This month saw the 93rd MK3D, our 5th at the IMAX. Mark welcomed five fantastic guests to discuss their work and some exciting upcoming films.

Mark got the show off to a brilliant start by welcoming his first two guests, writer-director Janis Pugh and actress Louise Brealey, to talk about their new feature, Chuck Chuck Baby, released this Friday, 19th July. Describing the film as ‘Ken Loach meets La La Land’, and ‘a love story chicken factory musical’, they talk about the gritty, human love story that’s at the heart of the film, about working class women in the movies, never doing more than three takes of any scene, and securing that Neil Diamond song. Janis also talked about the film that influenced her, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, and Louise talked about her Guilty Pleasure, Flash Gordon.

Next, Mark welcomed the wonderful writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce to discuss Kensuke’s Kingdom, the animated feature based on the Michael Morpurgo classic, which is out on 2nd August. It unites two characters who are very different, but work to find common ground. He discussed the joys and challenges of adapting the book, and about opting for minimal dialogue in the film to produce a powerful story. He made an eloquent point about human nature being essentially good, a much-needed, important reminder. One of the films that influenced him to use visual narrative rather than dialogue was Hitchcock’s Notorious – a sequence involving a key is a classic example of economical storytelling.

Star Morfydd Clark joined Mark on stage to discuss upcoming folk horror film Starve Acre, releasing on 6th September. Morfydd shared some brilliant insights into the filming process, the atmosphere of the film set, and the hilarity of the torrential rainfall that accompanied each one of Matt Smith’s outdoor takes. She reflected on being cast in horror films, including in Saint Maud – and her early love as a three-year old of The Secret Garden, which influenced her to act. She also talked about playing Galadriel in The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power, and her onstage roles coming up at the Almeida theatre in Roots and Look Back in Anger.

Finally, Mark welcomed actor-director Chiwetel Ejiofor onto the show to talk about his second feature Rob Peace, due to release this autumn. Chiwetel talked about the real story of Rob Peace and the process of researching and creating a film about a real person. He also shared some amusing insights into the challenges that come with working as both an actor and director on the film – just when exactly do you say cut?

The thread that combined these films were their central themes: love, community, family, background, class, parenting, social care, social mobility – and humour. But mostly love of cinema, love of stories and love of humanity. Thanks to all our guests and to the great team that pulls the show together, at the BFI and with HLA.

This month saw the 92nd MK3D, our 4th at the IMAX. Mark welcomed four brilliant guests to the stage to discuss their careers and some exciting new films.

The show began with Mark’s Here’s The Thing segment, where he talked about his trip to the Midnight Sun Festival in Sodankylä, Finland and performing with The Dodge Brothers. He also flagged up the launch of the London Soundtrack Festival to be held 19–26 March 2025.

Mark then welcomed his first guest onto the show, the legendary cinematographer Robbie Ryan. Robbie talked about working on Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness, which is due to be released on 28 June 2024. Robbie spoke about his and Lanthimos’ shared love of working with celluloid, and reflected on his past collaborations with directors including Ken Loach and Andrea Arnold.

Next, the brilliant producer and writer-director Rachel Ramsay was welcomed onto the stage to discuss her documentary on the little known women’s World Cup, Copa 71, which she co-directed with James Erskine. Rachel spoke about capturing the collective experience of the women in her film and the ethical considerations involved in documentary-making. Rachel also talked about the technical side of making Copa 71, including working with silent archival footage and building the sound from scratch. Copa 71 and is available to stream.

Finally, Mark welcomed legendary, multiple oscar-winning film editor and sound designer Walter Murch onto the stage. His documentary, Her Name Was Moviola, which premiered at Sheffield DocFest, is a record of the celluloid film editing process, and Walter spoke about how he sees editing and sound design as two sides of the same coin.

Then the discussion moved onto The Conversation, which is re-released this month in restored 4k for its 50th anniversary. Two months ago, sound designer Johnnie Burn cited Murch’s work on this film as a seminal influence on his carieer, and we invited Johnnie back onto the show to join Mark and Walter in conversation about, well, The Conversation. Johnnie talked about the importance of sound in conveying the psychological state of the characters and about how Walter’s influence translated into his own work on sound in his films with Yorgos Lanthimos.

