our monthly meetups on the 8th of the month

informal meet-ups on the 8th of most months usually at 8pm (but not always!)

a chance for filmmakers and creatives to connect in the real world in a convivial and supportive way

because who knows what it might lead to?

mostly london but could be anywhere

upcoming events:

tues april 8th ‘25 /// surprise screening /// 18:00

get ready for a very special shared film experience in the form of a classic movie from the late 60’s/70’s, projected from an original 16mm print

we’re heading back to the brilliant cine-real tiny 15-seat screening room in hackney, for another surprise screening and we couldn’t be more excited

this bijou venue is in the back of umit’s film emporium, where coke cans and mars bars jostle for customers alongside VHS special editions, laser discs, projectors and steenbecks

it’s the perfect place to meet and hang out with like-minded filmmakers and cinephiles!

just like last time, we’re keeping the film under wraps until the night itself, and just like last time what we screen is up to you

your ticket gives you a 3-tier vote from this selection of cinema gold:

the graduate / the long goodbye / love story / the conformist / being there / point blank / death race 2000

these seven films are left from our choice of eight last time, when bonnie & clyde won

once you buy your tickets you get to vote

and we all find out which film won on the night, as the projector rolls!

tickets are £18 to cover the cost of the private screening and to help keep film and wonders like cine-real alive

spaces are limited so register your interest here asap and we will share the payment link

we provide the popcorn - you bring your drinks

see you there!

ps - if you have a super 8 camera or projector you want looked over, feel free to bring it along and we can take a look

past events:

sat march 8th ‘25 /// HAmptead heath walk /// 12:00

for march’s straight8th, we took to the heath for a walk, a chat, and a breath of fresh air

dogs ran wild, new faces met familiar ones, and spring got a proper welcome!

sat feb 8th ‘25 /// blue velvet /// 12:30

update: before david lynch took the lost highway to the sky, we’d already planned to celebrate his iconic work as part of the prince charles cinema’s special 35mm season

we wanted to get a group together and gave you the choice of three films:

blue velvet @ 12:00 (noon)

lost highway @ 5:30

mulholland drive @ 8:30

blue velvet was the runaway winner, so, on saturday, we gathered at pcc to watch lynch’s seminal masterpiece on 35mm with a full house.

thanks to everyone who joined, and to pcc for having us. if you haven’t yet, you can still help save the prince charles cinema by signing the petition here.

WED JAN 8TH ‘25 /// surprise screening /// 20:00

we had a 16mm screening of bonnie and clyde at cine-real’s tiny cinema in the back of umit’s shop in hackney

tickets were £18 to cover the cost of this unique private screening: popcorn supplied + bring your own drinks

everyone who bought a ticket got to vote for the film they wanted to see which remained a surprise until it the projector rolled!

it’s the second time we did this and it was just as fun as ever

we will be doing it again - keep your eyes peeled!

SUN DEC 8th ‘24 /// NOON - 2PM

-this one is postponed - we blame storm darragh - /// we’ll be back ///

ALFRESCO SUPER 8 camera SURGERY - TEST YOUR CAMERA @ HAMPSTEAD HEATH, LONDON NW3

this is one we’ve wanted to do for a while!

an outdoor meet-up with (or without) super 8 cameras. everyone gets the chance to shoot a short blast of super 8 and try out techniques. you don’t have to bring a camera, but if you want to test yours out this is a great opportunity to do so. we will pay for processing and scanning, and send everyone their results a couple of weeks later to see how they and their camera got on. we will have some cameras on hand too - so if you’re just curious about super 8 and want to give it a whirl, you can.

we ask you to buy your spot by december 3rd for £8 in order. this is to force you out of bed and so we can get an idea of numbers (min 10 people + max 20 people)

PLUS at the end we will explain how you can claim the £8 back off entry to straight 8 2025 (if you haven’t already entered). so book your slot asap

optional: bring a coffee on the day, or even a packed lunch!

we’re looking forward to meeting new and old friends and shooting the breeze and some super 8 film with you all

FRI NOV 8th ‘24 - drinks & SUPER 8 camera SURGERY @ THE ALPACA, ISLINGTON

a lovely evening at the alpaca with all the usual straight 8th chats, inspo, beers and lovely people ++ we offered a free super 8 camera surgery. bring your camera, we’ll check it over and give it a quick film test.

thanks to all who came!

WED MAY 8th ‘24 - STRAight 8 FILMMAKER drinks @ BANK OF FRIENDSHIP n5 1ea

whether you made it to a selection, want to drown your sorrows or just meet other filmmakers, join us at the pub for a drink before the big premieres!

open to all straight 8 filmmakers - 2024 top 8, top 25, unselected, or from the last few years. we’d love to see you all there to swap tales of the hardest filmmaking challenge on earth!

MON APR 8th ‘24 - STRAight 8 2024 filmmakers zoom MEET UP

online @ 8pm

FRI MAR 8th ‘24 - COPA ‘71 screening with intro by director and straight 8er rachel ramsay

picturehouse central @ 6.40pm - get tickets below and let us know if you’re coming!

thu feb 8th ‘24 - straight 8 x ciné-real 16mm screening

@ ümit & son’s screening room, co-hosted by ümit and liam

mon jan 8th ‘24 - happy new year meet up

location: the old eagle pub in camden, nw1 9lu

fri dec 8th ‘23 - pub drinks with surprise

the shakespeare head in angel

Wed nov 8TH ‘23 - ‘Le charcutier cinéaste’ premiere @ the garden cinema

more info and tickets here!

sun oct 8TH ‘23 - BFI LFF ‘23 screening of ‘COPA 71’, by straight 8r rachel ramsay

more info and tickets here!

Fri SEP 8TH ‘23 - bad FILM NIGHT - hosted by kato + klara

TUE AUG 8TH ‘23 - Pub drinks @ the bank of friendship pub

THU JUL 8TH ‘23 - NOSFERATU WITH LIVE SCORE BY HUGO MAX at prince charles cinema

THU JUN 8TH ‘23 - SPECIAL EVENT - straight 8 originals at bfi festival of film on film, bfi southbank, london - 9.15pm

MON MAY 8TH ‘23 - BANK HOLIDAY. POST-2023-RESULTS PUB MEETUP - LONDON N5

a really good turn out in a really superb pub (bank of friendship) of friends old and new. thanks for coming everyone!

SAT APR 8TH ‘23 - SPECIAL SCREENING, LONDON - STRAIGHT 8 PRESENTS: A BUNCH OF AMATEURS

straight 8 ed saw this at sheffield doc fest and wanted to see it in a room full of filmmakers ever since. thanks to met distribution and garden cinema, that’s exactly what happened!

WED MAR 8TH ‘23 - ASIF KAPADIA’S CREATURE AT ICA, LONDON

a few of us went to see this beautiful and mind-blowing dance film. check it out when you can

wed feb 8TH ‘23 - CINE-REAL SCREENING ROOM, LONDON

what a great one! we split the cost of this 15 seat micro cinema and each audience member voted for a 16mm print from cine-real’s library. the result rolled before our eyes: the red shoes. top night. no pictures. you had to be there!

SUN JAN 8TH ‘23 - CLOSE-up film centre, LONDON

2023 kicked off with a cosy drink at close-up. some old friends and some new - plus a story good enough to grace any straight 8…

thu dec 8th ‘22 - CROWN AND SHUTTLE, SHOREDITCH LONDON

inaugural edition. a great turn out of people - many of whom we didn’t know, and didn't know each other. a cold night of december pub garden vibes and inner warmth!!