BFI Musicals! The Greatest Show on Screen

BFI Musicals! celebrated the spectacle and craft of Musicals on film. A Nation-wide cinema season coming in Autumn 2019, led by BFI, the Independent Cinema Office and Film Audience network, supported by funds from the National Lottery

The BFI's blockbuster season for 2019 celebrates Musicals - the Greatest Show on Screen.

From October 2019 to January 2020 FAN venues presented the finest films celebrating the spectacle of Musicals talent from Hollywood to the present day, at BFI Southbank and cinemas across the UK, online on BFI Player and with a wide range of UK partners.

BFI Musicals! season ran from October 2019 to January 2020.

Read about BFI Musicals on BFI website

Funding to help you take part

Major Programmes support was open to all FAN members who want to take part in the season, via tiered funding programmes.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) for National and Tourable project proposals between £12,000 - £30,000. Status: CLOSED
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for venue-based and regional project proposals between £2,500 - £12,000. Status: CLOSED
Screening Support (up to £2,500) for activity taking place between 1 October - 31 January. Status: CLOSED

As of 13 December 2020, all funds for Musicals! activity are closed.

BFI Musicals! Brand guidance

Films available to book via ICO

SWEET CHARITY Dir Bob Fosse, 1969

The season was supported by The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) who offered a booking menu of related titles at negotiated rates, available to book for film screenings taking place through to the end of January 2020.

To browse the ICO Musicals touring programme click here or contact programming@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk for more information.

Browse ICO Musicals Touring titles list

Media

Girls on Film podcast

The hills are alive in an episode dedicated to big screen musicals, recorded with an audience at Widescreen Weekend 2019. Emma Read and Mia Bays join host Anna Smith to discuss the joys and gender politics of The Sound Of Music, Calamity Jane & more

Click to listen

Sing us a line from your favourite musical | BFI Musicals! sing-along

What's your favourite musical? And go on... sing us a line! To celebrate the launch of BFI Musicals! - a three-month season featuring the most toe-tapping musical movies of all time - BFI Southbank audiences show off their inner sing-along star.

watch the programme launch attendees singalong here

Special Events and Commissions

Birds Eye View: reframing Streisand

UK-wide tour celebrating Streisand’s films - exploring her status as superstar of stage and screen, powerhouse producer/dir cultural icon. The films were accompanied by talks from special guests plus Drag King and Queen acts and 'Barbraoke'

Contact Cristina at B-E-V to get involved

Compass Presents: Singin' in the Rain

A site specific dance moment and outdoor screening of Singin in the Rain in Bristol Millennium Square, as well as special screenings in Bristol and Liverpool Spiegeltents enhanced with cabaret-style evening entertainment.

Visit Compass to find out more

Live Cinema & Make a Scene singalongs, karaoke & more...

Two national film tours of Queer cinema classics Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Cabaret, plus bookable “musical-only” karaoke and lip sync nights for cinemas to host as additional activity outside of traditional screenings.

Visit Live Cinema to find out more

Melodia! Musicals from Russia and the Caucasus

Kino Klassika presented Melodia! Musicals from Russia and the Caucasus, at BFI Southbank, Cine Lumiere and UK cinemas in January 2020.

Find out more and get involved here

We Are Parable present: The Art of the Black Visual Album

A season celebrating how Black musicians have embraced the visual album as part of their creative process. From Purple Rain to the nuanced themes of home in Sampha’s “Process”, expect panel discussions, Q+As and live events exploring this artform

Explore the season at We Are Parable website