This month marked the 80th edition of the MK3D show at the BFI Southbank! The show featured three fantastic guests; filmmaker Nina Menkes, actor and comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar, and actress Jenny Seagrove.

Mark opened the show with Ask the Audience, where he received questions about Cannes and which TV shows he thinks would make good feature films, and vice versa.

The first guest was Nina Menkes, whose new documentary Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power explores the male gaze in cinema and its impact on wider society. Nina’s work is featured in an upcoming BFI season, Cinematic Sorceress: The Films Of Nina Menkes. She went on to discuss her guilty pleasure, which much to Mark’s delight was William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, explaining why she regards the film as feminist.

Next on stage was actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, who spoke about his role playing DI Sunil Khan in the hit TV series Unforgotten, which can be streamed on ITVX. Sanjeev then went on to talk about a performance that had a significant influence on him, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, explaining that he watched it as a child and it was the first time he was aware he was watching something that was crafted. This film contains acting, writing and directing at its purest. Next, he enthused about the best TV series he’s seen in a long time: The Offer, on the making of The Godfather. 

Last to join Mark on stage was actress Jenny Seagrove, who spoke about the heart-warming film Local Hero, which is returning to select UK cinemas to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Jenny then talked about her role in The Guardian, about playing Chris MacNeil in the stage version of The Exorcist, as well as discussing a significant performance to her: Celia Johnson’s exquisite performance in David Lean’s Brief Encounter.
Mark closed the show with Sound and Vision, paying homage to the music of the great late Little Richard in Frank Tashlin’s The Girl Can’t Help It. There are two documentaries about the influential rock pioneer on release at the moment: Little Richard: I am Everything in cinemas now, and Little Richard: The King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll on BBC iPlayer.

This April, on the 79th MK3D show at the BFI Southbank, Mark Kermode was joined by four special guests. Producer Hedda Archbold had invited director Andrew Legge, director Pravesh Kumar, actress Josie Lawrence, and actor Brian Cox. NFT1 was filled with a lively audience for detailed discussions of all things film.

First to join Mark on stage was director Andrew Legge, who spoke about his film LOLA, an Irish-British ‘found footage’ science fiction film starring Emma Appleton and Stefanie Martini. Andrew talked about the problem of raising funds for this hard-to-describe original concept.

Next, Mark welcomed director Pravesh Kumar to talk about his film LITTLE ENGLISH, about a dysfunctional Punjabi family in the pressured life of a terraced suburban home in Slough. Pravesh also spoke about the film that changed his life, PAKEEZAH (dir Kamal Amrohi,1972).

During Here’s the Thing Mark paid homage to the life and work of Ryuchi Sakamoto, who recently passed away, by revisiting the theme music to MERRY CHRISTMAS MR LAWRENCE (dir. Nagisa Ôshima, 1983).

Mark’s next guest was actress Josie Lawrence, who spoke about her role in A CLEVER WOMAN (dir Jon Sanders), a feature film made through improvised scenes. She also talked about a significant performance that influenced her own work: Ruth Gordon in ROSEMARY’S BABY.

Last on stage was actor Brian Cox, who joined Mark in conversation about the TV series SUCCESSION, which is just releasing its fourth season. Brian also talked about some of his earlier screen work, notably in MANHUNTER (dir Michael Mann, 1986) as Hannibal Lecter and Big John in L.I.E. (dir Michael Cuesta, 2001), and about the actors who influenced him: particularly Spencer Tracey in BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (dir John Sturges, 1955), and in WOMAN OF THE YEAR (dir George Stevens, 1942). And Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in BRINGING UP BABY (dir Howard Hawks, 1938)

Mark closed the show with Sound and Vision, paying special tribute to Burt Bacharach’s Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, from BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, (dir George Roy Hill, 1969).

Fantastic photography by Julie Edwards

March saw the 78th MK3D at the BFI! Mark was joined on stage by six fantastic guests: Jerry Dammers, Joe Dunton, Pauline Black, Taghi Amirani, Raine Allen Miller and Vivian Oparah. 

The show opened with Ask the Audience, with questions from the audience about the Oscars, about what Mark looks for when he decides to re-watch a films for reviews, and a question about WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY.

First on stage was cinematographer Joe Dunton, who spoke about shooting the film DANCE CRAZE, which has recently been remastered in 4K by the BFI. DANCE CRAZE showcases the very best of the British Ska phenomenon, with exclusive live performances from THE SPECIALS, MADNESS, THE SELECTER, THE BEAT, BAD MANNERS and THE BODYSNATCHERS – brought to the screen particularly vividly due to Dunton’s revolutionary camera work.

