A sweeping yet deeply intimate portrait of family, inheritance, and the fragile ties that shape identity. When world-renowned but reclusive novelist Andrew Dyer (Bill Nighy) summons his estranged children to New York, the reunion sparks a collision of grief, memory, and long-buried secrets. As the brothers navigate their father’s towering shadow, questions of legacy, love, and belonging rise to the surface with piercing urgency. Anchored by Nighy’s elegant and layered performance, the film is elevated by a remarkable ensemble: George MacKay, Noah Jupe, and Johnny Flynn embody the fractured sons with unflinching vulnerability, capturing the raw ache of rivalry and reconciliation. Imelda Staunton brings depth and warmth as Isabel Platt, a figure who threads together past and present, while Dominic West delivers a quietly riveting turn that hints at hidden truths within the Dyer family. With luminous cinematography and a score that resonates long after the final frame, & Sons is a stirring meditation on the stories we inherit—and the ones we choose to write anew.

From first-time feature director Ronan Day-Lewis comes Anemone, a haunting, resonant exploration of fractured kinship and the trauma that lingers across generations. Co-written with his father, Daniel Day-Lewis, who makes his return to the screen after an eight-year hiatus, this film is as much a personal reckoning as it is a dramatic revelation. Set in the mist-shrouded woods of Northern England, Sean Bean’s Jem ventures from suburban life into the forested isolation of his estranged brother Ray (Day-Lewis), a man burdened by a traumatic past and lost to the world. Their reunion ignites a delicate dance of accusation, remembrance, and the fragile hope of redemption. With painterly cinematography by Ben Fordesman, a taut and lyrical score by Bobby Krlic, and a supporting cast including Samantha Morton and Samuel Bottomley, Anemone is a boldly intimate, emotionally charged drama anchored by Day-Lewis and Bean’s mesmersing performances. A cinematic homecoming and a fearless creation, Anemone probes the chasms between fathers, sons, and brothers with unflinching clarity.

Step inside the thrilling origins of a master filmmaker with Becoming Hitchcock – The Legacy of Blackmail. This captivating documentary revisits Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail (1929), a pivotal film that not only transitioned cinema from its silent origins but also crystallised the stylistic and thematic DNA of Hitchcock’s career. Director Laurent Bouzereau blends rare archival material, insightful commentary, and dynamic visual analysis to reveal how Blackmail became the blueprint for Hitchcock’s suspenseful storytelling. Through a fascinating exploration of both the silent and sound versions, the film highlights the iconic director’s daring experimentation with sound design, editing, and point-of-view. From the unsettling use of subjective perspective to the unforgettable presence of the vulnerable yet resourceful blonde heroine, audiences can trace the early emergence of Hitchcock’s iconic trademarks. Narrated with elegance by esteemed film critic Elvis Mitchell, this is more than a cinematic study, it’s a rediscovery of a film that marked the birth of modern thrillers and offers a front-row seat to the making of a legend.

A heartwarming story that has danced its way into cinema history, Billy Elliot returns to the big screen for its 25th anniversary. Set against the backdrop of the 1984–85 miners’ strike in Northern England, Stephen Daldry’s award-winning film follows 11-year-old Billy, a boy whose world changes the moment he stumbles into a ballet class. What begins as curiosity transforms into a passion that challenges expectations, defies tradition, and sparks a battle between grit and grace. Jamie Bell delivers a breakout performance as Billy, capturing the vulnerability, determination, and joy of a child discovering his true calling. With powerhouse support from Julie Walters and Gary Lewis, and a script penned by Lee Hall, the film remains as inspiring and poignant today as it was upon release in 2000. Celebrated for its uplifting message, striking performances, and unforgettable dance sequences, Billy Elliot is not just about ballet, it’s about courage, identity, and the transformative power of art. Join us in celebrating 25 years of this beloved classic that continues to move audiences worldwide.

Alice White, the sweetheart of London detective Frank Webber, murders in self-defense an artist who brutally attempts to seduce her in his studio. She escapes and returns home. Her distress is aggravated, however, when her fiancé is assigned to the case. Frank realises quite soon that she is somehow involved, and later he learns the truth when Tracy, a shady character who saw Alice come out of the studio, begins to blackmail him.

HITCHCOCK THE BEGINNING RETROSPECTIVE BLACKMAIL Alice White, the sweetheart of London detective Frank Webber, murders in self-defense an artist who brutally attempts to seduce her in his studio. She escapes and returns home. Her distress is aggravated, however, when her fiancé is assigned to the case. Frank realises quite soon that she is somehow involved, and later he learns the truth when Tracy, a shady character who saw Alice come out of the studio, begins to blackmail him. MURDER! Diana Baring, an actress in a touring company, is discovered near the scene of the crime when a woman is found murdered. She is charged with the murder, placed on trial and convicted on circumstantial evidence. However, one of the jurors, Sir John Menier, believes in her innocence and undertakes to prove it.

Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade is a compelling new documentary that captures John Lennon in the extraordinary final decade. It journeys through his post-Beatles years, tracing the triumphs, contradictions, and ambitions that shaped a decade of reinvention. With rare archival footage, candid first-hand accounts, and newly uncovered stories, the film portrays the humanity of Lennon: an artist rediscovering his voice, a dreamer who believed there was “nothing to get hung about,” and an activist urging the world to “give peace a chance.” From the turbulence of his “Lost Weekend” to the serenity of family life in New York, from immigration battles to the optimism of his comeback with Double Fantasy, this documentary paints a vivid portrait of an icon on the cusp of renewal. Both intimate and expansive, it’s a moving reflection on love, legacy, and the passage of time—because, as Lennon once sang, “life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”

HITCHCOCK THE BEGINNING RETROSPECTIVE CHAMPAGNE Betty, the daughter of a millionaire, disagrees with him over a love affair, whereupon he pretends to have lost all his money, making it necessary for her to earn a living. She gets work in a cabaret, where she sells the champagne which her father made his fortune in. Realising he has gone too far, her father tries to extricate Betty from her cabaret entanglements. THE MANXMAN Pete and Phillip have been friends since boyhood in their small island village. Both men admire Kate, daughter of the village innkeeper. Pete goes abroad and is reported drowned. Kate had promised to wait for him, but thinking he is dead she falls in love with Phillip and has an affair with him. Pete returns suspecting nothing and he and Kate are married. But the child she shortly bears afterwards is Phillip’s.

