Secret Cinema Presents Gillo Pontercovo’s The Battle of Algiers

“Secret Cinema has created a new way of experiencing film. Thefusion of film and theatre allows for a much more powerful experience and adds an incredibly unique dimension for the audience. It certainly did for me. I was blown away” - Kevin Spacey

Secret Cinema presented Gillo Pontercorvo’s masterpiece, The Battle of Algiers, as over 12,000 people came together under the southbank to participate in the live cinematic adaptation of one the most politically significant historical films of all time.

“Secret Cinema will continue to challenge the way films are seen,allowing audiences to live films that engage the viewer as well as entertain. We felt it was important to create the experience around Pontercovo’s film whose message is still hugely relevant today”

Fabien Riggall, Founder and creative director, Future Shorts and Future Cinema

Audiences presented their identification documents at the checkpoint underneath Waterloo station to enter the city of Algiers. Once inside they explored the French and Algerian quarters, the squares, the mosque, markets, bars and the winding roads of the Casbah.


Secret Cinema’s aim was to offer the audience the opportunity to draw parallels with the current situation in the Middle East, and share a film that demonstrates how a group of artists can speak truthfully about a hugely significant contemporary moment without prejudice or compromise.

“I was delighted by the brave choice of film made by Secret Cinema. The subject matter, freedom and revolution is as relevant today - 60 years after the films official release“.Hamish Jenkinson, Creative Director, Old Vic Tunnels.

Given the current climate which has engendered an anti-risk approach on the work of many cultural organizations in the subsidized and commercial sectors, Secret Cinema thanks its evergrowing audience whose continuing faith and trust has enabled the creation of a unique work that has reacted immediately to current events within the frame of a prior cultural artefact. It is the audience who are at the heart of everything Secret Cinema presents,and it is their trust which has facilitated this work which was presented without sponsorship or subsidy.

www.futureshorts.com
www.futurecinema.co.uk
www.secretcinema.org