELECTS MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE: LIFE ON THE MURDER SCENE (18)
RIO STAFF SELECTS
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE: LIFE ON THE MURDER SCENE (2006)
As pioneers of emo rock and youth subculture My Chemical Romance embark on a worldwide
tour, come and celebrate the return of 2006 at the Rio Cinema with a screening of the
documentary MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE: LIFE ON THE MURDER SCENE. Screening
Thursday 2nd July, 8:15, in the Rio’s screen one, this is a very rare opportunity to see the
infamous documentation of the band's early touring life on the big screen.
Although their first album, I Brought You My Bullets You Brought Me Your Love, earned them a
cult following, it was My Chemical Romance’s sophomore project, Three Cheers For Sweet
Revenge, which catapulted them to the status of emo icons. With their clearly defined, comic
book and horror film influenced aesthetics, they turned a generation onto the joys of black
eyeliner and angst. Life On The Murder Scene chronicles this turbulent period in the band's rise
to success, both on tour and at home.
Featuring interviews with the band and those closest to them, and with uncompromised access
to their lives, Life On The Murder Scene is essential viewing for any fan of My Chemical
Romance or anyone curious about the emo lifestyle.
This screening of Life On The Murder Scene will include the 2006 documentary in its entirety
alongside a selection of My Chemical Romance music videos. A themed zine and badges will
be available for sale
Life On The Murder scene is curated by Rio staff members Molly Miles (@taxidermybreakfast)
and Leonidas (@leonidas_pxx).
This screening will play with no ads or trailers.
CONTENT NOTES: Life On The Murder Scene contains depictions of alcoholism including two
sequences in which someone is shown vomiting. The film also includes discussions of death,
suicidal ideation, drug use and self harm. There is discussion of needles and a sequence
depicting the use of needles for tattooing. This event is 18+.
ACCESS INFO:
The screening of Life On The Murder Scene will take place in the Rio cinema's Screen 1.
Screen 1 is split into ground floor and circle seats. There is level access to the ground floor
seats and 2 wheelchair spaces available. Circle seats in screen 1 are only accessible by stairs
(up 34 steps). There is a gender neutral accessible toilet on the ground floor just outside Screen
1, and there are also two gender neutral toilets inside screen 1 which are up a short flight of
steps.
ROMERÍA (15)
Marina,
18, orphaned at a young age, must travel to Spain’s Atlantic coast to
obtain a signature for a scholarship application from the paternal
grandparents she has never met. She navigates a sea of new aunts,
uncles, and cousins, uncertain whether she will be embraced or met with
resistance. Stirring long-buried emotions, reviving tenderness, and
uncovering unspoken wounds tied to the past, Marina pieces together the fragmented and often contradictory memories of the parents she barely remembers.
Rose of Nevada (15)
When a fishing boat, the Rose of Nevada, lost with all hands 30 years ago, mysteriously reappears in the old harbour of a forgotten Cornish village, for those who remember, it’s surely a sign. The boat must go out to sea again and maybe then the luck of the devastated village will turn. Young father Nick (George MacKay) needs a job to provide for his family and enigmatic newcomer Liam (Callum Turner) is desperate to escape his past. They join captain Murgey (Francis Magee) and head out to sea. But when they return, satisfied with their haul, something is amiss – they’ve slipped back in time to 1993, and the villagers greet them as if they are the original crew.
Unique among British feature filmmakers for the analogue way in which he crafts his films, all of Jenkin’s features have been shot on 16mm using a Bolex clockwork camera.
Saturday Morning Picture Club: Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG)
The Rio’s beloved and historic Saturday Morning Picture Club returns!
Join us from 10.15am for craft activities, before the film screening at 11am!
This month we’re diving into a witty and wonderfully crafted adventure with Wes Anderson’s FANTASTIC MR FOX. Before the screening, we will have arts and crafts activities in the lobby led by Sophie, who as well as being a member of the Rio team has worked with children as a teacher, party host and afterschool club leader for the past five years.
