Claire West
@magentabias.bsky.social
Cinema/music/theatre/art.
Film conservator at BFI National Archive. Opinions own.
https://boxd.it/9PCJ
Film conservator at BFI National Archive. Opinions own.
https://boxd.it/9PCJ
Pinned
Claire West
@magentabias.bsky.social
· May 15
It was a great honour to meet the one & only Guillermo del Toro during his #BFI Fellowship tour of the Archive this week and show him a reel of our nitrate print of The Magnificent Ambersons, one of his favourite films 🤩
Photos by Tim Whitby.
Photos by Tim Whitby.
Reposted by Claire West
This is one of the most terrifying interviews I’ve ever seen. The slow reveal of the mental landscape at work here. If you don’t end up thinking we should stop these people with as much force as we can muster, I’d be very surprised.
youtu.be/lnLDjXy2kRA?...
youtu.be/lnLDjXy2kRA?...
Jacob Coxon On Witnessing the Existential Threat of AI from the Inside | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
youtu.be
October 8, 2026 at 6:20 AM
This is one of the most terrifying interviews I’ve ever seen. The slow reveal of the mental landscape at work here. If you don’t end up thinking we should stop these people with as much force as we can muster, I’d be very surprised.
youtu.be/lnLDjXy2kRA?...
youtu.be/lnLDjXy2kRA?...
#LFF Gone to Earth - the long awaited restoration of Powell & Pressburger’s overlooked folk melodrama arrives in a blaze of Technicolor. David Farrar beastly as the sherry swilling swine.
October 7, 2026 at 8:43 PM
#LFF Gone to Earth - the long awaited restoration of Powell & Pressburger’s overlooked folk melodrama arrives in a blaze of Technicolor. David Farrar beastly as the sherry swilling swine.
I met Bagpuss & friends!
The Smallfilms exhibition at Canterbury’s Beaney museum is full of gentle handmade creations. It stirred such strong, happy childhood memories that I was moved to tears. Pure magic.
The Smallfilms exhibition at Canterbury’s Beaney museum is full of gentle handmade creations. It stirred such strong, happy childhood memories that I was moved to tears. Pure magic.
I had the absolute pleasure over the weekend to visit Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin’s SmallFilms museum in Canterbury. Utter delightful to see such artistry and unbound creativity from the analogue world of animation. Where low budgets and imagination and a mend-make-do attitude triumphs.
October 6, 2026 at 6:44 AM
I met Bagpuss & friends!
The Smallfilms exhibition at Canterbury’s Beaney museum is full of gentle handmade creations. It stirred such strong, happy childhood memories that I was moved to tears. Pure magic.
The Smallfilms exhibition at Canterbury’s Beaney museum is full of gentle handmade creations. It stirred such strong, happy childhood memories that I was moved to tears. Pure magic.
“Trump has pledged to give a "Trump dividend" of $5,000 to every US citizen if Republicans win November's midterm elections.”
Hmmm, where have I heard that before?? 🤔
Hmmm, where have I heard that before?? 🤔
September 12, 2026 at 7:42 AM
“Trump has pledged to give a "Trump dividend" of $5,000 to every US citizen if Republicans win November's midterm elections.”
Hmmm, where have I heard that before?? 🤔
Hmmm, where have I heard that before?? 🤔
A day of murder, revenge and diabolical schemes, courtesy of the Claude Chabrol season at #BFI Southbank. Fantastique!
#filmsky #letterboxd
#filmsky #letterboxd
September 5, 2026 at 10:01 PM
A day of murder, revenge and diabolical schemes, courtesy of the Claude Chabrol season at #BFI Southbank. Fantastique!
#filmsky #letterboxd
#filmsky #letterboxd
Reposted by Claire West
In case you missed this, most cinema tickets across the country are only £4 this weekend!
www.cinemauk.org.uk/2026/08/nati...
www.cinemauk.org.uk/2026/08/nati...
National Cinema Weekend announced for 5-6 September!!! - UK Cinema Association
The first ever UK National Cinema Weekend has been announced, taking place nationwide on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, with participating cinemas offering tickets to all screenings for just £4.
www.cinemauk.org.uk
September 4, 2026 at 11:34 AM
In case you missed this, most cinema tickets across the country are only £4 this weekend!
www.cinemauk.org.uk/2026/08/nati...
www.cinemauk.org.uk/2026/08/nati...
Reposted by Claire West
This year's London film Festival features a restoration of Gone to Earth.
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...
