FILM4 Summer Screen open air cinema season begins at London's Somerset House

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Each summer Somerset House hosts London's premier open air cinema in its spectacular 18th century courtyard. Tonight Film4 'Summer Screen' has launched yet another exciting and eclectic line-up of classic, cult and contemporary films, presented on a giant 17 x 8 metre screen with full surround sound.

Over the course of the 12-night programme highlights include the first UK screening of the newly restored digital print of The Birds, introduced by the film’s star Tippi Hedren (Friday 17 August) as part of a special collaboration between Film4 Summer Screen and the BFI’s blockbuster season The Genius of Hitchcock.

There are also three double-bills taking viewers into the early hours, first off there's Director Gaspar Noe’s controversial hallucinogenic epic Enter the Void precedes the block-rockin’ concert film Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think, which had audiences dancing in front of the screen at cinemas earlier this year; the swingin’ 60s meets the sleazy ‘70s as Russ Meyer’s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls comes together with director Paul Thomas Anderson’s porn industry drama Boogie Nights; and popular stars Ray Winstone and Ryan Gosling provide cool heads and safe hands in the cracking crime double-bill Sexy Beast and Drive.

Other films gracing the big-screen at Somerset House this year are director Vittorio de Sica’s masterpiece of Italian neorealism Bicycle Thieves; Francis Ford Coppola’s nightmarish war epic Apocalypse Now; Steven Spielberg’s wild, whip-cracking adventure Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; Molly Ringwald experiencing the pains of high-school romance in the ‘80s classic Pretty in Pink; and Wim Wenders’ haunting drama aris,Texas, with its heartstopping secrets and memorable score by Ry Cooder.

Film4 Channel’s David Cox, who programmes Film4 Summer Screen, said: “The foundation of the Film4 Summer Screen programme has always been classics and cult favourites, to be enjoyed and re-discovered with friends and fellow fans.

"We’re thrilled that this year we’re also able to offer our audience three major premieres – a first for the season. The Watch and Lawless, with their great casts, promise to be two of the most exciting new releases of the year, and we’re particularly proud to be opening with Walter Salles’ On the Road – the first time that a Film4-backed film has had its UK Premiere at Film4 Summer Screen.

"These brand new films perfectly complement the classic titles, making for a line-up we hope will appeal to avid film lovers and casual cinemagoers alike.”

With many screenings already sold out it is worth noting the extra special chance to look 'Behind the Screen' available on selected nights with live introductions prior to the screenings. Entry to Somerset House ahead of the screenings means you will get access to an exclusive area of the courtyard ensuring a great view of the screen.

Following appearances last year by Pedro Almodovar, Alan Rickman and Joe Cornish, these live introduction will once again provide special moments for audiences. In addition, an accompanying programme of insider talks and special events, offering rare opportunities to hear directors, actors and industry experts illuminate the films continues this year with Behind the Screen. Some of this year’s highlights include:
• The Genius of Hitchcock Friday 17 August. Somerset House and the BFI team up to present insights into Britain's most influential and iconic filmmaker.
• A Trip to the Movies Saturday 18 August with Director of Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think, Adam Smith
• Nothing So Strange As Ordinary Folk Tuesday 21 August. In conjunction with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Film4 Summer Screen presents a discussion on realism in British cinema.

Behind the Screen talks ticket prices: £10 (includes glass of wine) Book now to avoid disappointment - Tickets for film screenings and Behind the Screen talks are on sale via www.somersethouse.org.uk or call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1715.

• Film4 Summer Screen runs from 16 – 27 August 2012

Film4 SUMMER SCREEN & BEHIND THE SCREEN SCHEDULE:

Thursday 16 August
21.00 UK Premiere: On the Road

Friday 17 August
19.00 Behind the Screen: The Genius of Hitchcock. Somerset House and the BFI team up to present insights into Britain’s most influential and iconic filmmaker. Tonight’s talk is in association with the BFI Genius of Hitchcock season at BFI Southbank, August – October 2012.
21.00 The Birds

Saturday 18 August
19.00 Behind the Screen: A Trip to the Movies.
A look at how cinema can go beyond rational thought to create experiences unique to the art form. With Adam Smith, director of Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think
21.00 Double-Bill: Enter the Void and Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think

Sunday 19 August
21.00 People’s Premiere: The Watch

Monday 20 August
19.00 Behind the Screen: BAFTA Shorts.
Highlights from 2012 BAFTA nominations for short film and short animation including the live action and animation winners. In association with BAFTA
21.00 Apocalypse Now

Tuesday 21 August
19.00 Behind the Screen: Nothing So Strange As Ordinary Folk.
In conjunction with BAFTA, we present a discussion on realism in British cinema, and how the approach has evolved in recent years, through genre-mixing, formal devices and the demonstration of Britain’s other great historical talent, black humour. In association with BAFTA
21.00 Bicycle Thieves

Wednesday 22 August
19.00 Behind the Screen: The Magic of Paris, Texas. In appreciation of the iconic 80’s film, with a panel of musicians, artists and filmmakers
21.00 Paris, Texas

Thursday 23 August
19.00 Behind the Screen: Film4 Shorts.
A specially curated programme of short films that have emerged through Film4 Productions, responsible for such recent features as Shame and The Iron Lady and this year celebrates its 30th anniversary.
21.00 Pretty in Pink

Friday 24 August
19.00 Behind the Screen: Long Live Cinema!
An examination of the recent rise in rep cinemas, cinema societies, independent programming and the art of the ‘double-bill’
21.00 Double-Bill: Boogie Nights and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

Saturday 25 August
21.00 Double-Bill: Sexy Beast and Drive

Sunday 26 August
21.00 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Monday 27 August
21.00 UK Premiere: Lawless

Film4 Summer Screen
Somerset House, Strand, London WC2 1LA
• For more information visit www.somersethouse.org.uk/film