A special panel discussion as part of the Playback Film Festival, on the theme of nostalgia, escapism, cinema in crises and how cinema culture has changed. Playback Film Festival was developed and delivered by young people ages 16-25, as part of the Reimagine, Remake, Replay project (RRR).

This discussion was hosted by Michael McConway (RRR Participant and LUMI Programmer), featuring Dr Sam Manning (Film Academic), Leanne Briggs (North Down Museum), Joseph O’Hagan (8 Bit Popcorn Podcast), and Sean Hughes (RRR Participant and LUMI Programmer).

As we begin to ease out of lockdown and have the pleasure of getting back to cinemas after so long, we explore themes of nostalgic cinema, escapism in movies as a response to crises in the past and present, and question how cinema culture has changed during the pandemic. Is the future in streaming services?

Think about why you decide to go to the cinema. Are individual stars a big draw, or the film franchises in which they star? How has cinema etiquette changed since the days of silent film, when neighbours were employed to read the written captions for those who couldn’t read or write and were victims of the half-timer education system? Are we still interpreting films for others through the art of the critique and the podcast?

Join the panel in exploring these debates and celebrating their favourite clips of movies which take them back to a time and place, or a special memory, but which are renowned for their cult flop status.

Created as part of the Reimagine Remake Replay project.

• Reimagine. Remake. Replay.