Gone to Earth | BFI London Film Festival 2026
Long overshadowed within Powell and Pressburger’s canon, this major new restoration reveals the visual splendour and dramatic intensity of one of their most misunderstood films.
whatson.bfi.org.uk
September 2, 2026 at 11:58 AM
This year's London film Festival features a restoration of Gone to Earth.
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...
Reposted by Claire West
The BFI London Film Festival 2026 programme has been revealed! Everyone is invited 7-18 October. Experience the world’s best new films at The Prince Charles Cinema and other cinemas in London and around the UK. #LFF
Full Programme: buff.ly/Y3Ssx5V
Full Programme: buff.ly/Y3Ssx5V
September 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The BFI London Film Festival 2026 programme has been revealed! Everyone is invited 7-18 October. Experience the world’s best new films at The Prince Charles Cinema and other cinemas in London and around the UK. #LFF
Full Programme: buff.ly/Y3Ssx5V
Full Programme: buff.ly/Y3Ssx5V
Reposted by Claire West
Yayoi Kusama
She made the heavens swirl.
She made the heavens swirl.
August 27, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Yayoi Kusama
She made the heavens swirl.
She made the heavens swirl.
Reposted by Claire West
The Reaper’s scythe takes Dolly, and now Tim Curry, but lets legions of geriatric villains continue to work evil and wreak havoc. This timeline sucks shit.
August 26, 2026 at 6:39 PM
The Reaper’s scythe takes Dolly, and now Tim Curry, but lets legions of geriatric villains continue to work evil and wreak havoc. This timeline sucks shit.
Highly recommend Tao of Glass @sohoplace theatre - a moving, entrancing evening of storytelling, music and puppetry. #theatresky
Tao of Glass review — Philip Glass inspires a piece of theatrical magic
www.ft.com/content/eeef...
www.ft.com/content/eeef...
Tao of Glass review — Philip Glass inspires a piece of theatrical magic
Phelim McDermott brings his playful, profound investigation into the power of music and theatre to London’s Soho Place
www.ft.com
August 26, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Highly recommend Tao of Glass @sohoplace theatre - a moving, entrancing evening of storytelling, music and puppetry. #theatresky
Spent the day in NFT1 watching the incredibly moving La Maison des Bois. If you love life, art, film, I urge you not to miss this at the cinema, it’s a sublime masterwork. I had so much affection for the characters, I would’ve happily spent another 6 hrs with them. #filmsky
August 16, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Spent the day in NFT1 watching the incredibly moving La Maison des Bois. If you love life, art, film, I urge you not to miss this at the cinema, it’s a sublime masterwork. I had so much affection for the characters, I would’ve happily spent another 6 hrs with them. #filmsky
During my trip to Brighton & Lewes last weekend, I visited Charleston house & gardens. Home to artists Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant of the Bloomsbury Group, they transformed every room into a work of art. A fabulous, inspiring place. #artsky
August 8, 2026 at 8:21 AM
During my trip to Brighton & Lewes last weekend, I visited Charleston house & gardens. Home to artists Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant of the Bloomsbury Group, they transformed every room into a work of art. A fabulous, inspiring place. #artsky
Just about coming down after last weekend’s Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds gig in Brighton. The band were on awesome, ferocious form playing to a rapt crowd. Also great to see The Flaming Lips again in support. An unforgettable, transcendent experience. #musicsky
August 4, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Just about coming down after last weekend’s Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds gig in Brighton. The band were on awesome, ferocious form playing to a rapt crowd. Also great to see The Flaming Lips again in support. An unforgettable, transcendent experience. #musicsky
Loved the silliness of the Goodies, especially the daft songs by Bill Oddie
Such sad news about Bill Oddie, a Renaissance Man genius, but here's the lovely conversation we had about his amazing comedic musical contribution to The Goodies on Front Row back in 2018. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
July 27, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Loved the silliness of the Goodies, especially the daft songs by Bill Oddie
Throughly enjoyed Rome Express at BFI Southbank last night, if only all train journeys were this much fun
ROME EXPRESS (Walter Forde, 1932).
All aboard! This delightful, tightly plotted train film feels like a stylistic dry run for THE LADY VANISHES (1938) as a variety of colourful characters travel from Paris to Rome on the titular Express.
A stolen painting drives the plot here, >> (1/2) #FilmSky
All aboard! This delightful, tightly plotted train film feels like a stylistic dry run for THE LADY VANISHES (1938) as a variety of colourful characters travel from Paris to Rome on the titular Express.