All in all, another great HLA Agency production by Hedda Archbold with Charlotte Matheson, Nick Jones and Jade Evans. Thanks to the BFI’s Matt Noble and Josh Glen for making it all run so smoothly. And of course, to Julie Edwards Photography for the fabulous photographs.

At the 91st MK3D show and the third in the BFI IMAX, Mark welcomed three stellar guests onto the show to discuss some exciting upcoming releases.

Mark opened the show by welcoming iconic director Richard Linklater, whose highly-anticipated Hit Man comes to Netflix on 7th June 2024 and is in cinemas now. Richard talked about his easy-going approach to filmmaking and the importance of teamwork, as well as his experiences of making Hit Man and two of his previous films, School of Rock and Me and Orson Wells.

Next, Mark discussed the Cannes Film Festival and some of the award-winners this year. Mark then welcomed Charlotte Matheson onto the show to share her festival highlights, which included the Girls On Film party.

Mark then welcomed his next guest onto the show, Abi Morgan, the creator of the new series Eric, which is released on Netflix on 30th May 2024. Abi discussed the conception of Eric, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, and spoke about her experience of working with Steve McQueen on Shame.

Finally, Mark welcomed Samantha Morton on stage to discuss her BAFTA Fellowship and her career on screen as well as her more recent musical career. Samantha spoke openly about her early life, and some of the challenges she has faced working in film, noting how she was told early in her career that she would never work in period dramas due to being “too common”. Samantha also discussed her work on The Serpent Queen, as well as on her films Morvern Callar and Minority Report. Finally, Samantha and Mark discussed The Exorcist and its enduring appeal.

Another great HLA Agency production by Hedda Archbold with Charlotte Matheson, Nick Jones and Jade Evans. Thanks to the BFI’s Lilia Pavin-Franks and Johnathan Parkins for making it all run so smoothly. And of course, to Julie Edwards Photography for the fabulous photographs.

At the 90th MK3D show and the second in the BFI IMAX, Mark welcomed five guests and one Oscar onto the show, to discuss some exciting upcoming releases.

First up was Rose Glass, whose hotly-anticipated second feature Love Lies Bleeding hits UK cinemas on Friday 3 May. Rose spoke about casting Kristen Stewart opposite bodybuilder Katy M. O’Brian and confessed to never having seen Stewart’s performance in Twilight. She also shared some of her screen inspirations, including John Waters’ Pink Flamingos.

Next, Mark welcomed Luna Carmoon, Hayley Squires and Saura Lightfoot Leon onto the show to discuss Hoard, which comes to UK cinemas on May 17. Carmoon, the writer and director of Hoard, spoke about the genre-bending nature of her debut feature, and shared how her upbringing in South East London had a great influence on the dialogue and character in the film. Hayley and Saura star in the film, alongside Joseph Quinn and newcomer Lily-Beau Leach. They both shared their positive experiences on the set of Hoard, Hayley citing the superhero-like costumes worn by her character as a highpoint.

Finally, Oscar-winning sound designer Johnnie Burn came onstage to discuss his work on Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, as well as Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things and the upcoming Kinds of Kindness. Johnnie spoke about the different styles of the two directors, and gave the audience an insight into the way he thinks about sound and how he went from ten years of work in commercials to producing sound on narrative features. At the very end of the show, he revealed the final guest of the night: his Oscar for Best Sound at the 76th Academy Awards.

With thanks to Hedda Archbold, Charlotte Matheson, Nick Jones, Elspeth North, Hannah Greenwood and Josh Glenn for making it all run so smoothly. And of course to Julie Edwards Photography for the fabulous photographs.

At the 89th MK3D show and the first in the BFI IMAX, its new home for the next four months. Mark celebrated BFI Flare which opens today, March 13 and runs until March 24, by welcoming three guests on the show to discuss films showing as part of the LGBTQIA+ festival this year.

But firstly, fresh off the back of the Oscars, where Oppenheimer took home seven awards, Mark opened the show by playing the trailer for Nolan’s 2023 film in all its IMAX glory. He spoke about his enjoyment of this year’s Academy Awards mostly due to their shorter running time, before welcoming his first guest onstage.

