Cinema Rediscovered

Cinema Rediscovered audience members seated in the cinema engaging in applause

Cinema Rediscovered

Save the Dates! Cinema Rediscovered – Watershed’s annual festival dedicated to the rediscovery and revival of great films – will be back in and around Bristol UNESCO City of Film from Wed 23 - Sun 27 July 2025 with a 9th annual edition offering a mix of screenings, expert-led talks, Q&As, workshops, cinema walks, a quiz and a multitude of starting points for lively conversation.

“The UK’s leading festival dedicated to classic cinema.”
Sight & Sound

Read more about Watershed’s annual festival, bringing great films back to the big screen.

Stills of films from the Cinema Rediscovered 2024 on tour offer

Touring programme launch

Cinema Rediscovered launches a UK and Ireland wide touring programme available Aug 2024 – Jan 2025 supported by BFI awarding funds from National Lottery. Find out more information on all the films touring and those being released by partner distributors.

Touring programme info

Cinema Rediscovered 2024 Highlights

Take a look back at highlights from the 8th edition of Cinema Rediscovered which brought people from across the UK and beyond together in and around Bristol UNESCO City of Film to celebrate the rediscovery and revival of great films on the big screen. Total ticketed admissions for the festival were up by 21% on 2023.

Read the Festival and Tour Review


What's it all about

A short film documenting what Cinema Rediscovered is all about, bringing people together to celebrate the rediscovery and revival of great films on the big screen. Film by Arthur Cauty.

Still from Citizen Kane

Cinema Rediscovered mailing list

Want to be the first to know what's happening in the run-up to the upcoming edition of the festival? Join our newsletter brought to you by the Cinema Rediscovered curatorial team.

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The Cinema Rediscovered team

Cinema Rediscovered is a collaborative endeavour involving a whole range of partners and creatives who all share a passion for cinema.

Meet the team

Grid of photos of portraits of the Cinema rediscovered team

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Other Ways of Seeing Co-curators

Meet the 2024 Other Ways of Seeing festival co-curators and watch this space for more announcements about those involved in our touring programme.

Find out more

Photos of all the co-curators as part of Other Ways of Seeing

Reframing Film Sessions

Join some of the most inspiring voices in repertory and archive film exhibition and distribution to explore ways of connecting with a new wave of cinema goers.

Find out more

Artwork graphic promoting Reframing Film Sessions

Festival Strands

Find your way through the festival's programme of screenings and events via our recurring strands.

Find out more

Suggest a programme

If you are involved in a new restoration or have an idea for an event or strand that you think audiences would love to see at Cinema Rediscovered – get in touch to discuss further.

Contact us

For all enquiries relating to Cinema Rediscovered please email cinema.rediscovered@watershed.co.uk


Previous festivals

Cinema Rediscovered 2024
Please note: This event finished in July 2024

The 8th edition of Cinema Rediscovered (Wed 24 – Sun 28 July), Watershed’s annual festival dedicated to the rediscovery and revival of great films, showcases screenings of new restorations, rediscoveries and film-on-film rarities, cinema walks, a quiz, talks and more.

Cinema Rediscovered 2023
Please note: This event finished in July 2023

Celebrate the return of the big screen experience at the 7th edition of Cinema Rediscovered (Wed 26 – Sun 30 July), Watershed’s annual festival showcasing brand new restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities from around the globe.

Cinema Rediscovered 2022
Please note: This event finished in July 2022

Celebrate the return of the big screen experience at the 6th edition of Cinema Rediscovered (Wed 26 – Sun 30 July), Watershed’s annual festival showcasing brand new restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities from around the globe

Cinema Rediscovered 2021
Please note: This event finished in Aug 2021

Cinema Rediscovered returns for its fifth edition this year from Wed 28 July – Sun 1 Aug, celebrating the return of the big screen experience with a line-up of brand new restorations and rediscoveries before going on a UK wide tour from Aug – Oct 2021.

Cinema Rediscovered 2019
Please note: This event finished in July 2019

Join us for the fourth edition of Cinema Rediscovered – a chance to discover some of the finest new digital restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities from across the globe where they were meant to be experienced – on the big screen.

Cinema Rediscovered 2018
Please note: This event finished in July 2018

Join us for the third edition of Cinema Rediscovered - a chance to discover some of the finest new digital restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities from across the globe where they were meant to be experienced - on the big screen.

faye dunaway
Please note: This event finished in July 2017

Join us for the second edition of Cinema Rediscovered - a chance to discover some of the finest new digital restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities from across the globe where they were meant to be experienced - on the big screen.

Cinema Rediscovered 2016
Please note: This event finished in Aug 2016

Join us at this brand new international archive film event that celebrates great films back on the big screen, giving audiences an opportunity to discover - or indeed re-discover - new digital restorations, film print rarities of early cinema, and contemporary classics.