This month’s MK3D at the BFI Southbank saw another extremely talented array of guests and wide-ranging conversations about film and film culture.

The news in Here’s the Thing focused on Judy Garland’s recent 100th birthday and the season of her films currently at the BFI (which was given a glowing review by Mark’s daughter who was in the audience); the relaunch of the BFI Imax; the upcoming Cineramageddon at Glastonbury that Mark is curating with Julien Temple, and his upcoming MK3D at Latitude – and a shout-out to the new Britbox series REEL BRITANNIA.

Our first guest on stage was Swedish director Ninja Thyberg who talked about her brilliant new film PLEASURE and the female gaze, and about her favourite filmmakers Lukas Moodysson and Ruben Östlund.

Next Mark in the Q&A segment, Asked The Audience to decide who would win in a fistfight between Friedkin and Herzog (no prizes for guessing: it’s Herzog). He also – very subtly – asked to be invited on the wonderful Girls on Film podcast hosted by Anna Smith after a question about his recent appearance on Brett Goldstein’s ‘Films to Be Buried With’. He paid tribute to the late Julee Cruise and her amazing work on the soundtrack for TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME.

Our second guest was Movement Director & Choreographer Polly Bennett who talked about her latest project, ELVIS. Polly was previously praised by MK3D guest Rami Malek about her work on BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY and so we had to have her on herself! Her work on ELVIS is stunning and to illustrate her technique she taught Mark to move like The King – a moment that will make it into our Hall of Fame. She went on to talk about her choreographic influences, ANNIE and WEST SIDE STORY.

Next up was a List-O-Mania where Mark dissected a list of the 20 most confusing films of all time. Mark invited Kermode on Film co-host Jack Howard to the stage to explain the film in the number one spot, TENET.

Next Mark welcomed Director Lucile Hadžihalilović onto the stage to talk about her newly released first English-language film EARWIG. Then, much to Mark’s delight, Lucile chose THE EXORCIST as her Film That Changed My Life.

Finally, Mark welcomed friend and filmmaker Mark Jenkin to the stage to talk about his film ENYS MEN who had just returned from the Cannes Film Festival and which will be distributed in the UK by the BFI in the near future. Mark talked about the influence of Derek Jarman’s THE GARDEN and its soundtrack, which he still listens to regularly on cassette, as well as naming THE PERFECT STORM as his Guilty Pleasure pick.

We ended on a Sound & Vision moment with actual ’68 Elvis.

On May’s MK3D we had a sparkling array of film guests.

First up, brilliant film music composer Nainita Desai and documentarian Nick Hardie came to talk about their award winning film ‘The Wall: Climb for Gold’ about the first four female Olympian athletes to compete in Tokyo. They talked about the four different temperaments of the women and the decision to give each their own musical theme using different instrumentation. Nainita brought a hang drum to illustrate – and gave her very first performance in front of a live audience on this beautiful instrument, accompanying her soundtrack live on stage.

Next up Mark welcomed Audrey Rumsby, the actor and director who has just made her first feature doc ‘Barry and Joan’, about the nonagenarian couple who are keeping vaudeville and Commedia del’Arte alive through performance and workshops. Californian Audrey also talked about her influences, which included Cyd Charisse in ‘Singing’ in the Rain’ and Meg Ryan in ‘You’ve Got Mail’. Both she and Mark teared up when they talked about the themes in the film.

Next, actor Saskia Reeves, currently in ‘Slow Horses’, came to talk about the Apple TV + spy series in which she shines in the ensemble cast, alongside  Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas. She also talked about her earliest film influences, which include Mel Brooks’  ‘The Producers’ and Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria starring Giulietta Masina, who first inspired her to become and actress.

Lastly, Mark was joined by Jack Lowden, also part of the ‘Slow Horses’ cast as a young, dynamic spy – and star of Terence Davies’ latest feature ‘Benediction’, in which he plays war poet Siegfried Sassoon, out in cinemas this week. Mark and Jack talked about working with Terence, about actors miming musical instruments, and about working in an accent. Jack’s Scottish brogue is rarely brought to the screen, and in ‘Benediction’ he speaks a clipped upper class English and in ‘Fighting with my Family’ he had a broad Norwich accent. Jack also talked about the film that changed his life: ‘Master and Commander’ starring Paul Bettany and Russell Crowe, and about ‘The Mighty Ducks’, his guilty pleasure featuring Emilio Estevez and a children’s ice hockey team. We ended the show on a brilliantly climactic scene from ‘Brassed Off’, the 1996 comedy-drama starring Tara Fitzgerald, Pete Postlethwaite, Jim Carter and Ewan McGregor. The film can be seen in the Royal Albert Hall on 25 May 2022 with live accompaniment by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, with a Q&A with Mark Kermode and the cast. A rousing end to a riveting show.

