Widescreen Weekend to kick off with 70mm presentation of Ready Player One

Steven Spielberg's sci-fi cracker Ready Player One has been chosen as the opening-night film for the 23rd annual Widescreen Weekend film festival, screening from a 70mm print.

The festival, which takes place at the Science and Media Museum in Bradford, utilises three screens (including Europe's first IMAX cinema, and the only public Cinerama theatre outside of the US), to deliver a curated four-day programme of screenings, guest talks and special events.

Earlier this year, some details were announced – including a showing of 1965 classic The Sound of Music via a new 70mm print and a Marvel superhero double-bill of Blade (35mm) followed by Black Panther (IMAX 3D). Now the full festival programme has been confirmed.

In addition to Ready Player One on October 10, highlights include a 25th anniversary 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction; a 70mm curved screen outing for West Side Story; and William Wyler's epic Ben-Hur, in a 4K restoration, closing the festival on October 13.

Fans of Cinerama can also get their annual fix with 1958 travelogue South Seas Adventure and Cineramacana, and the festival will have a 50th anniversary moon landing slant, with IMAX screenings of both Ryan Gosling drama First Man and documentary flick Apollo 11.

As usual, many of the presentations will be joined by guest introductions, including film historian Sir Christopher Frayling and Hollywood VFX editor Carin Anne Strohmaier.

Says Widescreen Weekend festival director Kathryn Penny: 'Widescreen Weekend is all about celebrating innovation and all styles of genres in cinema—as long as the films are big and bold. This year offers a huge range of anniversary screenings of classic films, as well as modern titles that make use of the very latest technologies.'

Widescreen Weekend runs from Thursday October 10 to Sunday October 13. Full festival passes are on sale until August 30, with individual tickets going on sale from September 5.

See www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk for more info.

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