Joining Mark and Joe on stage were musicians Jerry Dammers (The Specials) and Pauline Black (The Selecter), who talked about the ska movement, and how controversial it still was at that time for people of different colours to take to the stage together.

In Here’s The Thing, Mark celebrated the life and career of Racquel Welch who passed away earlier in the month – especially her memorable role in ONE MILLION YEARS BC (1966) directed by Don Chaffey.

Next on stage was filmmaker Taghi Amirani, who discussed his documentary COUP 53, which uncovers details of US and UK involvement in the 1953 coup in Iran, emerging from BFI Archive footage he unearthed. The film was first released in 2019, and as this year is the 70th anniversary of the coup, the filmmakers are producing a follow-up, which comes out later this year. 

Taghi went on to talk about the film that changed his life: LOCAL HERO, directed by Bill Forsyth> Mark and he share a passion for the film and Taghi explained that the film influenced his first documentary in 1989, why he has such a strong connection to the film and to the film’s producer David Puttnam.

Our final guests were director Raine Allen Miller and star Vivian Oparah to talk about the new, joyously uplifting Peckham-set rom-com RYE LANE, which is out in cinemas now. Mark asked Vivian to talk about a performance that was hugely significant to her: she chose Lupita Nyong’o in Jordan Peele’s US. Raine talked about her guilty pleasure, BOWFINGER, directed by Frank Oz and starring Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin.

This February at the BFI Mark Kermode was joined at MK3D by four fantastic guests; EE Rising stars Sheila Atim and Naomi Ackie, director Brett Morgen, and director Carol Morley.

Mark opened the show by taking questions from the audience: top questions this month asked him to list who he would like to see win the awards this year, and to list his top five David Lynch films, in true Lynchian fashion; reverse. 

First to join Mark on stage was Sheila Atim, whose body of work and outstanding performance in THE WOMAN KING awarded her an EE Rising Star nomination. She talked about her performance in the film and the amazing bonding experience of filming in location. She talked about her work in theatre, and about an acting performance that changed her life: the famous scene between Michael Fassbender and Liam Cunningham in HUNGER (Steve McQueen 2008).

Next on stage was director Carol Morley, who spoke about her film TYPIST ARTIST PIRATE KING, a delicate and in-depth insight into the life of a forgotten artist Audrey Amiss who persuaded her psychiatric nurse to take her on a road trip. Carol went on to discuss her guilty pleasure, THE REBEL (Robert Day 1961, with Tony Hancock), and a film that changed her life, SWEETIE (Jane Campion 1989). 

Mark then went back to the audience for more questions, where he was asked to list his top three guilty pleasures.

Naomi Ackie was next to join Mark on stage, where she discussed her leading role in WHITNEY HOUSTON: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Kasi Lemmons 2023), her career and her EE Rising Star nomination. She then went on to talk about a performance that changed her life: Cate Blanchett in BLUE JASMINE (Woody Allen 2013), and eloquently explained the many layers to Blanchett’s exquisitely subtle performance.

Last to take the stage was director and documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen to talk about his BAFTA-nominated documentary MOONAGE DAYDREAM (2022). Brett spoke about the style of the film and the editing process, as well as his freedom to convey Bowie through his own interpretation. He then talked about a film that changed his life, ONE FROM THE HEART (Francis Ford Coppola, 1981).

Mark closed the show with Sound and Vision, paying a homage to ZIGGY STARDUST.

January saw the 76th MK3D show at the BFI. Mark Kermode was joined by fantastic guests to talk about all things film: PINOCCHIO directors Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, TO LESLIE star Andrea Riseborough, and ALICE, DARLING director Mary Nighy.

The first guest on stage was Andrea Riseborough, an actress known for her roles in POSSESSOR (2020) and ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL (2022), who came to talk about her Oscar-tipped role in TO LESLIE. She went on to discuss her guilty pleasure, THE RULING CLASS (1972).

Next, Mark was joined by director Mary Nighy to talk about her new film ALICE, DARLING which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2022. The film stars Anna Kendrick as Alice, alongside Kaniehtiio Horn, Wunmi Mosaku, and Charlie Carrick, and is out in cinemas now. Mary talked to Mary Nighy about working with Anna Kendrick on conveying a specific tone in the film, and the importance of portraying a realistic vision of female friendship.

