The classic, distinctly beautiful British animated feature film Watership Down, which follows a group of rabbits on a perilous journey to find their own utopia, is back on the big screen again this autumn, the first time in nearly 50 years. A building project threatens the tranquil lives of the wildlife residing in a British woodland area, not least the rabbits who reside in one of the local warrens. Littlest rabbit Fiver, who has a sixth sense, has distressing visions of destruction lying ahead and persuades a small group to join him on what is to be a challenging journey to safety in the halcyon location of Watership Down. Some of Britain’s best-known actors including John Hurt, Richard Briers, Ralph Richardson, Denholm Elliott, Roy Kinnear and Hannah Gordon, brought the rabbits to life and made them eternally memorable.

This thrilling tale of adventure, courage and resilience, one of the greatest of British animations, will continue to enthral new and old audiences alike, and is unmissable on the big screen this autumn in this wonderful new 4K restoration.

From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown’s beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot. The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot—ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling. A powerful story about the discovery of self, a thrilling examination of the bridge between technology and nature and a moving exploration of what it means to be alive and connected to all living things.

With the full festival taking a break this year we still wanted to champion our local talent and introduce new filmmakers to new audiences at The Riverside.

So we’ll be offering an evening of short films from local Suffolk filmmakers or films that have been produced, written by, starring or shot in and around Suffolk, and calling our special event - The Suffolk Connection.

We believe that short films are the future, so come along for an evening of specially selected Suffolk Shorts!

All tickets £5.00

The beauty of cinemas as a cultural hub and gathering place for the community is explored in this touching story set within the aisles of a cinema named Splendor and focusing on three main characters: Jordan, Luigi, and Chantal. Jordan, portrayed by the great Marcello Mastroianni, is an old projectionist who has dedicated his life to the cinema. Luigi, played by Massimo Troisi, is a man who inherits the old theatre and tries to keep it running despite facing financial difficulties and Chantal, portrayed by Marina Vlady, is the woman who both Jordan and Luigi love.

Echoes of Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso flow through the narrative as it presents themes of love, nostalgia, and the passage of time. It reflects on the magic and significance of cinema as a place where dreams and reality intertwine.

Receiving critical acclaim for its heartfelt storytelling and the remarkable performances of its cast, particularly Marcello Mastroianni and Massimo Troisi, Splendor remains a cherished gem among cinephiles and is indeed an ode to the golden age of cinema.

Screening as part of our year-long season - CINEMA ON SCREEN

Deftly fusing the sublime with the ridiculous, this ketamine-fuelled adrenaline ride through the back streets of Belfast sees the most unlikely of figureheads propelled to the front of a movement to preserve their native tongue. In a post-Troubles Belfast, childhood best friends Liam Óg and Naoise find themselves disenfranchised and uninterested in much beyond having a good time. When a chance encounter with a mild-mannered music teacher sparks the creation of the first group to rap in Irish, everything changes. The trio’s anarchic energy and lyrics reflect a resentment felt throughout their runaway train of a following, transforming their anger into a hedonistic rallying cry. Holding the same antipathy for the conventions of the music biopic as it does for colonial legacies, Peppiat’s film overflows with the fearless humour and livewire creativity that fuelled the band’s real-life ascent.

Our Manager Neil’s favourite film of the year so far, and following the screening there will be a pre-recorded interview between Neil and the film’s director, Rich Peppiatt.