Samira Ahmed Philip French Memorial Lecture

Philip French was Britain’s foremost film critic – well-informed, widely-read, with a deep understanding of the practicalities of filmmaking and a taste for elaborate puns – and legions of readers of his regular reviews in the Observer and essays in Sight and Sound were devoted to his work.

French was educated at Bristol Grammar School, and his first job as a professional journalist was on the Bristol Evening Post. Bristol was important to him in developing his love for and knowledge about cinema and Bristol Ideas and Watershed are delighted to be organising and hosting this annual lecture devoted to his memory.

Hosted by Andrew Kelly (Bristol Ideas).

This event is part of Cinema Rediscovered and Future City Film Festival. Future City Film Festival normally takes place biennially in the autumn but had to be postponed last year due to the pandemic. It will now run through 2022 as a series of special events with the support of the British Film Institute, awarding funds from National Lottery.

Samira Ahmed is an award-winning journalist, writer and broadcaster. She presents the BBC Radio 4’s flagship arts programme Front Row and the weekly BBC One programme Newswatch. Her 2020 BBC4 series, Art of Persia, was the first major Western documentary series to be shot in Iran since the 1979 revolution. Ahmed’s reporting focusses on her fascination with the intersection of popular culture, science, politics and social change. She is on the advisory board of the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, where she introduces screenings at Widescreen Weekend, and regularly interviews filmmakers for the BFI, including Mike Hodges, Jane Fonda and Danny Glover. She has been a regular guest at Cinema Rediscovered since 2017 and has a particular cinematic passion for Westerns and SF.

Booking Information

Ticket prices: £5.00 full price / £3.50 concessions / £2.00 under 24s, refugees and asylum seekers. Concessions apply to Full Time Students, Job Seekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance, 60+ who have retired, Equity and BECTU members and disabled people.

Buy a Cinema Rediscovered Pass: this allows you to select from 50+ Cinema Rediscovered screenings/events between Wed 20 – Sun 24 July subject to availability, conditions apply. Pass prices: £100 full / £80 concessions / £60 under 24s. Pass Holders will also get a free three-month trial and tote bag from curated online film streaming platform MUBI.

Buy a Cinema Rediscovered Multi-Ticket Package: book for 4+ Cinema Rediscovered screenings/events and get 20% off.

Booking is managed by Watershed’s Box Office. Book online or call 0117 927 5100. Please review Watershed’s terms and conditions and Privacy Policy when booking as we do not accept any responsibility or liability for the policies. You can read Bristol Ideas’ Privacy policy here.

Accessibility Information

You can now book wheelchair spaces online. If you would rather speak to Box Office directly to book tickets contact them on 0117 927 5100 or info@watershed.co.uk and they will be happy to help. Watershed offer companion seats without additional charge if required.

• Watershed’s main entrance and Box Office are both on the ground floor which is accessible via a ramped, electronically assisted entrance door.
• There are two Blue Badge parking spaces to the rear of Watershed on Canons Road.
• Guide dogs and hearing dogs are very welcome.
• The first floor of Watershed is accessible via lift from the main entrance and includes level access to all areas, including the cinemas and event spaces.
• The cinemas and event spaces have induction loops.
• There is an accessible toilet (with baby changing facilities) near Cinema 1. Follow the signs for the Cinemas and the accessible toilet is just on your left through the double doors before Cinema 1.
• There are gender neutral toilets in the cinema corridor on the first floor.

Visit Watershed’s Access page for more information.