First up was Vicky Knight, who stars opposite Esmé Creed-Miles in Sacha Polak’s new film Silver Haze. Vicky spoke about working with Polak the second time around, having starred in the 2019 film Dirty God, and reflected on a newfound confidence that emerged since making her acting debut four years ago. She touched on the vulnerability of being in front of a camera, and cited Lady Gaga’s performance in the 2018 version of A Star Is Born as an impactful portrayal of growing in confidence when you’re in the spotlight.

Next, Mark welcomed Amrou Al-Kadhi and Bilal Hasna, the director and star of Layla which will open BFI Flare this year for its UK premiere. Amrou reflected on Layla’s success at its world premiere at Sundance, and spoke to Mark about the tragedy and comedy that is implicit in drag, commenting on Bilal’s character who is a non-binary drag queen trying to figure out their place in the queer scene. Bilal spoke about the feeling of liberation he felt when dressed in drag in the film, even when shooting at 7am on Ridley Road fish market. Mark also asked Bilal and Amrou about a moment from a film that had a profound impact on them, and while Bilal chose one of Tom Cullen’s understated monologues in Andrew Haigh’s 2011 film Weekend, Amrou chose a scene from the 2017 Portuguese film Body Electric, where the often marginalised gender queer figure is put centre stage in a night club scene.

In his Q&A with the audience, Mark answered questions on topics ranging from Curb Your Enthusiasm, to the inspiration behind the soundtrack in Todd Haynes’ recent film May December.

Welcoming his final guest of the night, Eddie Marsan to talk about his upcoming role as Mitch Winehouse in Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Back to Black, and about his previous work, Mark revealed that he and Eddie share the screen in the upcoming biopic on Brian Epstein, in which Mark’s band, The Dodge Brothers, make a cameo appearance.

Eddie reflected on the varied roles he played throughout his career, referring to Stanislavsky and his Russian drama teacher’s idea of the actors’ tool kit, which he compared to a mechanic’s tool kit, allowing him to work in a huge range of circumstances.

He picked out Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance in the Todd Solondz’ 1991 film Happiness as hugely influential, and shared some stories about the difference between acting in the US and the UK.

Mark finished the evening with a Sound and Vision segment to celebrate Judy Garland as Esther Hoffman in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, closing the very first Mark Kermode Live In 3D at the BFI IMAX.

With thanks to Hedda Archbold, Charlotte Matheson, Nick Jones, Elspeth North and Sophie Kendrick for making it all run so smoothly. And of course to Julie Edwards Photography for the fabulous photographs.

The second MK3D of 2024 was the 88th edition of the show at the BFI Southbank, hosted by Mark Kermode and we kicked off the show with the Here’s the Thing segment, to talk about some Awards Season news.

Our guests were:

Ellen E Jones for her book Screen Deep.

Phoebe Dynevor for her EE Rising Star Award nomination for Bridgerton and Fair Play.

Lorna Tucker for Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son.

Finally Olivia Colman, Anjana Vasan, Jessie Buckley and director Thea Sharrock for Wicked Little Letters.

With thanks to Julie Edwards Photography for stunning photos.

The first MK3D of 2024 was the 87th edition of the show at the BFI Southbank, hosted by Mark Kermode and we kicked off the show with the Here’s the Thing segment, to talk about some Awards Season news.

Mark talked about the only two Awards ceremonies that are of any importance: The Critics Circle Film Awards which happen on 4 February at the May Fair Hotel, which Mark is presenting. And the Girls On Film Awards which take place on 20 February at Regent Street Cinema – which this year, are open to the public. Seats go on sale on 27 January. Mark also flagged up two Girls On Film screenings, free to subscribers of their newsletter: they are MAESTRO on 23 January followed by a Q&A with Carey Mulligan, and KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON on 28 January followed by a Q&A with Golden Globe winner Lily Gladstone. A few tickets are still available: email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to apply for tickets.

