With the reliably persistent stress of terms and the user-hostility of Facebook events, it's easy to let brilliant occasions flash us by. So, if you’re still hurting because you missed Céline Sciamma at Jesus, or Robert de Niro at the Union, then keep reading!

Our Film and TV section has curated a comprehensive guide to Cambridge’s film scene for the month of May; all the events and societies you need to know about in one place.

Cambridge Film & Screen

Cambridge Film & Screen is the University’s home of research and teaching in film and screen studies. Whilst not student-run, and geared towards post-graduates, there are still a range of fantastic undergraduate-accessible events to take advantage of. Their annual Filmmaker in residence for 2023 is Palme D’or nominee Christophe Honoré— known for films such as Winter Boy and Sorry Angel—who will be coming to Cambridge this week for a host of screenings, Q&As, masterclasses and more. 

This week’s events:

• Christophe Honoré’s residency: 30th of April to the 5th of May
• Sunday 30th April  - 4.30 pm, Screening of Le Lycéen / Winter Boy + Q&A (Arts Picturehouse)
• Monday 1st May - 5.30 pm, Screening of Tout contre Léo / Close to Leo + Q&A (McCrum Lecture Theatre, Corpus Christi College)  
• Tuesday 2nd May - 2 – 3.30pm, Masterclass 1 with Christophe Honoré 
• Tuesday 2nd May - 5.30pm, Screening of Les Chansons d’Amour / Love Songs + Q&A (McCrum Lecture Theatre)  
• Thursday 4th May  - 2 – 3.30pm, Masterclass 2 with Christophe Honoré  
• Friday 5th May - 2 – 5.30pm, The Work of Christophe Honoré: A Symposium

N.b. Some of these events require registration!

CUFA: Cambridge University Film Association 

CUFA is the University’s largest filmmaking society. It is completely student run, providing equipment rental, workshops, advice and events to make filmmaking in Cambridge more accessible. A £20 lifetime membership (or a ‘donate-what-you-can’ access membership) gets you free equipment rental, discounted event tickets and access to CUFA webpages and advertising channels. 

Despite being Cambridge’s premier film society, CUFA does not have a massive presence or offering (certainly not a scratch on the CUADC or similar flagship societies). There is unfortunately no word on upcoming events for Easter term, but keep an eye on their socials. CUFA runs a weekly Film Club and should also be announcing their termly schedule of speakers.

Film at Jesus

As is often the case at a place like Cambridge, college-run societies can go toe-to-toe with their university-wide counterparts. With a schedule to rival, and frankly out-do, that of CUFA, Jesus College’s film society, Film at Jesus, is one of the most exciting and vibrant film societies the university has to offer. 

Running an ambitious Easter Term schedule that has involved a conversation with prominent casting director, Matt Western, on the 30th of April, and will include a 1920s themed film screening series every Friday fortnightly from the 5th of May, if you’re looking for impressively consistent commitment and community - this is the one for you! The society also runs a short film competition every term, the last having taken place on the 26th of April.

Upcoming events:

• Friday 5th of May, Sibilla Room, 19:30 - screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 

The Arts Picturehouse

The Arts Picturehouse Cambridge is located on Regent Street (above the Spoons, for those of you who have only dared venture so far south when in search of a cheap pint). Although it is certainly expensive as cinemas go, with tickets sitting around £11-£13 for non-members, the Arts Picturehouse is the perfect spot for arthouse cinema enthusiasts.

Their student membership is exceptionally worthwhile, with an annual £20 charge entitling you to 2 free tickets (already making you your money back) as well as 25% off all food and drink, and free entry to all Discover and reDiscover branded screenings - which are often some of the most interesting films the cinema has on offer. But book quickly! These tend to sell out fast.

Upcoming events:

• Picturehouse is counting down the Top 10 films from the Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time poll. Catch number 8, Mulholland Drive, on the 27th of May at 8pm.
• Picturehouse is showing an array of A24 flicks as a part of their reDiscover series, where members go free and non-members go for £8. Catch The Last Black Man in San Francisco on the 7th of May, The Florida Project on the 12th, the Lobster on the 19th and the Farewell on the 28th. 
• This same promotion goes for their Discover series, where there are cult classics, art-house gems and riveting documentaries on show. Catch The Eight Mountains on the 9th of May. 

St John’s Picturehouse

From one Picturehouse to another, St. John's Picturehouse is a student-run cinema running weekly screenings during term time. Located in the Palmerston room of Johns’ Fisher Building, the Picturehouse uses a cinema grade DCP projector to put on screenings open to all Students and Staff at the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin. Tickets are £4 (including booking fee).

Upcoming events:

• Film Screenings to be held throughout term. Last event: Cocaine Bear on Sunday 30th of April.

Cambridge World Cinema Society

Cambridge World Cinema Society (CWCS) is a lesser known but criminally underrated society that aims to showcase the breadth of world cinema by platforming global, independent films. As a general rule, the society avoids screening anglophone films, although a few have been shown over the years. Their screenings are every Thursday during term time and either take place in Christ’s Yusuf Hamied Theatre or Fitz’s Gordon Cameron. 

Upcoming events:

• CWCS are collaborating with MUBI to screen the new Catalan-language film Alcarràs at Fitzwilliam College in the Auditorium on Thursday the 4th at 7:30. Keep an eye on their socials, as their film screening series will continue every Thursday throughout Easter term.

The Cambridge Union

While the Union is better known for its debates than its cinema, their extensive range of speakers often includes notable members of the film industry. The Cambridge Union is a private society with membership open to all students of Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin University, however some events are made accessible to non-members. 

Upcoming events:

• Actor and writer Laurence Rickard, of Horrible Histories’ fame, will come to the union on the 9th of May. 
• Musician Rina Sawayama will be coming to the union on Friday the 12th of May in an event open to non-members. Although primarily a pop singer, Sawayama made her debut acting appearance in John Wick: Chapter 4. 
• Influencer and winner of Love Island Season 8, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu will be at the union for a members only event on Tuesday the 16th of May