Winner of four Academy Awards®, Chariots of Fire tells the incredible true story of two British runners who are driven to win at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, as they wrestle with issues of pride and conscience. In the class-obsessed and religiously divided United Kingdom of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Meanwhile, Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart Sybil (Alice Krige) in his single-minded quest. Featuring an iconic score by Vangelis, this highly acclaimed story of patriotism, faith and meritocratic success remains much admired over forty years after release.

Christmas Karma is a dazzling new musical reimagining of Charles Dickens’ timeless A Christmas Carol. Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) transports the story into a vibrant, multicultural present-day London, fusing tradition with bold modernity. At its heart is Mr. Sood (Kunal Nayyar), a wealthy British-Indian tycoon whose greed and prejudice blind him to the struggles of those around him. On Christmas Eve, three spectral guides arrive—Eva Longoria as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Billy Porter as the exuberant Present, and Boy George as the chilling Future. Together, they unravel Sood’s hidden wounds, confront his callous choices, and reveal the devastating path he is heading toward. Infused with bhangra beats, gospel harmonies, rap interludes and beloved carols, the film’s soundtrack is as eclectic and heartfelt as its message. With a glittering cast that also includes Hugh Bonneville, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, and Danny Dyer, Christmas Karma is a radiant celebration of identity, redemption, and the power of community spirit.

A storm is coming — and it’s bringing more than snow. Emma Thompson delivers a powerhouse turn in Dead of Winter, UK director Brian Kirk’s icy, nerve-shredding thriller. Barb, a widowed fisherwoman, sets out across the frozen backroads to scatter her husband’s ashes. But when a blizzard cuts her off from help, her solitary journey collides with terror: a kidnapped teenage girl hidden in a remote cabin, guarded by a desperate and volatile couple. What follows is a gripping descent into survival where every gust of wind and creak of wood tightens the noose. Thompson grounds the film with steel and vulnerability, while Judy Greer and Marc Menchaca radiate menace in roles that twist unpredictably. Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb’s script crackles with tension, and Kirk’s stark direction transforms snowbound isolation into a character of its own. Visually striking, emotionally fierce, and utterly relentless, Dead of Winter is not just a thriller — it’s a storm of suspense you’ll feel in your bones long after the end credit rolls.

This compassionate drama from writer-director Paul Andrew Williams, gradually sharpens into a nerve-pricking psychological thriller as the serpentine story unfolds. Andrea Riseborough delivers a transfixing performance as Colleen, a solitary neighbour who steps in to care for Elsie (Brenda Blethyn), an elderly woman fiercely guarding her independence. Their friendship begins with quiet gestures and gentle companionship, yet beneath the surface something darker stirs. As debit cards are exchanged and small boundaries blur, trust becomes uncertain, and an ordinary act of kindness evolves into a tense contest of control. Shot with intimate precision by Vanessa Whyte and underscored by Raffertie’s delicately needling score, the film captures the fragile intersection between care and coercion. Jason Watkins brings steel-edged nuance as Elsie’s wary son, whose suspicions heighten the unease. Williams balances warmth and dread with striking clarity, crafting a story that resonates long after the credits roll. Dragonfly is both a love letter to resilience and a razor-edged portrait of modern loneliness, sparking vital questions about dignity, duty, and the ethics of care.

Step into a delightfully absurd world of class, cricket, and cunning in Fackham Hall — a gleefully irreverent spoof on the grandeur of period drama. In this riotous comedy of manners, lovable pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) insinuates himself into the storied Davenport estate, sparking a forbidden romance with Rose Davenport (Thomasin McKenzie). But as family rivalries bubble and scandals erupt — including a disastrous wedding and a sudden murder — Eric finds himself framed, his future and Rose’s hanging in the balance. With a stellar ensemble cast including Katherine Waterston, Tom Felton, Emma Laird and Damian Lewis, Fackham Hall delights in skewering the rules of aristocratic decorum while still tugging at the heart. Conceived in the spirit of Airplane! and The Naked Gun, it lampoons Downton Abbey-style tropes with rapid-fire wit and affectionate derision. This is Jimmy Carr’s screenwriting debut, and his love for the absurd infuses every line from high tea to low skulduggery. Fackham Hall will leave audiences chuckling behind their gloved hands and eager for another scandal at the manor. Pearl clutching optional.

Winner of the Audience Award at the BFI London Film Festival, this sharp-edged comedy with a beating heart, bursts onto the screen with wit, warmth, and just the right amount of chaos. Edward (James McArdle), a writer on the cusp of international success, is all set for his big U.S. book tour when life pulls the rug out from under him—his beloved mother Alma (the incomparable Fionnula Flanagan) suffers a stroke. Suddenly, Edward is stuck juggling deadlines, doctor’s visits, and the crushing weight of care. But things really spiral when his three best friends skip town for a Pride festival, leaving him with their mothers too. What follows is a whirlwind weekend in Dublin where four wildly different women - sharp, stubborn, hilarious, and heartbreakingly human - collide under one roof. Arguments fly, secrets spill, and unlikely alliances bloom. Directed by Darren Thornton, Four Mothers is a riotous, deeply moving ode to the mess of family, chosen and otherwise. Expect laugh-out-loud clashes, tear-jerking confessions, and a bracing reminder of the love that binds us when everything else falls apart.

Winner of eight Academy Awards®, this epic and acclaimed biographical drama presents major events in the life of Mohandas Gandhi (Ben Kingsley in a career-defining performance), the beloved Indian leader who stood against British rule over his country. After he returns to India from South Africa, lawyer Mohandas Gandhi launches a campaign of protest against Britain's oppressive colonial rule. Dedicated to the concept of non-violent resistance, Gandhi is initially dismissed by English officials, including the influential Lord Irwin (John Gielgud). However, eventually he and his cause become internationally renowned, and his gatherings of passive protest move India towards independence.