Mr Fox tries to leave his chicken-stealing past behind, settling into family life with Mrs Fox, Ash and Kristofferson. But when his wild instincts return, he risks everything, bringing the wrath of farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean down on the entire animal community… leading to a daring underground battle of wits, teamwork and survival!
The Picture Club is open to all the family, but the crafts will primarily be aimed at 4 to 10 years.
Suitable for children and families. No unaccompanied adults or children.
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Saturday Morning Picture Club: Spy Kids (U)
The Rio’s beloved and historic Saturday Morning Picture Club returns!
Join us from 10.15am for craft activities, before the film screening at 11am!
This month we’re heading on a high-tech family adventure with SPY KIDS. Before the screening, we will have arts and crafts activities in the lobby led by Sophie, who as well as being a member of the Rio team has worked with children as a teacher, party host and afterschool club leader for the past five years.
When their secret agent parents are kidnapped, siblings Carmen and Juni must step into the world of espionage themselves, using gadgets, teamwork and quick thinking to save the day… leading to an action-packed mission full of thrills, laughs and spy surprises!
The Picture Club is open to all the family, but the crafts will primarily be aimed at 4 to 10 years.
Suitable for children and families. No unaccompanied adults or children.
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Slacker Shakespeare: MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO (15)
Loosely-based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Gus Van Saint’s 1991 movie is a queer classic featuring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves as a pair of gay hustlers who travel from grungy Portland, Oregon to Italy on a journey of sex, drugs and self-discovery.
Screening as part of SLACKER SHAKESPEARE, a season of 1990s indie cult movie classics, inspired by the world of William Shakespeare. These events are part of RIO FOREVER and are sponsored by FIVE POINTS Brewing.
There was far more to the 1990s than Kurt Cobain, Brit Pop and Oasis. Indie cinema boomed and smart movie makers took on the classics, the decade seeing a run of original, outrageous and brilliantly subversive adaptations of William Shakespeare’s plays, and films inspired by his works. Think Romeo at a rave, Miranda in Ibiza, Ophelia on prozac, Hamlet hanging loose, Barditry in a beanie hats, and Shakespeare as a slacker in a plaid shirt and converse and the action coming out of Silverlake rather than Stratford Upon Avon...
This screening is introduced by season curator, author and cultural commentator Travis Elborough.
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Slacker Shakespeare: SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (15)
This fast-moving rom com set in London in 1593 follows the trials and tribulations of Will Shakespeare, a struggling young playwright, suffering from a dreadful bout of writer’s block. Inspired by new love, his creative powers are unleashed as his great love story, Romeo and Juliet is brought to life for the first time.
Screening as part of SLACKER SHAKESPEARE, a season of 1990s indie
cult movie classics, inspired by the world of William Shakespeare. These
events are part of RIO FOREVER and are sponsored by FIVE POINTS
Brewing.
There was far more to the 1990s than
Kurt Cobain, Brit Pop and Oasis. Indie cinema boomed and smart movie
makers took on the classics, the decade seeing a run of original,
outrageous and brilliantly subversive adaptations of William
Shakespeare’s plays, and films inspired by his works. Think Romeo at a
rave, Miranda in Ibiza, Ophelia on prozac, Hamlet hanging loose,
Barditry in a beanie hats, and Shakespeare as a slacker in a plaid shirt
and converse and the action coming out of Silverlake rather than
Stratford Upon Avon...
This screening is introduced by season curator, author and cultural commentator Travis Elborough.
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Slacker Shakespeare: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET (12A)
Baz Luhrmann’s gloriously over the top modern day adaptation of Shakespeare’s greatest romantic tragedy, reimagined the feuding Montague and Capulets as rival street gangs in Veracruz. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the star-crossed lovers and a soundtrack featuring Garbage and The Cardigans, it remains one of the liveliest takes on the classic ever made.
Screening as part of SLACKER SHAKESPEARE, a season of 1990s indie
cult movie classics, inspired by the world of William Shakespeare. These
events are part of RIO FOREVER and are sponsored by FIVE POINTS
Brewing.
