Journey Film Club

Directed by Saim Sadiq

Starring Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, Rasti Farooq and Sarwat Gilani

Love. Identity. Family. Freedom.

This September we're screening the internationally acclaimed Joyland, the acclaimed debut feature from director Saim Sadiq.

Set in Lahore, Pakistan, the film follows Haider, a gentle young man living in a traditional extended family. When he secretly takes a job at a local dance theatre, he meets the confident transgender performer Biba. Their unexpected connection sets them on a journey that challenges family expectations, identity and the meaning of happiness.

Winner of the Jury Prize (Un Certain Regard) and the Queer Palm at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Joyland is a powerful and beautifully crafted drama that has captivated audiences around the world with its emotional storytelling and outstanding performances.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of award-winning LGBTQ+ cinema.

Our October screening takes us into mysterious and supernatural territory with Joachim Trier's acclaimed queer coming-of-age thriller Thelma.

The film follows Thelma, a shy young woman who leaves her strict religious upbringing to study at university in Oslo. As she develops feelings for fellow student Anja, she begins experiencing mysterious seizures and discovers that she possesses extraordinary powers.

Atmospheric, unsettling and beautifully shot, Thelma combines supernatural mystery, psychological thriller and LGBTQ+ romance.

A perfect choice for an October evening.

Directed by Céline Sciamma

Starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel

A portrait. A forbidden love. A memory that lasts forever.

Céline Sciamma's breathtaking Portrait of a Lady on Fire is one of the most celebrated LGBTQ+ films of the 21st century.

Set in 18th-century France, the film follows painter Marianne, who is commissioned to paint a portrait of Héloïse, a young woman preparing to leave her home for an arranged marriage.

As Marianne secretly observes Héloïse in order to capture her likeness, a powerful attraction develops between them.

Beautiful, intimate and unforgettable, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a film about love, freedom, art and the memories we carry with us.

DECEMBER

Tangerine (2015)

Thu 17 Dec 2026

Directed by: Sean Baker

Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian and Mickey O’Hagan

Friendship. Revenge. Christmas. Hollywood.

Celebrate the festive season with one of the most vibrant and groundbreaking LGBTQ+ films of the last decade. Set on Christmas Eve in Los Angeles, Tangerine follows Sin-Dee Rella, a transgender sex worker who has just been released from jail. When she discovers her boyfriend and pimp has been cheating on her, she and her best friend Alexandra embark on a wild, funny and unforgettable journey across the streets of Hollywood in search of the truth.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sean Baker, Tangerine was famously shot entirely on iPhone 5S cameras, giving the film an energetic, immersive style that perfectly captures the spirit of its characters and setting. Featuring breakthrough performances from Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, the film received widespread critical acclaim for its authenticity, humour and heartfelt portrayal of friendship and resilience.

Bold, hilarious and deeply moving, Tangerine is a modern LGBTQ+ classic that offers a refreshingly honest and unforgettable Christmas story unlike any other.

DOORS OPEN 6.30PM, FILM START 7PM

£1 ADMISSION, INCLUDES TEA/COFFEE

Boy Erased is a 2018 American biographical drama film inspired by Garrard Conley's memoir of the same name. Written and directed by Joel Edgerton, the film explores the harrowing experiences of Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges), a young man grappling with his identity as the closeted gay son of conservative Baptist parents (Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe). When his sexual orientation is discovered, Jared is pressured into attending a conversion therapy program aimed at "curing" him.

The narrative delves into themes of identity, acceptance, and resilience, shedding light on the controversial practice of conversion therapy. The supporting cast includes Joel Edgerton, who also portrays the program's leader, alongside Joe Alwyn, Xavier Dolan, Troye Sivan, Cherry Jones, and Flea.

A poignant and thought-provoking exploration of familial love and personal authenticity, Boy Erased is both a deeply emotional and socially significant cinematic experience.

Directed by Michael Grandage, My Policeman is a tender and emotionally rich romantic drama set in 1950s Britain, a time when love between men was criminalised.

Starring Harry Styles, Emma Corrin and David Dawson, the film follows three young people whose lives become deeply entwined by love, secrecy and impossible choices.

Tom, a policeman, begins a relationship with schoolteacher Marion, while also conducting a hidden affair with Patrick, a museum curator living cautiously on society’s margins. As the pressures of repression and conformity mount, each character must confront the lasting consequences of the lives they are forced to lead.

Beautifully performed and quietly devastating, My Policeman is a moving exploration of forbidden love, identity and the cost of denying who you truly are.

Directed by Richard Benjamin, Mermaids is a funny, touching and offbeat coming-of-age comedy-drama about family, identity and growing up differently.

Starring Cher, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci, the film follows unconventional single mother Rachel Flax and her two daughters as they move from town to town, never quite settling — or fitting in.

As teenage Charlotte struggles with religion, rebellion and first love, and younger sister Kate watches the world with sharp humour and honesty, Mermaids gently explores themes of motherhood, independence, self-expression and what it really means to belong.

Heartfelt, witty and full of charm, Mermaids is a cult favourite that celebrates imperfect families and finding your own

Birmingham Pride Weekend Screening

Directed by Andrew Haigh

All of Us Strangers is a tender, haunting, and deeply moving queer drama about love, grief, and connection. Starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, the film follows Adam, a lonely screenwriter in modern London, who begins an intimate relationship with his enigmatic neighbour Harry.

As their bond deepens, Adam is drawn back to his childhood home, where he encounters his parents—unchanged since the day they died decades earlier.

Blending romance, memory, and the supernatural, the film explores the profound questions of what it means to love, to lose, and to truly understand oneself. Beautifully acted and emotionally resonant, All of Us Strangers is a meditation on queer identity, family, and longing—a cinematic experience not to be missed.

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

A wickedly funny and visually stunning period drama about power, desire, and manipulation at the court of Queen Anne in 18th-century England.

Starring Olivia Colman in her Oscar-winning role alongside Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, the film follows a ruthless battle for influence as two women compete for the Queen’s affection, revealing a world of ambition, jealousy, and dark humour.

Bold, queer, and gloriously camp, The Favourite reimagines historical drama with a modern edge—celebrating queer desire, female power, and the absurdity of politics and privilege.

Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Shirley Valentine is a heartwarming and witty comedy-drama about self-discovery, friendship, and the courage to follow your own path. Starring the late Pauline Collins as Shirley, a middle-aged housewife whose life feels mundane and unfulfilling.

When she is given the chance to travel to Greece, Shirley embarks on a journey that reignites her zest for life, freedom, and love.

Blending humour, charm, and poignant reflections on family and identity, Shirley Valentine is a timeless story of empowerment, transformation, and the joy of taking chances—a feel-good classic that celebrates life’s unexpected possibilities.

In an age of spoilers, trailers, and endless scrolling, this is your chance to experience cinema the way it was meant to be — completely unknown.

No hints. No synopsis. No expectations.

Just the hush of the room as the lights fade, the flicker of the projector, and a shared moment of discovery as the story unfolds on screen for the very first time.

It could be a cult classic, a hidden gem, or something that takes you entirely by surprise — a film that makes you laugh, cry, or sit in stunned silence as the credits roll.

One night. One film. Zero clues.

Take a seat… and let the mystery begin.