Set against the sweeping highlands of Scotland, Glenrothan is a heartfelt drama about roots, reconciliation, and the ties that refuse to be broken. The story follows two estranged brothers who return to their hometown after years apart, each carrying the weight of old conflicts and unspoken regrets. Drawn back by the passing of their father, they find themselves not only confronting family history but also rediscovering the power of community in a place where tradition runs deep. Shot with breathtaking cinematography that captures both the rugged beauty and quiet intimacy of rural life, Glenrothan is as much a love letter to the landscape as it is a stirring human story. The film blends warmth, humour, and poignancy, offering audiences a moving exploration of belonging and forgiveness. This is the directorial debut from Brian Cox, who stars alongside an outstanding ensemble including Alan Cumming, Shirley Henderson, Alexandra Shipp, and Siobhan Redmond. Anchored by a script rich with authenticity, Glenrothan is an evocative journey into the heart of family, memory, and homecoming.

Grow is a spirited British comedy that plants laughter and heart in equal measure. Directed by John McPhail, the film whisks audiences to England’s self-proclaimed “Pumpkin Capital of the World,” where tradition rules and rivalry runs deep. Enter Dinah Little (Golda Rosheuvel), a no-nonsense farmer whose quiet life is upended when her niece Charlie (newcomer Priya-Rose Brookwell) arrives with a knack for making things bloom — especially giant pumpkins. With the help of Arlo, played with lovable chaos by Nick Frost, Charlie throws herself into the village’s fiercely competitive pumpkin contest. What follows is a riot of pumpkin sabotage, midnight garden capers, and community-wide antics that test loyalties and stir long-buried grudges. McPhail infuses the story with playful energy, balancing slapstick with genuine tenderness, while the countryside setting brims with golden harvest colors and rustic charm. At once a cozy small-town romp and a heartfelt tale of family, resilience, and belonging, Grow proves that sometimes the biggest transformations start with the smallest seeds.

1580 England. Impoverished Latin tutor William Shakespeare meets free-spirited Agnes, and the pair, captivated by one another, strike up a torrid affair that leads to marriage and three children. Yet as Will pursues a budding theater career in far-away London, Agnes anchors the domestic sphere alone. When tragedy strikes, the couple’s once-unshakable bond is tested, but their shared experience sets the stage for the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet. From Academy Award® winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider) comes a sensitively observed, magnificently crafted tale about the complexities of love and the healing power of art and creativity. A luminous adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s internationally celebrated novel, Hamnet reframes the story of William Shakespeare through the eyes of his wife, Agnes, portrayed with breathtaking depth by Jessie Buckley, alongside Paul Mescal’s compelling Shakespeare. Having premiered at Telluride before winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hamnet immerses us in the fragile joys and shattering sorrows of family life in 16th-century Stratford.

I Am Martin Parr offers a vibrant and intimate portrait of one of the world’s most celebrated photographers, delivering audiences a rare chance to step inside the colourful lens of his singular vision. Known for his sharp wit, playful irony, and unflinching eye, Martin Parr has spent decades capturing the humour, absurdity, and humanity of everyday life. This documentary takes viewers beyond the iconic images, revealing the man behind the camera, his inspirations, quirks, and relentless curiosity about the modern world. The film blends candid interviews, behind-the-scenes access, and a dazzling archive of Parr’s work to chart his evolution from a young observer of British culture to a global chronicler of consumerism, leisure, and social rituals. At once humorous, provocative, and deeply human, this enduring documentary is as much a meditation on photography as it is a celebration of creativity and observation. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or a newcomer, this film invites you to see the ordinary made extraordinary, all through Martin Parr’s unmistakable eye.

Bold, poignant, and infused with unexpected humor, I Swear tells the extraordinary story of John Davidson, a young man whose life takes a sharp turn in the 1980s when he begins to experience the sudden onset of Tourette syndrome. At a time when the condition was largely unrecognised and misunderstood, John’s world expands in ways that few could imagine. His unfiltered voice, once seen as disruptive, becomes a rallying point for understanding and change, carving out a space where honesty, individuality, and courage shine through. Robert Aramayo embodies John with remarkable energy and depth, capturing the raw humanity of a figure who insists on being heard. Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, and Peter Mullan deliver performances that illuminate the warmth, wit, and resilience that surround him. Kirk Jones directs with a balance of compassion and sharp observation, weaving together moments of laughter and heartbreak into a resonant cinematic experience. I Swear is more than a portrait of one man’s journey, it is a powerful affirmation of identity and the transformative power of voice.

On the striking volcanic coast of Fuerteventura, Islands unfolds as a hypnotic portrait of dislocation, temptation, and moral ambiguity. Tom (Sam Riley), once a promising tennis player, now drifts through life as a resort coach, numbing himself with drink and transient flings while hiding from his past. When a British family—Anne (Stacy Martin), her husband Dave (Jack Farthing), and their young son—arrive under the bright pretense of holiday leisure, Tom is drawn into their seemingly perfect yet fragile world. Hired to guide their excursions and mentor their child, he finds himself both seduced and unsettled by Anne’s allure and the cracks in her marriage. When Dave vanishes without explanation, paradise turns menacing. Shadows of suspicion deepen, loyalties fracture, and Tom’s carefully constructed detachment begins to collapse. With echoes of Patricia Highsmith and Hitchcock, Jan-Ole Gerster transforms sun-soaked landscapes into a stage for simmering dread. Islands is a tense and stylish “vacation noir” that asks how far we will go to escape ourselves.

At 85, John Cleese isn’t easing into retirement - he’s hitting the road in John Cleese Packs It In, a wry, often poignant documentary that accompanies one of his most ambitious undertakings. Over six weeks, Cleese performs 23 shows across 16 European cities in five countries, battling travel chaos, creaking joints, and his own stubborn urge to keep going. But this isn’t simply a performance film, it’s also a backstage glimpse at a comedy legend reckoning with time, legacy, and public expectation. As he reflects on six decades of work—from Cambridge Footlights to Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and A Fish Called Wanda, we see not just the polished icon, but the vulnerabilities beneath: fatigue, doubt, and the occasional absurd indignity of aging in the spotlight. With 90 minutes of intimate access and off-guard moments, John Cleese Packs It In is equal parts tribute and reckoning. Audiences will laugh, maybe wince, and almost certainly be moved, as Cleese confronts the question everyone has: if this is the end of the road, how do you bow out on your own terms? Silly Walks optional.