There was far more to the 1990s than
Kurt Cobain, Brit Pop and Oasis. Indie cinema boomed and smart movie
makers took on the classics, the decade seeing a run of original,
outrageous and brilliantly subversive adaptations of William
Shakespeare’s plays, and films inspired by his works. Think Romeo at a
rave, Miranda in Ibiza, Ophelia on prozac, Hamlet hanging loose,
Barditry in a beanie hats, and Shakespeare as a slacker in a plaid shirt
and converse and the action coming out of Silverlake rather than
Stratford Upon Avon...
This screening is introduced by season curator, author and cultural commentator Travis Elborough.
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THE CHRISTOPHERS (15)
What
is the value of art? Does it reside in personal expression? Cultural
longevity? Financial worth? These questions fuel this gloriously
entertaining comedy, directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed
Solomon.
A
mainstay of the London art scene since his starry breakout in the
creative explosion of the 1960’s, Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen) has
drifted into a cluttered, self-imposed seclusion. His two estranged
children (James Corden, Jessica Gunning) enlist Lori (Michaela Coel), a
young painter and sometime-forger, to pose as a prospective assistant
and gain access to a fabled series of unfinished canvases Julian has
buried deep in his home studio, in a deceptive bid to secure an
inheritance for themselves.
????
"Another
exhilarating late-career opportunity for McKellen to really bare teeth,
but this time he has a script that's actually able to match him"
The Guardian
????
"McKellen's
show - he's having such a fantastic time that the results are as
thrilllingly visceral as if we're in a theatre watching him perform
live"
Time Out
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (12A)
Almost twenty years after making their iconic turns as Miranda, Andy, Emily and Nigel—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2006 phenomenon that defined a generation. The film reunites the original main cast with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, and introduces an all-new runway of characters including Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B.J. Novak and Conrad Ricamora. Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman also reprise their roles as “Lily” and “Irv” from the first film. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 is produced by Wendy Finerman, and executive produced by Michael Bederman, Karen Rosenfelt and McKenna. The film debuts exclusively in cinemas May 1, 2026.
VARDA FILM CLUB: THE BEACHES OF AGNÈS + Intro (18)
The Varda Film Club are happy to announce an extra special screening of THE BEACHES OF AGNÉS featuring a guest appearance by Rosalie Varda,
Agnès Varda’s daughter.
Revisiting the beaches from her earlier life, Agnès Varda relives and
narrates her life and career through a mirage of imagery and
experimentation, utilising her playful approach to explore and
appreciate the beauty of film with a joie de vivre. Originally believed
to be one of her last films, this auto-portrait documentary explores
Varda’s personal philosophy and captures her on her 80th birthday.
This special screening includes an introduction by Rosalie Varda, the
daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Agnès Varda.
Please note there will be no ads or trailers for this event, so please
arrive on time.
THE BEACHES OF AGNÉS will be screened in French with English subtitles.
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Varda Film Club: FACES PLACES + Q&A (12A)
The Varda Film Club are happy to announce an extra special screening of
Faces, Places featuring a guest appearance by Rosalie Varda, Agnès
Varda’s daughter.
Agnès Varda teams up with artist and photographer JR to tour rural
France, photographing the people they connect with along the way, and
creating large-scale murals of their new friends, leaving a lasting
impression on them and their communities. It’s not one to be missed on
the big screen.
Originally screened at 2017 Cannes Film Festival, this documentary went
on to receive critical acclaim, taking home the L'Œil d'or award for
best documentary at the festival. It went to gain a nomination from the
Academy Awards for Best Documentary.
This special screening includes an introduction by Rosalie Varda, the
daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Agnès Varda and producer of FACES PLACES, followed by an Q&A hosted by Bells Kennedy-Compston, the
founder of the Varda Film Club.
Please note there will be no ads or trailers for this event, so please
arrive on time.
FACES PLACES will be screened in French with English subtitles.
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Wesley Gonzalez, Dana Gavanski & Clementine March at RIO CINEMA (18)
Velcro Flats present a DAYTIME SHOW (1.30pm-5pm) at Dalston's beautiful Rio Cinema
Wesley Gonzalez, Dana Gavanski & Clementine March
DAYTIME SHOW 1.30pm - 5pm
1.30pm - Doors
2.15pm - 2.45pm - Clementine March
3.00pm - 3.30pm Dana Gavinski
3.45pm- 4.30pm Wesley Gonzalez?
