Why?
What is it?
Watershed, you say?
The amazing city of Bristol has really charmed me recently and keeps continuing to do so… in fact, it only really, truly captured my heart in 2025 – before this time I don’t think I’d even set foot in the ‘happiest city in the UK’ [In fact, as well as the Happy City Index recently naming Bristol as “the happiest city in the UK” it also apparently ranked it as the “7th happiest in the WORLD”…!] even though I’d always heard so much positivity about this city.
It’s the original home of Wallace & Gromit, famous for Banksy and his paintings but also so much more!
One of the places I love is the cinema and general creative space (as well as having a cool restaurant and bar) known as the Watershed.
Last Summer I spent a lot of time in that cinema space – they have 3 cinema screens, essentially – and even recorded an episode or two on one of my podcast series* episodes in which I covered or reviewed one or two films.
That venue also holds events and worthwhile charity days or the like.
PLUS… they also work in conjunction with the Bristol Megascreen, which at one point [until very recently really] was the only IMAX cinema screen in Bristol.
Now, fans of the BFI (British Film Institute) in London may also have got wind of the ‘season’ which this article relates to and therefore the other affiliates of this “Cinema Rediscovered” 10th year! Therefore too, perhaps already you’ve heard of the other venues linked to this huge, upcoming event in July – after all, it had an eclectic 2025/9th year over there at the colourful Watershed.
“Cinema Rediscovered” has already sparked my attention regarding a few films in the various strands it has, and also it has been brought to the attention of a good friend – more info in a few paragraph’s time! – so WE may meet upon his probable arrival.
As soon as I heard about this Cinema Rediscovered programme I not only booked a ticket to see the Mike Figgis classic, “Leaving Las Vegas” [I once took one of Mike Figgis’s filmmaking masterclasses AND even had the chance to briefly catch up with him in Jeonju, South Korea this year!] but also tickets for myself and a family member to see the sublime and ‘brand new 35mm print’ of the “Whistle Down The Wind”.
Lastly, speaking of South Korea, this writer [Jason Verney] is very happy to see that there’s more than one Korean film featured in this 2026 / 10th edition of Cinema Rediscovered and the always seal-of-quality of the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) amongst all the participating names and partners – full list further down in this article.
The screenings in include “The Widow” by South Korea’s first female filmmaker Park Nam-ok (who did not make another film after this) and it’s a 4K digital restoration, completed in 2020 by the Korean Film Archive and the Image Power Station using the 16mm original negative.
Direct Link for my Korean cineaste followers: https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/14067/cinelogue-presents-the-widow-mimangin
Cinema Rediscovered’s line-up also includes other Asian films, including a screening of “OLDBOY (올드보이)” – “A 4K restoration from the original camera negative supervised by director Park Chan-wook c/o Arrow Films.”
As a filmmaker and somewhat of an alleged Korean culture ‘expert’ myself, seeing the Korean Film Archive ‘stamp’ of approval brings a smile to my face… I’ve even visited the beautiful KFA premises once or twice in South Korea.
In fact, and as already alluded to, even my ‘sometimes co-host’ of our Not So Korean Podcast, Mr Timothy Holm will be heading to Bristol from ‘KoreaTown UK’ [New Malden, Kingston-upon- thames]. After all, he co-hosts The Cinema Exchange… a place that’s always insightful when it comes to Korean, British or indeed tidbits of World Cinema news.
Oh and if you can’t get to Bristol in July, look out for a the Cinema Rediscovered’s TOURING films & plans… Here’s a link with information of where and when that will be: https://www.watershed.co.uk/cinema-rediscovered-2026/on-tour
I’ll stop rambling away and simply fill you in more with details from the official website, their programme etc…:
Cinema Rediscovered 2026
For our 10th anniversary year, we are delighted to be partnering with local independent brewery Wiper and True to present this special edition of Cinema Rediscovered which takes place at venues in and around Bristol UNESCO City of Film from Wed 22 – Sun 26 July 2026 with 70+ events including screenings of newly restored films (incl. 17 UK premieres), rediscoveries and film-on-film rarities plus projection tours, cinema walks, improv workshops, a FREE interactive BFI National Archive exhibition, a quiz and lots more.
Events take place at cinemas including Watershed, 20th Century Flicks [https://20thcenturyflicks.co.uk/] , Clevedon’s Curzon Cinema & Arts [https://www.curzon.org.uk/] , The Cube Microplex [https://cubecinema.com/] and Bristol Megascreen [https://www.bristolaquarium.co.uk/megascreen/] .
Our 10th edition is presented in association with Wiper and True [https://ttps//wiperandtrue.com/] and made possible thanks to the support of the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, and principal sponsors Park Circus [https://www.parkcircus.com/] and STUDIOCANAL [https://www.studiocanal.co.uk/] .
Explore strands:
50 Years of Aardman:
In Aardman’s 50th anniversary year, Cinema Rediscovered presents a trio of events celebrating the world-famous Bristol-based animation studio.
https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/season/743/50-years-of-aardman
Comics Come Alive: 
Comics Come Alive brings together a selection of live-action film adaptations from a range of alternative comic-book sources – some may be familiar and hopefully some will surprise.
Reframing Film invites you to delve deeper into the programme, experience film on film and join in conversations with creatives involved in film programming, projecting, archiving and more.
https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/season/740/reframing-film
Restored & Rediscovered:
We bring together a selection of the latest new restorations and rediscoveries presented on the big screen, many premiering at the festival and many with special guests.
https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/season/741/restored-rediscovered
Rogue Hollywood:
Bleak, unsettling but endlessly rewarding, these films are testament to a period when some in the Hollywood mainstream went very rogue and provide a fascinating snapshot of America which resonates today.
https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/season/739/rogue-hollywood
Vive Le Cinema!
To mark our 10th edition, we thought it would only be appropriate to celebrate that place where we come together to share the emotional thrills and magic that only film can deliver.
https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/season/742/vive-le-cinema
CREDITS:
Filmic Footnote/s:
All my Podcasts here: https://jasonverney.com/2026/07/10/podcasts-4-hosted-by-j-v/