Ralph Fiennes leads an excellent ensemble of new and established talent in this funny and moving First World War drama by beloved writer Alan Bennett.

A Yorkshire village’s choral society finds its ranks depleted as men head off to war. With the annual performance looming, the society is forced to change its entry rules to enlist some unlikely teens and the musically gifted but socially scandalous Dr. Guthrie. Brimming with humour and hope, Bennett and Nicholas Hytner’s (The Madness of King George, The Lady in the Van) latest triumph celebrates the power of community in the darkest of days.

Five years in production, this is the most extensive film ever made about one of the greatest artists of all time – Caravaggio. Featuring masterpiece after masterpiece and with first-hand testimony from the artist himself on the eve of his mysterious death, this beautiful new film reveals Caravaggio as never before.

Multi-award-winning film makers Phil Grabsky and David Bickerstaff delve into the hidden narratives of Caravaggio’s life, piecing together clues embedded within his incredible art. The intriguing self- depictions within his works – sometimes disguised, sometimes in plain sight – offer a rare window into his psyche and personal struggles.

Caravaggio’s masterpieces are some of art’s most instantly recognisable. No one else uses his signature blend of dramatic light, intense naturalism and bold, striking figures. His incredible paintings have captivated audiences for centuries. But there lies a deeper mystery – one that still beckons us to explore. What do these masterpieces reveal about the man behind the brush? Join us as we explore the many clues that help us to finally understand the life – and death – of this remarkable man.

Screening as part of our short Melodrama season.

With the idiosyncratic American fable Harold and Maude, countercultural director Hal Ashby fashioned what would become the cult classic of its era. Working from a script by Colin Higgins, Ashby tells the story of the emotional and romantic bond between a death-obsessed young man (Bud Cort) from a wealthy family and a devil-may-care, bohemian octogenarian (Ruth Gordon). Equal parts gallows humor and romantic innocence, Harold and Maude dissolves the line between darkness and light along with the ones that separate people by class, gender, and age, and it features indelible performances and a remarkable soundtrack by Cat Stevens.

Screening as part of our short Melodrama season and courtesy of funding by the National Lottery and BFI FAN.

Two artists in Walthamstow set out to take their street off the grid, kickstarting a solar-powered energy revolution.

Inspired by lockdown mutual aid initiatives, artist-activists Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn (Bank Job) decided to turn their street into an energy-generating powerhouse – a prototype for a new way of living, with the hope of galvanising a wider push towards sustainable alternatives.

Directed by the duo, Power Station charts their turbulent journey, from pitching the idea to their neighbours and sleeping on the roof of their home to raising finance and launching a bid for a Christmas number one single.

By turns funny and heartwarming, Powell and Edelstyn’s film is a vibrant portrait of their local neighbourhood, and a charming testament to the power of art in changing minds about what could be possible.

The filmmaker Dan Edelstyn will be joining us for a panel discussion after the film along with Deben Climate Centre chaired by Eamonn O'Nolan.

On September 25th 2025 the Riverside was 110 years old.

Our technical assistant, William Caley, has made a new film which looks back through the Riverside archive to when the cinema was built in 1915 and traces our 110 year history, and features a few recently newly filmed interviews with Pat Betts, Stuart Saunders and Tina Wiseman.

Our current manager, Neil, and Technical assistant, Will, have for the past few years been working on researching the cinema’s history and collecting all the material together to make a book (now available from the box office!), and this new documentary film.

Come along and celebrate our exciting and fascinating history for our 110th birthday.