Mark’s first guests on the show were Jane Giles and Ali Catterall to talk about their documentary SCALA!!! OR THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE RISE AND FALL OF THE WORLD’S WILDEST CINEMA AND HOW IT INFLUENCED A MIXED-UP GENERATION OF WEIRDOS AND MISFITS. The release of the film is accompanied by a BFI Season entitled SEX, DRUGS & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CINEMA, which includes films like THUNDERCRACK, CLOCKWORK ORANGE and FASTER PUSSYCAT KILL! KILL!

Mark also showed a “very Scala” mash-up of DOUGAL AND THE BLUE CAT and THE WICKER MAN – entitled DOUGAL AND THE WICKER MAN, which was Ali Caterall’s first film.

Next up Mark talked about THE END WE START FROM which releases this coming Friday, and invited director Mahalia Belo and screenwriter Alice Birch onto the stage. You will know Alice for her writing of LADY MACBETH, NORMAL PEOPLE, THE WONDER and DEAD RINGERS. Mahalia Belo won a TV BAFTA Breakthrough Talent Award in 2017 for ELLEN and a BAFTA nomination for THE LONG SONG. Alice and Mahalia talked about their collaboration on THE END WE START FROM, about working with its star Jodie Comer, and about working with babies on set.

Mark asked them to talk about the films that had influenced them. Alice Birch chose John Cassavetes’ A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE, which changed the way she writes. She talked about the ‘spaghetti scene’ which features a large group of people sitting around the table, and Gena Rowland’s extraordinary performance in it opposite Peter Falk as her husband. Mahalia Belo chose Lynne Ramsay’s RATCATCHER, which was the first film she saw that was directed by a woman, and inspired her to become a director herself.

Next Mark moved to the ASK THE AUDIENCE segment and the questions involved gems like: what film would you make your worst enemy watch?

Mark moved on to POOR THINGS, Yorgos’ Lanthimos feature starring Emma Stone, easily the most talked about film this year, which is out in cinemas now. We were thrilled to welcome composer Jerskin Fendrix whose fantastic score is an integral part of the emotional immediacy and success of the film. Jerskin has a cameo in the dance scene in POOR THINGS, playing a fictional musical instrument. He talked about his experiences of writing the score during lockdown and his close collaboration with Yorgos. The latter told Mark recently that he thinks of Fendrix as ‘his musical muse’.

Finally Mark welcomed Andrew Haigh, director of ALL OF US STRANGERS, and its star Claire Foy. Nominated for a ton of BIFAs, ALL OF US STRANGERS won several, including Best British Independent film, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Andrew Haigh is known for his films WEEKEND, 45 YEARS and LEAN ON PETE and Claire Foy is best known for playing the Queen in the first season of THE CROWN, and for WOMEN TALKING, WOLF HALL and A VERY BRITISH SCANDAL.

Mark talked to both guests about the narrative of the film, and getting the tonal balance just right, in the interaction between Claire Foy as the mother and Andrew Scott as her son.

Mark asked Claire to reveal a performance that had influenced her and she talked eloquently about Marion Cotillard, who won an Oscar for playing Edith Piaf in LA VIE EN ROSE – and the spine-tingling way in which she conveyed shock in one of the pivotal scenes. Andrew talked about The Film That Changed His Life, DON’T LOOK NOW, which had a seminal influence on his work as a director.

We finished the show with a SOUND & VISION segment, paying tribute once more to Marion Cotillard in LA VIE EN ROSE and her searing rendition of the song Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.

With thanks to Charlotte Matheson for her help in pulling together the guests and assisting on the night, and to Julie Edwards Photography for stunning photos. Also to the BFI team Sophie Kendrick, Hannah Greenwood, Josh Glenn and Stuart Brown.

18 December was the 86th #MK3D @BFI, and we celebrated Christmas early by hosting a lineup of all-singing, all-dancing guests: Ian McKellen, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Molly Manning Walker, George MacKay, Jason Isaacs and special musical guests, The Dodge Brothers’ Mike Hammond and composer/drummer Stephen Hiscock.

The show opened with an original Dodge Brothers song from their new EP Trim Your (Christmas) Tree with Mike on piano and Mark on the double bass.

First on the stage was the legendary actor Ian McKellen, who talked about the new film adaptation of HAMLET, in which he plays the title role. Mark and Ian spoke about the difference between acting and audiences for film and for theatre, and the blind casting of Ian’s new film. The MK3D audience was also treated to a spontaneous rendition of a famous soliloquy from HAMLET.

