UK Film Season Comes to Chengdu | Five Outstanding Films Offered as a Free Cultural Feast

Reposted from the official WeChat account of the British Consulate-General in Chongqing, a long-time supporter of MBL

Cinema is the art of dreaming. For more than a century, Britain has been a cradle for both dreams and dream-makers. From the world’s oldest surviving film, Roundhay Garden Scene (1888), to global phenomena such as Harry Potter and James Bond, and more recent box-office hits like Gladiator, Paddington, and Downton Abbey, British cinema has shaped a narrative language that transcends generations and continents.

This fertile creative ground has nurtured countless visionary screenwriters, directors, editors, and artists — from Charlie Chaplin and the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, to pioneering figures of the 1970s such as Jane Arden, and contemporary boundary-breakers like Lynne Ramsay. British filmmakers continue to redefine what cinema can be.

Now, this cinematic celebration arrives in Southwest China. From 20 to 28 December, the British Consulate-General in Chongqing, together with the Chengdu Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, will present “UK Film Season: Dreams and the Dream-Makers” in Chengdu.

Centred on themes including Film + Tourism, Film + Education, Film + Literature, and Film + Theatre, the programme offers a comprehensive look at the magic of British cinema — both on screen and behind the scenes.

A selection of outstanding films will be screened free of charge for the public, complemented by themed exhibitions and in-depth talks with leading guests. Together, they promise a carefully curated feast of film culture. Click here for registration details.

We are also delighted to announce that this event serves as the closing celebration of the Consulate-General’s 25th anniversary. Over the past year, a series of activities have taken place across Southwest China, highlighting the rich achievements of UK–China cooperation in the region and honouring a friendship that has stood the test of time. With cinema as our gift, we offer heartfelt thanks to all who have journeyed with us.

Film Screenings

Screening Programme

From tributes to classic films, to bold expressions by emerging directors, and the increasingly popular NT Live high-definition theatre broadcasts, five outstanding works present the diverse landscape of British film culture.

1.     The Children Act

Screening time: 20 December, 14:30
Duration: 105 minutes

Fiona, a distinguished High Court judge, finds her marriage under strain while facing a difficult legal case: should a seventeen-year-old leukemia patient who refuses a life-saving blood transfusion be forced to live? Fiona visits the boy, Adam, and their conversation awakens intense emotions in him — and stirs long-buried feelings within herself.

2.     Macbeth

Screening time: 20 December, 19:30
Duration: 114 minutes

Part of the NT Live high-definition theatre broadcast series, produced in collaboration with the UK’s National Theatre and other partners. In this production, the ambitious General Macbeth murders the king to seize the throne, slaughtering former allies and innocent families alike. Consumed by bloodthirsty desire, he descends into madness and destruction.
The film’s stark black-and-white Gothic style casts a cold, eerie light over this tale of power and ambition.

3.     Hamlet

Screening time: 21 December, 14:30
Duration: 209 minutes

Also part of the NT Live series. Torn between avenging his father and safeguarding himself and the state, Prince Hamlet rages against an impossible dilemma. Shakespeare’s classic tragedy gains explosive new energy through the performance of superstar Benedict Cumberbatch, creating a production of immense dramatic force.

4.     Wuthering Heights

Screening time: 27 December, 19:30
Duration: 161 minutes

Another NT Live production. Heathcliff, an abandoned gypsy child adopted by the master of Wuthering Heights, grows up wounded by frustrated love and wounded pride. After leaving and returning, he takes revenge on his former enemies — and even their children — before realising he has lost himself to hatred.
As dark Gothic intensity collides with tender romantic emotion, contemporary questions of women’s social status, human nature, and psychology come sharply into focus.

5.     The Lonely Musketeer

Screening time: 28 December, 14:30
Duration: 97 minutes

Elite investor Rupert Bowman wakes up locked inside a windowless room, his memory erased, holding only a mobile phone. As he struggles to uncover the truth, the body of his closest friend is found outside the door — and a chilling secret begins to emerge.
This film was nominated for Most Anticipated Film at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival.

What Is NT Live?

For theatre lovers, these frustrations are all too familiar:

“The best shows are over there — and I’m over here.”

“Tickets are impossible to get.”

“Flying to London means jet lag and long queues.”

NT Live — short for National Theatre Live — solves all of this by broadcasting the finest stage productions from the UK in high definition to cinemas around the world. No need to book a flight to London to experience the latest and best British theatre.

And there’s more: NT Live retains the interval, while also offering exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the creative team, giving audiences a deeper understanding of both the production process and the performance itself.

Themed Exhibition

From 20 to 28 December, the “Dreams and the Dream-Makers” exhibition will take place at Palace Cinema (Taikoo Li, Chengdu). Film history, iconic shooting locations, famous figures, film schools, and interactive photo spots — all in one place.

Curious which British film school your favourite star attended? Dream of becoming their future alumnus? The exhibition “From Film School to the Red Carpet” offers a clear and engaging guide.

A single timeline condenses over a century of British cinema history — tracing the origins of international film festivals, landmark works, and, above all, the evolution of human curiosity and imagination.

Don’t miss the film location tour: revisit pivotal moments of history through Darkest Hour and Dunkirk, or follow Paddington into picture-perfect pastoral landscapes.

No more spoilers — come and explore in person, and you may even win limited-edition merchandise.

Guest Talk & Salon

On 26 December, 19:30–20:30, the UK Film Season Salon — “Travel Through Film” will be held at Fang Suo Bookstore (Taikoo Li, Chengdu). Guests will share insights on travelling in the UK and film creation.

Who are the featured speakers? Stay tuned — guest details and registration links will be announced in upcoming posts.

Click here to register for “UK Film Season: Dreams and the Dream-Makers” screenings. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. See you there!