Step into the emotional heart of Lollipop, a moving new drama that explores resilience, love, and the will to fight for family. Posy Sterling delivers a searing performance as Molly, a young mother freshly released from prison, determined to reunite with her children in foster care. The road is anything but straightforward: every bureaucratic step forces her to prove worthiness while battling a system designed to keep her at arm’s length. Without custody she cannot secure a home, yet without a home she cannot regain custody - a cruel cycle that threatens to undo her resolve. Molly’s path is illuminated by Amina, portrayed with quiet power by Idil Ahmed. More than a friend, Amina becomes an ally and partner in reimagining what survival and motherhood can look like when society closes its doors. Together, they forge creative strategies to confront systemic obstacles, navigating heartbreak with humour, tenderness, and bold defiance. Shot with raw intimacy, Lollipop is an ode to friendship, justice, and the fragile yet unbreakable bonds that define us.

Moss & Freud invites audiences into a rare and electric dialogue between two British icons: supermodel Kate Moss (Ellie Bamber) and master painter Lucian Freud (Derek Jacobi). Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker James Lucas, this lyrical biopic captures the extraordinary nine months in 2002 when an already world-famous Moss becomes Freud’s muse, baring far more than just skin. The couple's collaboration emerges from curiosity and audacity: Freud, long skeptical of celebrity culture, agrees to paint her nude. Over the course of long, nocturnal sessions in his London studio, the two forge a bond that transcends art and challenges them both. While Bamber plays Moss with striking vulnerability and defiance, Jacobi brings gravitas and enigmatic force to Freud. Yet Moss & Freud is not simply the portrait of artist and subject—it is a meditation on identity, intimacy, and the transformative power of creation. With lush period detail, emotional immediacy, and the sensibilities of two creative giants colliding, the film promises a hypnotic journey into revelation and a portrait of an icon reborn.

In a hypnotic folk-horror fever dream set in 1976 Wales, married musicians Darcy (Dev Patel) and Daphne Davenport (Rosy McEwen) forsake London’s noise for a countryside retreat, hoping to channel nature’s hidden voices into their art. When Darcy inadvertently steps into a fairy ring, they unlock a sound beyond comprehension and invite an otherworldly child (Jade Croot) into their home, whose presence may be as benevolent as it is menacing. Darcy begins to descend into obsession, while Daphne unspools her own inner anxieties beneath a calm exterior. Together they are pulled deeper into folklore’s murk, crossing a spectral line between innocence and something more uncanny. Shot on warm 35mm film, the soundscape is constructed around analogue electronics amplifying every rustle, drip, and breath into a shiver of dread. A quietly unnerving chamber piece, Rabbit Trap lingers in the shadows beckoning you to question just how far you’ll go to capture the right note.

What does it mean to search for truth when evidence is uncertain and memory unreliable? Re-Creation boldly confronts this question by re-imagining the aftermath of one of Ireland’s most shocking unsolved crimes: the 1996 murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier at her West Cork holiday home. British journalist Ian Bailey was investigated by Irish authorities but never stood trial in Ireland, though he was convicted in absentia by a French court. Directors Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father) and David Merriman abandon conventional settings to construct a suspended, abstract space where twelve jurors gather to weigh the evidence and imagine the trial that never happened. Within this stark chamber, tensions ignite as testimony is retold, dissected, and disputed. Starring Vicky Krieps, Aidan Gillen, and Colm Meaney in commanding performances, director Sheridan himself appears as foreman, steering jurors through shifting perspectives that challenge not only guilt but the very machinery of justice. Echoing 12 Angry Men yet carving its own path, Re-Creation is courtroom cinema transformed into an intense, riveting psychological reckoning.

HITCHCOCK THE BEGINNING RETROSPECTIVE RICH AND STRANGE Fred and Emily Hill, a happy young married couple, inherit money and decide to take a world cruise. On board ship their new-found fortune goes to their heads; Fred loses most of his money to a fake princess, while Emily also gets involved in an escapade. A shipwreck rekindles their relationship, and they return to the security of England and home, having had their fill of romance and adventure. NUMBER 17 A beautiful woman, member of a gang of thieves, falls in love with a detective, who is tracking her associates. She saves him from death at the hands of the gang and thereafter they must flee from the revenge of her former associates, resulting in a freight train car chase.

A romantic comedy for the 1990s set in the 1590s, Shakespeare in Love imaginatively follows the witty, sexy and timeless tale behind the creation of the greatest love story ever told. A young Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is out of ideas and short of cash. He meets his ideal woman when a lovely noblewoman auditions for a role in his latest comedy, that is being staged before it is written. As they fall into forbidden love, he is inspired to write one of his most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet. Winner of the Academy Award® and BAFTA Award for Best Film, and Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical, Shakespeare in Love features an all-star cast led by Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Step into the dazzling world of Ken Russell’s The Boy Friend (1971), a lavish, tongue-in-cheek homage to the golden age of musicals. Adapted from Sandy Wilson’s hit stage production, the film stars Twiggy in a radiant screen debut as Polly Browne, a shy understudy suddenly thrust into the spotlight when the lead actress collapses. What follows is an exhilarating mix of backstage chaos, soaring fantasy numbers, and affectionate satire of 1920s musical extravaganzas. Russell pulls out all the stops, blending lush art-deco sets, kaleidoscopic costumes, and ingenious choreography that seamlessly oscillates between reality and dream. Twiggy, already a fashion icon, astonishes with her charm and vulnerability, while the ensemble cast delivers irresistible energy and wit. From tap-dancing sailors to Busby Berkeley-inspired spectacles, the film sparkles with spectacle and heart. Both a playful parody and a heartfelt love letter to musical theatre, The Boy Friend celebrates the magic of performance and the courage of an unlikely star.

