This month saw the 84th #MK3D @BFI, where Mark discussed all things film with four fantastic guests: Adura Onashile, David C. Fein, Thelma Schoonmaker and Kevin MacDonald.

First on stage was Adura Onashile, who talked about her debut feature film GIRL, which was shown as part of the LFF and won Best Narrative Feature at the BlackStar Film Festival.

Next to join Mark on stage was producer David C. Fein who spoke about STAR TREK : THE MOTION PICTURE – THE DIRECTOR’S EDITION and shared side by side comparisons of the original STAR TREK film from 1979, and the updated Director’s Edition from 2022.

Mark paid tribute to the icon of British cinema, the late Terence Davies, who passed away on 7 October 2023. His extraordinary legacy includes DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES and OF TIME AND THE CITY.

Mark then welcomed Hollywood royalty Thelma Schoonmaker onstage to discuss KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, the most recent film she has edited in a fifty five year collaboration with Martin Scorsese, which has earned her eight Oscar nominations. She then shared fascinating insights into the work of legendary filmmaking duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger as part of the UK-wide launch of UNBOUND CINEMA: THE CREATIVE WORLDS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER.

Our fourth guest was BAFTA winning filmmaker Kevin MacDonald, who is the biographer and grandson of Emeric Pressburger. Mark asked Kevin and Thelma to share their highlights from the Powell and Pressburger season, which included I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING!, EDGE OF THE WORLD, and THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP.

UNBOUND CINEMA: THE CREATIVE WORLDS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER runs from 16 October to 31 December 2023.

With thanks to Charlotte Matheson, Josh Glenn, Sophie Kendrick, Stuart Brown, Rhidian Davis, Sarah Bemand, Tash Malhotra and Dave Norris for making it all run so smoothly. And of course for Julie Edwards for the fabulous photographs.

For September’s #MK3D @BFI, Mark Kermode discussed all things film with six fantastic guests: Monica Dolan, Timothy Spall, Otto Baxter, Peter Beard, Alice Russell and Kristy Matheson.

First on stage was actor Monica Dolan, who talked about her role in her upcoming film TYPIST ARTIST PIRATE KING, directed by previous MK3D guest Carol Morley.

Next to join Mark on stage were director Otto Baxter and documentary filmmaker Peter Beard. Otto chatted about his film THE PUPPET ASYLUM, and Peter talked about his making-of documentary OTTO BAXTER: NOT A F***ING HORROR STORY – or as he calls it, “an 85 minute trailer for Otto’s short” – which reveals a great deal about what it was like for Otto to make a film. Otto listed his top five favourite films: NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, CHUCKY, CARRY ON CAMPING, and THE PUPPET ASYLUM.

Mark then welcomed director of the BFI London Film Festival Kristy Matheson, who gave an insight into what to expect from the festival this year. Kristy highlighted some of the films she is most excited for: Opening film SALTBURN, and closing film THE KITCHEN, THE HOLDOVER, GOING TO MARS, and TOTÉM. The LFF runs from 4-15 October 2023.

Fourth guest was director Alice Russell, who talked about her doc IF THE STREETS WERE ON FIRE, which premiered at last year’s LFF and is out in select cinemas now. Alice also talked about a film that changed her life, for the powerful role played by Rachel Weisz: THE CONSTANT GARDENER.

Mark did a brief Ask the Audience Q&A before moving on to our last guest, the brilliant Timothy Spall, to talk about his latest role in BOLAN’S SHOES. They also discussed a favourite performance, which hugely influenced his work: Charles Laughton in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

It was a great pleasure to produce the show, as ever.

This month’s MK3D at the BFI Southbank Mark was joined by four guests; directors Thomas Hardiman, Dionne Edwards and Edward Lovelace, and multi Oscar-winning editor, sound designer, writer and director Walter Murch.

First on stage was director Thomas Hardiman, who spoke about his single-shot hairdressing murder-mystery Medusa Deluxe, out in UK cinemas on 9 June. Mark ran through five more of his favourite hairdressing films: Deadly Cuts (2021), Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008), Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983), Swan Song (2021), and Shampoo (1975) – Tom came back with his five favourite hairstyles in the movies. Mark asked Tom about the films that influenced  his work and, and they agreed that Ken Russell is wildly underrated in the UK, and Tom raved in particular about his fondness for The Boy Friend.

In Here’s The Thing, Mark paid tribute to the late Tina Turner, specifically in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Tina Turner’s work plays a great part in the next guest on stage. Dionne Edwards’ came to talk about making her feature Pretty Red Dress, out in the UK on 16 June, and the spectacular performances by Natey Jones and Alexandra Burke. One of the major influences on her work she highlighted was Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing – in particular the incredible opening title sequence. 

Third to join Mark on stage was director Edward Lovelace to talk about his new film Name Me Lawand, out in UK cinemas on 7 July, about a deaf Kurdish refugee in Derby and his journey to communicate with the world. Mark and Ed also touched on his previous film The Possibilities Are Endless. Edward also talked about the film that influenced his work, Julian Schnabel’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

The final guest was Oscar-winning sound designer, editor, and writer Walter Murch, whose work includes Apocalypse Now, The Godfather trilogy, The English Patient, The Conversation, Julia, Ghost, Cold Mountain – and quite recently Coup 53, which was discussed on the 78th MK3D with its director Taghi Amirani. Walter and Mark talked about his extensive career and went into fine detail about the sound design of seminal scenes from The Godfather and The Godfather III, as well as the Film That Changed His Life, The Seventh Seal.

The show closed with Sound and Vision, highlighting again the incredible talent of Tina Turner, this time in GoldenEye.

Brilliant photography by Julia Edwards.

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).