Mark then paid tribute to those in the industry we recently lost; Gina Lollobrigida and Mike Hodges, who had been a guest on the show. Mark paid tribute by listing his five favourite films by Hodges: I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD (2003), CROUPIER (1998), FLASH GORDON (1980), BLACK RAINBOW (1989) and GET CARTER (1971).

Finally, Mark was joined by directors Guillermo Del Toro and Mark Gustafson, who spoke about their take on the classic PINOCCHIO, which premiered at the London Film Festival last October. The original puppets of Pinocchio and Master Geppetto also joined them on stage: handmade in Manchester and intricately moved to create the stop-motion animation. Mark Gustafson went on to discuss his guilty pleasure, ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS (1964), and Guillermo spoke about his guilty pleasure DEATH LINE (1972) – known in the US as RAW MEAT..

To close the show Mark’s choice of Sound and Vision was the rousing ‘Revolting Children’ scene from ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA: THE MUSICAL (2022).

This month we celebrated the 75th MK3D show at the BFI, and as always Mark was joined on stage by a variety of amazing guests.

Here’s the show description — and some fantastic photos by Julie Edwards.

First on stage was Hassan Nazer, who talked about his film WINNERS, which was released in August 2022 and this weekend won the BIFA 2022 Raindance Discovery Award and Breakthrough Producer Award for Nadira Murray, who was in the audience. With his film, Hassan wanted to convey the joy of cinema-going, and portray his Iranian heritage. He talked movingly about the reason he had to flee his native Iran, and being red-flagged after having put a female actor on stage for the first time ever in his town. Now resident in Aberdeen, he is thrilled that his film is the British submission for Best International Picture at the Oscars. He also talked about two films that influenced him: Abbas Kiarostami’s 1987 AND WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE and Majid Majidi’s 1997 CHILDREN OF HEAVEN.

Our next guests were director Mark Jenkin and actress Mary Woodvine, who discussed their new Cornish film ENYS MEN. They talked about the making of ENYS MEN as well as the BFI season Mark has curated, the upcoming “The Cinematic DNA of Enys Men”. Mark then went on to talk about one particular influence on his work, Lawrence Gordon Clark’s TV movie STIGMA, from the BBC’s series of Classic adaptations of Ghost Stories.

Mark then welcomed director Edward Berger onto the show to talk about his film ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, which if you missed in cinemas you can watch on Netflix now. They discussed why Edward chose to remake the classic film, his love for the novel, and what it was like to film such visceral scenes. Edward then went on to chat about his guilty pleasure, NOTTING HILL, in particular the scene where Hugh Bonneville meets Julia Roberts at a dinner party.

During Ask The Audience, Mark talked about the BFI Sight and Sound Critics’ Poll results, and asked the audience whether they had seen the film that tops the new 2022 list of 100 Greatest Films of All Time: Chantal Akerman’s JEANNE DIELMAN, 23, QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES.

Mark then invited screenwriter Tony Kushner to talk about his latest collaboration with Steven Spielberg, autobiographical feature THE FABELMANS. They talked about how the script came to be, and what it was like working with Spielberg to produce such a personal film. Tony then went on to highlight his guilty pleasure, Robert Aldrich’s 1962 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE starring the peerless Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

The conversation continued as Mark welcomed Stephen Woolley and Aimee Lou Wood to the stage, where they talked about LIVING, in which Aimee stars opposite Bill Nighy. The film is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 IKIRU, and Stephen, who produced the film, described how the idea for the production came out of a BFI season he curated around his 2016 feature THEIR FINEST, which also starred Bill Nighy. Aimee talked about the pleasure of working with ‘sparkly’ Bill Nighy and the way the film has opened doors for her.

To celebrate the festive season and the 75th edition of MK3D, show producer Hedda Archbold had pulled together a musical finale. The Philharmonia orchestra had lent Mark Kermode a double bass, and Mark was joined by composer David Arnold on piano to accompany Aimee Lou Wood, for a beautiful rendition of HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. Then Mark was joined by a veritable supergroup consisting of Sanjeev ‘Elvis’ Bhaskar who sang Elvis Presley’s BLUE CHRISTMAS, accompanied on vocals by Hedda Archbold and Mary Woodvine, on double bass by Mark Kermode, on guitar by David Arnold (who did a rocking solo) and on daf (Iranian drum) by Hassan Nazer.