Winner of seven Academy Awards® and rated an impressive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Bridge on the River Kwai is an epic war drama adapted from the novel by Pierre Bouelle, that was a critical and popular success at the time and now remains an enduring classic. Set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Burma during World War II, it follows a group of British POWs who are forced to build a railway bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. They are oblivious to a plan by British and American intelligence officers who are conspiring to blow up the structure in a daring commando raid through the jungle. However, Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), who supervised the bridge’s construction, has acquired a sense of pride in his creation and tries to foil their plans.

Yorkshire, 1916, as World War I ravages the English countryside and strips small towns of their men, the local choral society faces near collapse. In a move borne of desperation, they turn to Dr. Guthrie (Festival favourite Ralph Fiennes), a formal and exacting choir master recently returned from Germany, to rebuild their singing ranks by recruiting adolescents in place of grown men at war. As Dr. Guthrie pushes these young voices toward a performance of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, the teenagers wrestle with impending conscription, growing up in the shadow of loss, love, and national tension. With original screenplay by Alan Bennett, his first new film script in decades, alongside Fiennes the film stars Roger Allam and Mark Addy. With sweeping landscapes, choral harmonies, and intimate moments of transformation, the film explores the power of community, music, and art to heal in the darkest times. The Choral stands as both dedication and celebration delivering a story of voices raised together, even when separated by war.

Winner of nine Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, the sweeping expanses of the Sahara are the setting for a passionate love affair in this epic adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel. Near the tail-end of World War II, a badly burned plane crash victim, Laszlo de Almasy (Ralph Fiennes), is tended to by a nurse, Hana (Juliette Binoche), in an Italian monastery. His past is revealed through flashbacks involving a married Englishwoman (Kristin Scott Thomas) and his work mapping the African landscape. He recalls tales of adventure, political intrigue, and an involvement in a fateful love affair, and Hana learns to heal her own scars as she helps him.

Spoons at the ready as Every October, the quiet Highland village of Carrbridge transforms into the spirited stage for the World Porridge Making Championship. At the heart of this quirky yet heartfelt contest lies a humble goal: to stir the perfect bowl of oats, water, and salt. In The Golden Spurtle, director Constantine Costi follows competitors from across the globe as they converge with ladles, secrets, and dreams of winning the coveted trophy. This year’s event carries special weight as beloved chieftain Charlie Miller, who has guided the contest for decades, prepares to step down. Through Charlie’s farewell and the devotion of contestants, the film becomes more than a culinary chronicle: it’s a meditation on tradition, community, and the rituals that bind us together. With rustic imagery, wry humour, and a warm, observational lens, The Golden Spurtle captures both the silliness and the sincerity of its subject. A celebration of passion in unlikely places, this is a documentary to savour - comforting, stirring, and unforgettable.

Paul Mescal and Britain’s Josh O’Connor deliver luminous performances in this sweeping, elegiac romance set against the backdrop of early twentieth-century America. Adapted from Ben Shattuck’s celebrated short story, the film follows Lionel (Mescal), a gifted farm-boy with synesthesia (a phenomenon that causes sensory crossovers), and David (O’Connor), a fellow music student he meets at the New England Conservatory in 1917. Their connection deepens through a shared devotion to folk music, yet the onset of World War I pulls them apart with David sent to the front lines and Lionel back to Kentucky. Reunited after the war, the pair embark on a journey through rural Maine, capturing voices and songs on fragile wax cylinders, preserving a vanishing cultural heritage even as their own lives diverge. Crafted with breathtaking restraint, Oliver Hermanus’ film of quiet textures and haunting silences, sees landscapes echo memory and sound itself becomes a vessel of longing. The History of Sound is both an intimate love story and cultural elegy, a tender meditation on music, memory, and the ways love endures through loss.

Winner of 7 BAFTA Awards and 4 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, The King's Speech stars Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce in a drama based on the true story of the man who would become King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George 'Bertie' VI (Firth) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded nervous stammer and considered unfit to be King, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Rush). Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war.

Two estranged friends. Six hundred kilometres. One unforgettable journey. In The North, director Bart Schrijver invites audiences on a breathtaking pilgrimage through the Scottish Highlands, where the raw beauty of the land collides with the unspoken weight of the past. Chris and Lluis, once inseparable, reunite after years apart to tackle the West Highland Way and the Cape Wrath Trail. What begins as a physical challenge soon becomes a test of trust, endurance, and the possibility of reconnection. Shot entirely on location, the film captures the Highlands in all their elemental force, mist curling over ridges, rain sweeping across valleys, silence stretching as wide as the lochs. Performances by Bart Harder and Carles Pulido ground the epic scenery with intimate emotion, their restrained chemistry revealing as much in pauses as in words. A moving blend of adventure and meditation, The North is a cinematic experience for anyone drawn to stories of resilience, friendship, and the healing power of nature.

HITCHCOCK THE BEGINNING RETROSPECTIVE THE RING “One Round” Jack Sanders is a young boxer travelling the country in a fair. He is in love with the cashier, his only ambition being to beat all comers and to make enough money to marry her. A shrewd promoter gives him the job of sparring partner to the heavyweight champion. Jack is jubilant and marries the cashier. Jack discovers she has an affair with the champion, and he challenges him to a fight for her affection. THE FARMER’S WIFE A middle-aged landowner, who after being a widower for five years, decides that the time has come for him to remarry. With the aid of his faithful housekeeper, Araminta, he compiles a list of eligible females and sets off on his journey to make his choice. To his surprise, he is rejected by all of them and plumets into despair, with only the company of Araminta to ease his pain.

HITCHCOCK THE BEGINNING RETROSPECTIVE THE SKIN GAME The Hillcrests are a wealthy family who have held their country estate for many generations and they consider themselves the moral leaders of the community. On learning that the ‘upstart’ Hornblowers seek to dispossess the Jackson family after thirty years of tenure, they enter upon battle in the Jackman defense. JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK Set in Dublin during the Irish Civil War of the early 1920s, this tragicomedy based on Sean O'Casey's play, follows a working-class Irish family who experiences tragedy as they await a large inheritance. They start leading a rich life, forgetting what the most important values are.