5 pm - Close
Wesley Gonzalez launches his new single 'Red Pilled and Based' at Dalston's Rio Cinema with a daytime performance of new material accompanied by Rose Elinor Dougall, Graham Coxon, Callum Duffy and Gwen Reed. also on the bill is Canadian singer-songwriter Dana Gavinski signed to Full Time Hobby Records, Dana will be playing with a small band working on new material and performing songs from her 3 acclaimed solo albums.French Singer Songwriter Clementine March rounds out the lineup who has just released their fantastic second album 'Powder Keg' on PRAH recordings.
Wesley Gonzalez
'Red Pilled & Based' is the new single by Wesley Gonzalez his first solo outing since 2024's Wax Limousine, recorded and produced by Wesley Gonzalez at home studio. 'Red Pilled & Based' see's Gonzalez write from the mindset of a looksmaxxer, taking anabolic steroids and smashing his own face in to be more appealing to the opposite sex, consuming right wing content hellbent on programming him to believe he is of the greater gender.
Musically Wesley has strayed from the maximalist art-pop of previous solo albums and kept things very simple mainly written on a small scale nylon string guitar with backing throughout from Gwen Reed on double bass and Callum Duffy on piano as well asThe Waeve's Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougal. focusing on the song rather than focussing on production. The instrumentation harks back to American singer-songwriters like Fred Neil, Karen Dalton and Judee Sill whilst juxtaposing lyrical influence from the likes of Vic Chesnutt, Mark E Smith and David Berman. Gonzalez focuses on writing that doesn't sacrifice reality for the sake of ease of listening, does not patronise the listener with saccharine whimsy and most importantly doesn’t write ANY songs about parenthood.
https://wesleygonzalez.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.instagram.com/wesleypatrickgonzalez/
Dana Gavinski
Born in Vancouver to a Serbian family, but relocating to Montreal to attend university, Dana Gavanski originally planned to pursue a career in film. However, she shifted her attention back to music when her then ex-partner left her his guitar before moving to NYC.
In 2019, Dana signed with Full Time Hobby and released two 7" singles ("One By One", "Catch") and announced her debut album "Yesterday Is Gone", a co-production between Sam Gleason, Tunng's Mike Lindsay and Dana herself. The critically acclaimed album was released in March 2020, followed by an EP of covers titled "Wind Songs", released in August of the same year.
Dana's second album "When It Comes" was released in April 2022, followed by headline tours around UK, Europe and north America, and was followed by third album LATE SLAP, released in April 2024.
In the time since then, Dana has been busy working on new material. Returning back to her studio, this time around she took to writing songs on the upright piano - the products of which make up her March 2025 EP, Again Again.
https://danagavanskifth.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/danagavanski
Clementine March
French/British alt pop singer songwriter Clémentine March just released her third album ‘Powder Keg’ on PRAH Recordings. Influenced by Brazilian music, indie rock and Robert Wyatt, her music draws a map between the regions of the world where she lived.
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Women from Hackney's History Premiere + Panel (U)
A moving new film commissioned by the Hackney Society to bring to life
eleven women from Hackney's past whose stories are featured in our Women
from Hackney’s History, books 1 and 2. Hackney-based filmmaker Barney
Snow, worked with Nina Sprigge, the Tower Theatre and editor Sue Doe and
filmed in many Hackney locations. Premiering on International Women’s
Day, the film spans nearly three centuries, from 1670 to the mid-20th
century, celebrating pioneers, reformers and trailblazers who helped
shape the borough, including Clara Ludski who founded the Rio cinema.
This is a tribute to the women of Hackney’s past, connecting their
legacy to the women of its present and future.
Screening will be followed by a panel discussion between Barney Snow,
Nina Sprigge, Sue Doe and actors from the film, followed by a general
Q&A and an opportunity to buy copies of the books the film is based
on.
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