Empire of Light (15) | Dir. Sam Mendes | 2022 | UK | IMDb 6.7 | 115 mins

Hilary (Olivia Colman) is a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen (Micheal Ward) is a new employee longing to escape the provincial town where he faces daily adversity. Together they find a sense of belonging and experience the healing power of music, cinema, and community.
Trivia

The actual Dreamland cinema in Margate (which stood in for the Empire cinema in this film) opened in 1923. It changed hands several times during its lifetime and finally closed for good in 2007. It still stands, although empty, because it is a listed building and so cannot be demolished without parliamentary approval. The block of flats where Steven lives with his mother is not an optical effect: it really is that close to the building (with Margate railway station being just 100 yards up the road).

Entry is free for HFS members.

Tickets for non-members cost £6 each (Under 25's £3). These can be purchased online or will be available on the night from the HFS desk in the Odeon lobby (contactless payments only please, we are not taking cash this season). A small processing fee will be applied to all tickets.

Please note that doors open at 7pm and the film will start at 7.30pm. All seating is unreserved so grab a seat wherever you like.

Parking is free after 6pm for all Odeon cinemagoers but you MUST display a voucher obtained from the Odeon lobby.