When a young father, portrayed with heart-rending vulnerability by Benedict Cumberbatch, loses his wife, the home he shares with his two sons becomes a place heavy with silence. Into that silence bursts an enormous crow - a presence that is loud, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. More than just an intruder, the bird becomes a force that mirrors their grief: sometimes cruel, sometimes comical, and, at unexpected moments, strangely protective. Based on Max Porter’s celebrated novella Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, the film brings the metaphor vividly to life, showing how the crow invades their routines, unsettles their world, and refuses to let them retreat from sorrow. Yet as days unfold, what first feels monstrous becomes a companion of sorts and pushes the family to confront pain, remember love, and discover a way forward. Visually arresting and emotionally resonant, The Thing with Feathers is a powerful exploration of loss that reminds us healing often arrives in the most unexpected of forms.

Twiggy captures the rise of a cultural icon who reshaped beauty, fashion, and fame. In the late 1960s, Twiggy’s striking look, wide eyes, sharp pixie cut, and fearless individuality, catapulted her from London teenager to global phenomenon almost overnight. More than a chronicle of her meteoric career, this is an intimate portrait of a woman learning to navigate the intense spotlight of celebrity while forging her own identity. Directed by Sadie Frost, who previously helmed the documentary Quant (BFF2021), this new work blends rare archival material with vivid storytelling, immersing audiences in the energy of Swinging London and the era’s cultural revolution. Stylish, bold, and emotionally rich, Twiggy offers a fresh perspective on a figure who transformed the way we think about beauty and self-expression. A story of influence, reinvention, and enduring relevance, Twiggy examines not only the image that defined a generation but also the creative drive and resilience behind it.

Written and directed by Harris Dickinson, Urchin is a haunting, compassionate odyssey of survival, redemption, and the fragile architecture of hope. In his bold feature-length directorial debut, Dickinson crafts a visceral social-realist tapestry through the eyes of Mike (Frank Dillane), an unhoused man freshly released from prison who attempts to piece together his fractured life amid indifference and systemic barriers. What unfolds is neither heroic nor sensational but deeply human. As Mike navigates rehab, menial jobs, tenuous relationships, and his own inner demons, moments of dark humor, lyrical surrealism, and cinematic intimacy are revealed. Premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2025, Urchin claimed the FIPRESCI Prize, and Dillane earned the Best Actor award for his luminous, raw performance, cementing the film’s place as one of the year’s most striking discoveries. A lean yet unflinching portrait that resists easy answers while demanding empathy, Urchin heralds Dickinson as an audacious new voice in British cinema and a filmmaker to watch.

This UK co-production features a brilliant ensemble and from the opening frame to its haunting coda, Words of War immerses audiences in the brave and fraught world of investigative journalism under siege. Maxine Peake delivers a fearless, searing performance as Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian reporter who refused to be silenced even as she exposed atrocities in Chechnya. Opposing her stars Ciarán Hinds as Dmitry Muratov, her editor and moral anchor, and Jason Isaacs as her conflicted husband, who watches her rise while fearing its costs. Following Anna’s courageous journey through intimidation, violence, and resistance—poisonings, threats, and state-sanctioned pressure only intensify her conviction. The film interrogates the price of truth in a regime built on fear, asking: when the state commands silence, who dares to speak? Bold in its stakes, intimate in its heartbreak, Words of War is a vital, timely cinematic testament to the power and the peril of bearing witness. This biopic is not just a portrait of one woman’s sacrifice, but a rallying cry for press freedom in perilous times.

Award-winning filmmaker Ferzan Özpetek returns with this Italian box office hit, a joyous and touching tribute to the costume designers and seamstresses whose great craftsmanship bring to life the magic of cinema. Inspired by Özpetek’s personal experience frequenting film and theatre tailoring shops in the 1980s, Diamonds features a dazzling all-star ensemble cast led by Luisa Ranieri (Parthenope IFF24) and Jasmine Trinca (Maria Montessori IFF24), with costumes by designer Stefano Ciammitti. In the present day, Özpetek decides to make a film about women and so gathers his favourite actresses for a lunch and script read-through, which leads to his imagination transporting them into another era. In 1970s Rome, sisters Alberta and Gabriella run a prestigious fashion house, where the noise of the sewing machines fills a workplace populated by women. When an important order arrives from an Oscar-winning costume designer client, challenges arise as the team of talented dressmakers try to fulfill the requirements. Outside and within the atelier, passions, anxieties, and unbreakable bonds intertwine as the line between reality and fiction begins to blur.

In 1949, the Italian city of Naples lies in ruins after the devastation of WWII. Amidst the poverty and rubble-strewn streets of the city, two children, Carmine and Celestina, try to survive as best they can by helping each other. Like so many others, they dream of going to America. After a chance encounter with a steamship’s chef, one night, they secretly stow themselves away on a ship bound for New York to reach Celestina’s sister, who emigrated to America several years earlier. On board, Carmine and Celestina join the many Italian emigrants seeking a new, better life in America. On the run from the Italian purser (Pierfrancesco Favino), the pair eventually arrive in an unknown metropolis, which, after several misadventures, they eventually learn to call home. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini and Tullio Pinelli from the 1980s, Napoli – New York is a compelling and hopeful coming-of-age story about the duality of dreams and disillusionment, the search for identity and the pursuit of a better life.

It’s 2003, and a love story spanning decades has just begun. Bubbly highschooler Miu and quiet senior student Minato dream of a life beyond their sleepy Okinawan town, and when a MiniDisc jumble brings them together, the pair bond over their shared love of music. As they exchange songs romantic sparks fly, and the two start envisioning a life in Tokyo - to the quiet disappointment of Miu’s loyal best friend, Ryūsei. But when Miu follows Minato to Tokyo after graduation, she is soon met by the harsh realities of city life. Being a small fish in the big pond brings its challenges, and unexpected circumstances spur Miu and Minato’s lives in different directions. Fast forward to the present, and Miu’s daughter is left to piece together the untold stories of her mother’s past. Inspired by 366 Nichi, the hit song by Okinawan band HY, this emotionally charged story is one that celebrates the strength of love in all its forms - romantic, familial and platonic. No stranger to the genre, director Takehiko Shinjō’s (And Yet, You Are So Sweet) latest coming-of-age romance is one that many can relate to, with its themes of growth, ambition and having the courage to follow your dreams.