A stolen painting drives the plot here, >> (1/2) #FilmSky
July 22, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Throughly enjoyed Rome Express at BFI Southbank last night, if only all train journeys were this much fun
Reposted by Claire West
Delighted to be able to announce the line-up for my third Noirvember mini-season at The Chiswick Cinema. Particularly pleased to be screening both Farewell, My Lovely and The Narrow Margin. Book early to avoid disappointment, etc. Tickets available here: www.chiswickcinema.co.uk/noirvember-2...
July 14, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Delighted to be able to announce the line-up for my third Noirvember mini-season at The Chiswick Cinema. Particularly pleased to be screening both Farewell, My Lovely and The Narrow Margin. Book early to avoid disappointment, etc. Tickets available here: www.chiswickcinema.co.uk/noirvember-2...
Reposted by Claire West
🎬 BIG NEWS! San Francisco Film Preserve is bringing the inaugural Re:Vision: Festival of Restoration and Rediscovery to the historic Roxie Theater from September 24–27!
filmpreserve.org/rev...
1/5
filmpreserve.org/rev...
1/5
July 21, 2026 at 6:05 PM
🎬 BIG NEWS! San Francisco Film Preserve is bringing the inaugural Re:Vision: Festival of Restoration and Rediscovery to the historic Roxie Theater from September 24–27!
filmpreserve.org/rev...
1/5
filmpreserve.org/rev...
1/5
War Horse at the National Theatre is every bit as moving and magical as it was when I first saw it staged there nearly 20 years ago, left in tears again.
#theatresky
#theatresky
July 14, 2026 at 7:04 PM
War Horse at the National Theatre is every bit as moving and magical as it was when I first saw it staged there nearly 20 years ago, left in tears again.
#theatresky
#theatresky
Any week that contains not just one, but two Divine Comedy gigs, is a very special week indeed 🤩
Fabulous support from George Houston too.
@divinecomedyhq.bsky.social @aylesburywaterside.bsky.social @southbankcentre.bsky.social
Fabulous support from George Houston too.
@divinecomedyhq.bsky.social @aylesburywaterside.bsky.social @southbankcentre.bsky.social
July 12, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Any week that contains not just one, but two Divine Comedy gigs, is a very special week indeed 🤩
Fabulous support from George Houston too.
@divinecomedyhq.bsky.social @aylesburywaterside.bsky.social @southbankcentre.bsky.social
Fabulous support from George Houston too.
@divinecomedyhq.bsky.social @aylesburywaterside.bsky.social @southbankcentre.bsky.social
Archduke at the Royal Court theatre - a dark farce of radicalisation, nationalism, misogyny, toxic masculinity…it’s all so 1914. Es Devlin’s set design is outstanding.
I belatedly caught up with Archduke at the Court and after ten mins or so making peace with the fact it isn’t really striving for period accuracy I have to say I thought it was pretty great as a sort of mad dark comedy about radicalisation and grooming www.timeout.com/london/theat...
Archduke, Royal Court Theatre review: This dark comedy about Franz Ferdinand’s assassins is a bleakly funny parable about radicalisation
If you’re in the market for a meticulously accurate, 100 percent culturally sensitive drama about the events that led to the assassination of the Archduke Franz
www.timeout.com
July 11, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Archduke at the Royal Court theatre - a dark farce of radicalisation, nationalism, misogyny, toxic masculinity…it’s all so 1914. Es Devlin’s set design is outstanding.
Reposted by Claire West
July 10, 2026 at 8:17 AM
It’s the 30 year anniversary of Pioneer Soundtracks by Jack, one of the best albums you’ve, maybe never, heard. Criminally overlooked back in the mid-90s, its timeless magnificence has not faded.
#musicsky
youtu.be/agQaQV98ek8
#musicsky
youtu.be/agQaQV98ek8
Filthy Names
YouTube video by Jack - Topic
youtu.be
June 27, 2026 at 10:26 AM
It’s the 30 year anniversary of Pioneer Soundtracks by Jack, one of the best albums you’ve, maybe never, heard. Criminally overlooked back in the mid-90s, its timeless magnificence has not faded.
#musicsky
youtu.be/agQaQV98ek8
#musicsky
youtu.be/agQaQV98ek8
Reposted by Claire West
Time to take my mind of the weather and crack on with that retrospective article I've been commissioned to write on ... oh ...
June 24, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Time to take my mind of the weather and crack on with that retrospective article I've been commissioned to write on ... oh ...