This MK3D at the BFI Southbank was wild! Another stellar array of guests and wide-ranging conversations about film culture.

The news in Here’s the Thing picked up the big stories at the Oscars (there was only one big story at this year’s Oscars and that was Riz Ahmed’s win for “The Long Goodbye”!), paid homage to the recently deceased legendary actor William Hurt, highlighting his work in “Network” – and saw Mark announce his Sony-backed new podcast, Kermode & Mayo’s Take.

Our first guest on stage was Croatian director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic to talk about her brilliant debut feature “Murina”, about working with Martin Scorsese. She also talked about her Guilty Pleasure, which Mark was baffled to hear is “My Girl”.

Next Mark did his Q&A segment Ask The Audience and talked about movies featuring train journeys after a question about the Finnish film “Compartment No 6″. For more details, head on over to the BBC iPlayer and have a listen to the Screenshot episode on the same topic. He also gave advice to young aspiring film critics, and told us what he thinks is the most underrated film of the moment, that we should all be watching right now. Who’d have guessed it would be “Greenland” starring Gerard Butler?

Our second guest was Eddie Marsan to talk about his ITV drama series “The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe”, based on the true story of John and Anne Darwin who committed insurance fraud by faking John’s death. Eddie and Monica Dolan excel in the lead roles. Eddie talked about the toxic masculinity that it explores, and about shifts in how people perceive bullying in their own relationships following the #MeToo movement. He also touched on his Netflix horror film “Choose or Die”, how he choose his roles – and showing his children scary films like “Silence of the Lambs” and “The Exorcist”.

Next up Mark highlighted the upcoming 007 Retrospective. To celebrate 60 years since “Dr No”, all 25 Bond films return to cinemas in the ultimate BOND retrospective from this Friday for the 60th Anniversary of the beloved British franchise – screening chronologically from April to October 2022, culminating in World Bond Day on 5th October.

Mark listed his top five Bond films – at which his on-stage sidekick and long time producing partner Nick Jones rolled his eyes, and gave his own top five Bond films. Mark invited the audience to show whose list they preferred by applauding both.  Let’s not dwell on the outcome…

Next Mark welcomed old friend and star actor Jason Isaacs, as well as Johnny Flynn onto the stage to talk about “Operation Mincemeat”, and about Johnny Flynn’s other movie on release right now, “The Outfit”. Mark also asked if bad reviews hurt – which led to an interesting chat about “Stardust” – which Mark panned.

Finally Mark welcomed Don Letts to the stage to talk about his life and the biopic “Rebel Dread”. Don also talked about “The Film that Changed My Life:  The Harder They Come” and about his Guilty Pleasure:  “Guardians of the Galaxy” – and the music used so brilliantly in both the films.

Mark ended the show by thanking everyone – and especially our intern Shanaiya Pithiya who has been offered a great job in the film industry. We are gutted that she is leaving but so delighted for her at the same time.

At the 66th MK3D, Mark Kermode answered questions from the audience on the recent BAFTA Nominations, comparable films to the ‘Terrible but Fun’ Moonfall and his favourite romcom for this upcoming Valentine’s day.

Mark was then joined by Jonas Poher Rasmussen – Writer and Director of the animated documentary Flee, Nominated for 2 BAFTAs and 3 Oscars. Jonas shares the origins of this remarkable story and how it found its way to him. The pair then discuss Jonas’ choices for his Guilty Pleasures – Once Upon a Time in the West and Karate Kid (1984).

Cherish Oteka then joined Mark on stage to talk about their BAFTA nominated short, The Black Cop – a documentary about the life of a Queer Black Police officer. They discuss how this story can resonate with everyone, regardless of race, gender or sexuality. Cherish then shares their passion for documenting the stories of people finding their identities.

The Directors James Spinney and Pete Middleton came to talk about their upcoming documentary, The Real Charlie Chaplin. Delving into the processes of making this film and having privileged access to the Chaplin Archives. They go on to discuss the Films That Changed Their Lives: Pete’s choice For All Man Kind and James’ choice of Cabaret.

Finally we were joined by Clio Barnard to talk about her new film Ali & Ava – a romantic film celebrating the ‘ordinary’ lives of two people from Bradford. Clio tells us of her dedication to portray Bradford accurately, with spotlight on the kindness of the community. Mark and Clio then talk about her choices for the Films That Changed Her Life: Rashomon and Performance, drawing ties on how these have influenced her works.

We close with Sound & Vision, showing Jennifer Hudson’s fantastic portrayal of Aretha Franklin in RESPECT.