It’s job hunting season and six high-achieving university students make it to the final round of recruitment for the elite tech company, Spirallinks. With over 10,000 competitors behind them, the tension is palpable in the conference room where the finalists receive their last task - a group discussion where they will debate an issue facing the company. From rivals to teammates, the young hopefuls band together and create a study group to prepare for the challenge that will determine their career’s fate. However, an unexpected twist in the hiring process threatens the alliances formed, as dirty secrets are exposed and the students stop at nothing to achieve their final goal - getting hired. True to form, director Yūichi Satō’s (City Hunter) latest work heavily leans into his signature closed-room storytelling style. Based on Akinari Asakura’s wildly popular novel of the same name, Six Lying University Students delivers a high-pressure, suspense-driven drama fraught with manipulation, deceit and a good dose of scandal.

True to his profession, mild-mannered tax office investigator Kumazawa (Seiyō Uchino) is used to living by the book. However, his life as a civil servant is turned upside down when he’s tricked out of his savings by a slick con artist who goes by the name Himuro (Masaki Okada). Humiliated and furious, Kumazawa vows to get revenge until the swindler offers a tantalising deal: Team up, and he’ll help Kumazawa retrieve over one billion yen in unpaid taxes from the corrupt and well-moustached property developer Tachibana (Yukiyoshi Ozawa), in exchange for Himuro’s own freedom. Reluctant at first, Kumazawa’s desire to bring Tachibana to justice proves stronger than his personal grudge against Himuro, and so the swindled begins his training to become the swindler. Together with a ragtag team of eccentric fraudsters they form the Angry Squad, and what begins as a professional sting quickly spirals into something far more personal. Adapted from the hit South Korean drama Squad 38, this feel-good escapade delivers fast-talking tricksters, corporate power plays and an ensemble of lovable outcasts with plenty of tricks up their sleeve. In his latest work, director Shin'ichirō Ueda (One Cut of the Dead), delivers a spirited heist comedy packed with heart, hustle and a not-so-subtle message: don’t mess with civil servants!

Wrongfully accused of a crime, Kakunoshin Yanagida is cast out from his hometown and stripped of his samurai status. Resigned to life in an Edo tenement house with his daughter Okinu, Kakunoshin carves out a meagre living making handcrafted hanko (signature stamps). But when a chance encounter over a game of Go pits him against the unscrupulous merchant Genbee Yorozuya, Kakunoshin is pulled into a world of gambling and debt. For him, Go is no mere pastime - it’s a battlefield where honour itself is at stake. When rumours of the truth behind his exile emerge, Kakunoshin seizes the chance to clear his name and avenge his late wife. But as righteousness collides with reality, it is Okinu who must bear the price of her father’s revenge. Award winning director Kazuya Shiraishi’s (The Blood of Wolves, 2018) first period drama, Bushidō masterfully blends traditional storytelling with contemporary cinematic techniques. Adapted from a famous rakugo (verbal comedy) piece, the story of Bushidō is brought vividly to life by lead actor and former pop idol Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and supported by a compelling performance from Jun Kunimura (Kill Bill: Volume 1, 2003). Rich with the spectacle of traditional festivals and the intensity of samurai duels, Bushidō unfolds a tale of honour, pride and sacrifice, meticulously staged like the ancient game of Go.

Ever wondered what’s going on with the intricate workings inside your body? This live-action take on the hit manga series Cells at Work! reimagines the human body as a bustling metropolis populated by 37 trillion cells. Inside high schooler Niko’s (Mana ASHIDA) body, a hard-working but clumsy red blood cell (Mei NAGANO) frequently loses her way as she eagerly delivers oxygen through the bloodstream. Meanwhile, her battle-hardened counterpart, a white blood cell/Neutrophil (Takeru SATOH), relentlessly hunts down invading bacteria. Alongside trillions of other anthropomorphised cells, this unlikely duo must fight together to protect Niko from foreign threats—one immune system emergency and bacterial invasion at a time! In stark contrast, Niko’s father Shigeru (Sadawo ABE) often gives in to his vices, and his cells constantly battle under the strain of poor habits and stress. Part science lesson and part theme park ride, director Hideki TAKEUCHI ’s (Fly me to the Saitama, THERMAE ROMAE) adaptation artfully injects soul into the seemingly absurd. This surreal comedy is layered with educational themes and cutting sincerity, making for a genuinely touching reminder of the wonders of the human body. Quirky, and over-the-top, Cells at Work! brings to mind Inside Out meets Power Rangers—with a surprisingly high body count!

Matsuoka teaches at a culinary school, but dreams of becoming head chef at a French restaurant. One day, his student Tashiro, complains that he hears a strange sound “like a chime”, which he believes is trying to send him a message. Unperturbed, Matsuoka dismisses the claim and carries on with his routine lesson, until Tashiro’s escalating distress leads to a shocking act that can no longer be ignored. In an attempt to restore a sense of normalcy, Matsuoka turns his attention to his next student, but something is off in his demeanour... As a growing sense of unease seeps into Matsuoka’s daily life, dread and distrust begin to permeate his classroom. Intercut with snapshots of domestic life that hint at an unravelling beneath the surface, Chime offers a warped portrait of the everyday, punctuated by agitation and fear. Created by renowned Japanese horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, 1997), and featuring his signature wide shots, eerie sound design, and a disarming colour palette, Chime is a deceptive story of psychological and moral fracture. Kurosawa masterfully draws terror out of the ordinary, crafting a short, sharp film that cuts straight to the bone. A rare and exquisite thriller that premiered worldwide at the Berlinale Special 2024, Chime’s quiet eeriness lingers long after the final frame.

