BFI highlights for July 2025 include seasons dedicated to the cult films of BBC2’s Moviedrome, Hollywood star Dorothy Dandridge, and censored films

Also taking place in July will be REINTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE: THE COOL FLAME. A beautiful, determined and perfectionist movie star at a time when there were few leading roles for Black women in Hollywood, Dorothy Dandridge was modern, dignified and refined – much in contrast to the sexy nightclub routines she was famous for. In 1955 she became the first Black woman to be nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award, for the rebellious CARMEN JONES (1954) before her director and lover Otto Preminger would advise her as a movie star to not take supporting roles. Unfortunately, few leading roles were forthcoming in Hollywood and after taking a break at the peak of her career, Dandridge went on to star in European pictures and smaller productions before dying in 1965 at the age of 42.  This season, programmed by Miriam Bale, shines a light on the diverse range of roles that Dandridge embraced throughout her career, with films playing in July set to include SUN VALLEY SERENADE (H. Bruce Humberstone, 1941), THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS (Phil Brown, Will Jason, 1951), BRIGHT ROAD (Gerald Mayer, 1953), CARMEN JONES (Otto Preminger, 1954), ISLAND IN THE SUN (Robert Rossen, 1957), THE DECKS RAN RED (Andrew L. Stone, 1958), TAMANGO (John Berry, 1958) and MOMENT OF DANGER (László Benedek, 1960), plus INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE aka FACE OF AN ANGEL (Martha Coolidge, 1999), the HBO biopic produced by and starring Halle Berry as Dandridge. 

Elsewhere, FROM CENSORED TO RESTORED invites the viewer to look at censorship across the 20th century, and around the world, through a selection of films that were banned upon release in their countries of production. What was seen elsewhere as an instant classic proved controversial on home soil, being banned outright or boycotted by the media for reasons varying from control of the masses and fear of civil unrest, to political dissent, violence and sex. Censors (and authorities) were responsible for halting filmmakers’ careers for long periods, but these films resurfaced, in some cases decades after being shelved or considered destroyed. They were painstakingly restored by international archives and re-evaluated, proving that censorship does not – and cannot – supress art. The season kicks off on 2 July with a screening of MY GRANDMOTHER (Kote Mikaberidzem, 1929), an anarchic political satire banned in Georgia for almost five decades for its attack on corruption. The screening will be followed by an extended season introduction by curator Giulia Saccogna, who will also lead the 25 & Under Introduction FROM CENSORED TO RESTORED on 7 July when she will share the fascinating histories behind some of the titles, discuss the vital work of archives in restoring the films presented here, and explore the process of bringing restorations of underseen films to new audiences. Other titles playing at BFI Southbank throughout the season will include the UK premieres of 4K restorations of L’ATALANTE (Jean Vigo, 1938) and LE RENDEZ-VOUS DES QUAIS (Paul Carpita, 1953-55), VIRIDIANA (Luis Buñuel, 1961) with an introduction by filmmaker Peter Strickland on 9 July, plus THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928), ACCATTONE (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1961), ANDREI RUBLEV (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1966), THE COW (Dariush Mehrju, 1969), THE EAR (Karel Kachyňa, 1970), THE LONG FAREWELL (Kira Muratova, 1971), THE DUPES (Tewfik Saleh, 1972), SAMBIZANGA (Sarah Maldoror, 1972), A WOMAN ALONE (Agnieszka Holland, 1981) and STARS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT (Ossama Mohammed, 1988). 

Events taking place in July will include the inaugural WE CRIP FILM FESTIVAL from 26-27 July. Formerly known as Busting the Bias, we celebrate Disability Pride Month with a weekend of disabled filmmaking programmed by Charlie Little and Tara Brown, with thanks to Oska Bright. The Opening Night screening on 26 July will be the UK Festival Premiere of DEAF PRESIDENT NOW! (Nyle DiMarco, David Guggenheim, 2025), including a pre-recorded intro from the directors, which follows the revolutionary 1988 student protests at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. – a pivotal moment in Deaf civil rights history, fuelled by a combination of rage, unique protest tactics and determination. Other events across the weekend will include OSKA BRIGHT FILM FESTIVAL: JOYFUL INTERSECTIONS, a collection of films created by and featuring women with learning disabilities and autism, IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ABLEISM, a short film programme that is a vibrant exploration of the ways in which disabled people constantly adapt and resist against ableism, and the festival’s Closing Night offering AN AUDIENCE WITH KYLA HARRIS: CRIPPING THE SCREEN INDUSTRIES, when the award-winning writer, actor, producer and co-chair of We Crip Film Kyla Harris will discuss her richly successful career and life with festival programmer Tara Brown. 

On 6 July we look back at two favourite episodes of PSYCHOVILLE (Matt Lipsey, 2009-2011) and remember the irresistible horror/thriller/comedy show that introduced us to memorable characters such as David and Maureen Sowerbutts, Mr Jelly, Lomax and the Silent Singer, followed by a Q&A with actors Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. The cult classic of the ‘Cool Cymru’ era HUMAN TRAFFIC (Justin Kerrigan, 1999) has been restored in 4K and will play at BFI Southbank on 15 July ahead of its BFI Blu-ray and UHD release on 21 July. An unapologetic celebration of 90s club culture and youthful hedonism, with an unparallelled soundtrack, five Cardiff friends plan a night out to remember, dominated by clubs, drugs, pubs and parties. Meanwhile, a preview of HAPPYEND (Neo Sora, 2024) on 3 July sees a group of charming teenage rebels secretly pursue their passion for early electronic music. Their school – a microcosm of society with prevailing xenophobia, surveillance and authoritarianism – is disturbingly familiar, and Neo Sora’s fictional debut presents a playful yet highly allegorical coming-of-age story set in a near-future Tokyo. LONDON INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL also returns to BFI Southbank from 19-20 July for its 16th year, featuring a rich array of premieres from India and around South Asia, as well as two very special classics including the 8K restoration of Peter Brook’s THE MAHABHARATA (2024), which screens at BFI IMAX. The full programme of films screening at BFI venues will be available on the BFI website and londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk. Finally, MARK KERMODE LIVE IN 3D returns on 14 July. Joined by surprise guests from across the film industry, Kermode explores, critiques and dissects current and upcoming releases, cinematic treasures, industry news and even some guilty pleasures.