Next to join Mark on stage were actor Mia McKenna-Bruce and writer and director Molly Manning Walker, who talked about their film HOW TO HAVE SEX. Mia spoke about how Kate Winslet’s performance in TITANIC had had a profound impact on her, and revealed that she was so traumatised by the film when she watched it as a five-year-old, that her mother asked her grandfather to call her pretending to be the film’s director James Cameron to assure her that Jack and Rose were made up!

Mark then welcomed actor George MacKay on stage to talk about his new film FEMME, for which he won the Best Lead Performance with his co-star Nathan Jarrett-Stewart at the BIFAs. George spoke about Roberto De Niro as a major influence, especially in Scorsese’s iconic RAGING BULL.

Lastly, Mark said hello to Jason Isaacs, who came on stage to discuss his recent series ARCHIE, where he stars as Cary Grant. Jason spoke about the challenges of depicting an authentic version of such a contradictory man’s life, before talking about a film that had a great influence on him, especially in his teenage years: Lawrence Kasdan’s THE BIG CHILL.

Mark drew the show to a close by inviting his guests, plus Executive Producer Hedda Archbold, up on stage for a performance of I’ll Be Home For Christmas and a rousing rendition of Run Run Rudolph.

With thanks to Charlotte Matheson, Nick Jones, Josh Glenn, Hannah Greenwood, Sophie Kendrick, Stuart Brown, Clair Dobbs, Molly Driver, Robyn Murphy, Marek Steven, Rosina Fielder, and Julia Nowicka for making it all run so smoothly. And of course for Julie Edwards Photography for the fabulous photographs.

Last night was the 85th #MK3D @BFI, and Mark celebrated by hosting a stellar lineup of guests: Joanna Hogg, William Oldroyd, Jeanie Finlay and Emerald Fennell.

First on stage was Joanna Hogg, who talked about her new BIFA-nominated film THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER, which stars Tilda Swinton in a dual-performance of mother and daughter against the eery backdrop of a stately home in North Wales. Joanna talked about the process behind making this film, and revealed some of the light relief she indulges in as a Guilty Pleasure in-between shoots, including the cartoon Rick and Morty, which she called ‘anarchic’ and ‘very meta’.

Next to join Mark on stage was director William Oldroyd, who previously directed BAFTA-nominated drama LADY MACBETH, to talk about his new film EILEEN, which stars Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie both working in a prison in 1960s Boston. William talked about adapting the film from Ottessa Moshfegh award-winning novel, and described his Hitchockian noir as ‘The perfect Christmas story’.

Mark then welcomed back Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Jeanie Finlay, who talked about her upcoming doc YOUR FAT FRIEND, which follows the life of US-based writer and fat activist Aubrey Gordon. She described meeting the film’s subject, recalling that ‘her writing was tender, I didn’t know who I was going to find’. In fact she found a lively, funny and raucously entertaining woman. Jeanie highlighted the way she likes to balance the emotional tone in her work: ‘If you laugh more, it makes you cry harder’. She also talked about Hirokazu Kazeeda’s AFTER LIFE as a life-changing film.

Our final guest was Oscar-winning director Emerald Fennell, who came on the show to talk about her self-confessedly ‘depraved’ new film SALTBURN. She spoke about the film’s characters as ‘the kind of people you desperately want to like you, or you desperately want to sleep with.’ On writing SALTBURN during lockdown, Emerald described the impulse to write it as ‘what happens to you when you can’t touch people and fluids are forbidden’. For a film that inspired her, Emerald chose CRUEL INTENTIONS, recalling how, when it was released, the film caused ‘immediate loss of virginity’ in her class at school.

Finally Mark paid tribute to the late Richard Roundtree, best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film SHAFT, by playing the film’s iconic opening credits complete with its iconic funk soundtrack.

With thanks to Charlotte Matheson, Josh Glenn, Hannah Greenwood, Sophie Kendrick, Stuart Brown, Jill Reading, Matt Dinsdale, Kelsey O’Connor and Laura Symons for making it all run so smoothly.

And of course to Julie Edwards for the fabulous photographs.