Disillusioned factory worker Ryōsuke Yoshii (Masaki Suda) rejects the safe path of company promotions in favour of his own side hustle: flipping goods online for a profit under the alias ‘Ratel.’ Through unscrupulous tactics of bullying and manipulation, he buys cheap medical devices, knockoff handbags and other grey market items for a fraction of the price he later resells them for, leaving a trail of angry retailers and dissatisfied customers in his wake. As his business grows, so does the need for space and anonymity. After relocating from the city to a rural lake house with his apathetic girlfriend Akiko (Kotone Furukawa) and hiring a local assistant, Ryōsuke believes he is on the up and up. But as the money rolls in, hostility festers in the digital sphere and danger quietly lurks in the shadows of the internet, waiting for a chance to creep into reality. A modern psychological thriller from renowned horror master Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Cloud uncannily probes the anxieties of technological and social isolation in a capitalist world. Throughout the film, minimalist soundscapes and unnerving cinematography masterfully build an increasing sense of paranoia and threat—hallmarks of Kurosawa’s signature ‘tension to climax’ style. First screened at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, Cloud has garnered global admiration for its introspective and experimental edge. A true Kurosawa thriller, its sustained suspense is punctuated by moments as unpredictable as they are unsettling.

Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, gifted son Kikuo (rising star Ryō Yoshizawa) is taken under the wing of famed kabuki actor Hanjirō Hanai (played by the iconic Ken Watanabe, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai). Alongside the great performer’s only son, Shunsuke (Ryūsei Yokohama), he dedicates his life to the artform—a centuries-old Japanese theatrical tradition known for its costumes, elaborate makeup and innovative stagecraft. Over the ensuing decades, against the backdrop of stunning stagings of classic kabuki tales, the destiny of the two young disciples entwines and twists—from acting school to the most prestigious stages—and their hearts suffer as much yearning, scandal and glory as their onstage alter egos. Only one of them will become the master of the art. Based on the best-selling novel by Shūichi Yoshida, Kokuhō (which translates as 'National Treasure') stormed the Japanese box office in mid-2025, with demand escalating for months on the back of word of mouth, becoming a true cultural phenomenon.

Set in Osaka, the story follows siblings Toshiki and Fumiko, who lost their parents early on. As the older brother, Toshiki promised their late father he would always protect his little sister, Fumiko. Taking on the role of both parent and brother, Toshiki dropped out of high school to work at a local factory to support them both. Now, Fumiko has grown and the day of her wedding is drawing near. As Toshiki watches the happy couple set out to begin a new chapter he can’t help but grumble, all while feeling a sense of relief. He rehearses his speech for Fumiko's big day, when an unsettling thought creeps in: Fumiko holds the memories of a woman who died in an incident. The film is based on the short story Hana Manma, featured in the short story collection of the same name by Minato Shukawa, winner of the prestigious 133rd Naoki Prize. Directing the film is Tetsu Maeda, a director celebrated for his empathetic storytelling and meticulous direction. His films seamlessly weave humor, raw emotion and deeply moving moments—qualities evident in works like And So The Baton Is Passed.

Following the brutal murder of his eight-year-old daughter, Albert (Damien Bonnard) is consumed by thoughts of revenge. Believing his daughter’s death to be linked to a violent organ trafficking network known only as ‘The Circle’, Albert teams up with Sayoko (Kō Shibasaki), a Japanese psychiatrist with a mysterious past. Together, the pair embark on a mission to kidnap and interrogate those they deem responsible. On the surface, Serpent’s Path is a stark tale of vengeance; beneath it lies a web of anxiety and emotional displacement that turns this film into a deeply unsettling psychological thriller. Set in Paris, Serpent’s Path is director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s French-language remake of his own 1998 film by the same name. A bleak descent into human desperation, Serpent’s Path employs Kurosawa’s signature wide shots and static compositions to let violence and tension unfold with slow, dreadful inevitability. In this remake, the supporting lead—originally a male character—is reimagined as Sayoko, whose reserved persona proves even more chilling juxtaposed against the raw anguish of grieving father Arthur. Hauntingly compelling from the first frame, Serpent’s Path drew international acclaim following its screening at the 2024 San Sebastián International Film Festival.

Once the face of the prime time TV program Showtime 7, Shinnosuke Orimoto (Hiroshi Abe) was a national news anchor until mysteriously being forced to step down from his position. Now relegated to a late-night radio gig, the washed-up presenter receives an ominous call from a stranger warning of an imminent bomb threat. Initially dismissing the call as a hoax, Orimoto hangs up... only to witness a deadly blast at a nearby power plant minutes later. As havoc unfolds, Orimoto jumps at the chance to relive his glory days as a newscaster, and steps into the role of negotiator live on the air. But when the incident spirals out of control, Orimoto must tread carefully—or face explosive consequences. With innocent lives on the line, will Orimoto succeed in reclaiming the spotlight, or will his pride be his downfall? Every second matters in this high-stakes action thriller, based on the South Korean box office hit The Terror Live. Featuring a stellar performance by veteran actor Hiroshi Abe, this race against the clock is a wild ride that will have audiences gripped from start to finish.

The year is 2020, and measures against COVID-19 are starting to affect life all over Japan. Masks, temperature checks and constant sanitising are a necessary annoyance – but for one enthusiastic Tokyoite, the ‘new normal’ brings a thrilling opportunity. Leaving behind his life in the city, young salaryman Shinsaku (Masaki SUDA) decides to work remotely and moves to a small town on the Sanriku Coast of Miyagi Prefecture, where he rents an empty house from wary landlord Momoka (Mao INOUE). Surrounded by the stunning nature of Tōhoku, Shinsaku spends his days indulging in his favourite hobby, fishing, and discovering the charm of his new neighbourhood. But as scars from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami remain fresh, can the territorial locals accept him as one of their own? Featuring an all-star cast, this delightful romcom follows Momoka and Shinsaku as they navigate new ground together. With a cast of odd yet lovable locals inhabiting Udahama, it’s hard not to fall in love with this quirky crew as they defend their small fishing town. Heartfelt and authentic, this age-old tale of city meets country offers a glimpse of hope for the future of rural Japan – one full of serendipitous encounters and mouthwatering sashimi.

Akino is a trainee concierge at the Hokkyoku Department Store, an unusual department store that caters exclusively to animals. Under the watchful eyes of the floor manager and senior concierges, Akino runs around to fulfill the wishes of customers with a myriad of needs and problems in her pursuit to become a full-fledged concierge. The film made its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2023 and its North American Premiere in July 2023 at the Fantasia International Film Festival. The film has also been selected and screened at several film festivals worldwide in 2023-2024.