Paid for contentFebruary cinema highlights at Mareel

WITH the February film schedule rolling out, Shetland Arts’ Cinema Programmer Jenny Leask shares her thoughts on what’s coming up this month.

Jenny has been working with Shetland Arts as cinema programmer for six years, having previously worked at cinemas in Edinburgh and for the Edinburgh International Film Festival since the mid 1990s. She enjoys the challenge of putting together the cinema programme every month, making sure to include a wide variety of blockbusters, family films and smaller, independent films, trying to ensure everyone can find something for them.

“For families this month, there’s animated animal adventures with Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, starring everybody’s favourite swashbuckling feline, and Epic Tails, which tells the story of super smart mouse Pattie and her feline friend Sam, as they embark upon an exciting quest through Ancient Greece. Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical is also back due to popular demand, after packing out our screens in December!

Michelle Williams provides a strong female lead in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated The Fabelmans, a cinematic memory of the forces, and family, that shaped the filmmaker’s life and career, and there’s plenty more where that came from. Margot Robbie leads a dazzling ensemble cast in Babylon, the latest spectacular piece of work from director Damien Chazelle of La La Land and Whiplash. Women Talking is an absorbing drama starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw and Frances McDormand.

For those seeking some action and thrills, there’s plenty of that too! From M Night Shyamalan, director of The Sixth Sense and Split, comes terrifying thriller Knock at the Cabin, starring Dave Bautista and Rupert Grint, and there’s something sinister lurking at the bottom of the garden in blackly comic folk horror Unwelcome.

Deserving of its very own mention, the Magic Mike franchise is making a long-awaited return since its last film in 2015, starring Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek in Magic Mike’s Last Dance which sees Mike Lane takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust.

Finally, there will also be a selection of exciting special screenings this month. The second half of the Bond season which started last month features Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye and Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. Screening in a new restoration to mark its 70th anniversary, and perfect for a Valentine’s night out, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck star in enchanting romantic comedy Roman Holiday – and look out for a season of Audrey Hepburn classics, coming soon!

Heading West: A Story About a Band Called Shooglenifty is a sensitive documentary following the folk band as they work through the loss of their fiddle-playing frontman, Angus Grant. Looking back on their long career, reflecting on the music that Angus has left them, and, with a little help from fiddle-playing friends, getting through a year of grief and introspection.”

So, come along this month and experience the magic of cinema with some of these brilliant new titles – Shetland Arts will also be offering a giveaway on the Mareel Facebook page – keep an eye out, you could be the lucky winner of two free tickets to a film of your choice!

Explore February’s films and book tickets on the Shetland Arts website, pop into Mareel or give the box office a call on 01595 745500.

Cheap day tickets (£5.50) are available for all films on a Tuesday, during the day on Wednesday/Thursday and on Saturday/Sunday mornings, under 16s tickets are £5.50 all week. For all ticket prices (£5.50 – £10) see the Shetland Arts website.