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Screen Talk With Mark Romanek
Why You Should See it: Since the Opening Night Gala, sci-fi fable Never Let Me Go , sold out ages ago, here's the next best thing: a masterclass with the film's director.
When And Where You Can See It: Thurs 14th, 21:00, NFT 1 - online booking here
Better Than: Listening to some random loon at Speaker's Corner.
Let Me In
Why You Should See it: With Opening Night sold out, here's your earliest chance to catch a likely hit of the Festival.
When And Where You Can See It: Fri 15th, 12:30, Vue Screen 7 - online booking here
Better Than: Cadging leftovers from Smithfield Market.
Tabloid
Why You Should See it: Errol Morris is arguably the greatest documentary maker of his generation, winning an Oscar for Fog of War , his film about the origins of the Vietnam War, and even getting an innocent man released from death row thanks to crime expose The Thin Blue Line .
When And Where You Can See It: Sat 16th, 18:00, Vue Screen 7 - online booking here - or Sun 17th, 15:00, Vue Screen 7 - online booking here
Better Than: Getting papped falling arse-over-tit out of some over-priced celeb hang-out.
Everything Must Go
Why You Should See it: Having reclaimed his comedy crown at the box office with The Other Guys , here's a reminder that Will Ferrell is a decent dramatic actor, too.
When And Where You Can See It: Fri 15th, 15:00, Vue Screen 7 - online booking here
Better Than: Braving the Oxford Street sales
Chongqing Blues
Why You Should See it: The LFF traditionally offers the UK premiere of the best in World Cinema, especially those that wowed the world's critics at Cannes.
When And Where You Can See It: Thurs 14th, 15:15, Vue Screen 6 - online booking here
Better Than: Seeing Chelsea's Blues at Stamford Bridge, unless you're a member of Roman Abramovich's barmy army, of course
Another Year
Why You Should See it: Already one of the hits of Cannes, Mike Leigh's latest is a dependably bittersweet dramedy revolving around the quiet lives of married couple Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, and their defiantly not-quiet friend Lesley Manville.
When And Where You Can See It: Mon 18th, 19:00, Odeon Leicester Square - online booking here - or at a cinema near you - details of participating cinemas here .
Better Than: Going to London!
Carlos
Why You Should See It: A handful of tickets are still available for this biopic of legendary 70s terrorist Carlos the Jackal. At five-and-a-half hours long, it's the best value you can find for your movie pound.
When And Where You Can See It: Sat 16th, 12:00, Vue Screen 5 - online booking here
Better Than: Attending a Socialist Worker rally
The Bridge Over The River Kwai
Why You Should See It: Chances are, given its seven Oscars, one of the most whistled theme tunes in movie history and the fact it's always on telly, you've probably seen this one already.
When And Where You Can See It: Sun 17th, 17:15, Odeon West End 2 - online booking here
Better Than: Walking across the Thames on a windy day.
Leap Year
Why You Should See It: Winner of this year's Camera D'Or - the award for Best First Feature - at Cannes, this is a chance to see a possible future great at the beginning of his career.
When And Where You Can See It: Sat 16th, 21:00, Vue Screen 3 - online booking here - or Sun 17th, 13:00, Vue Screen 3 - online booking here
Better Than: Trawling the nightspots for a quickie you know you're gonna regret the next morning.
The Peddler
Why You Should See It: Daniel Burmeister might well be the best director you've never heard of. Perhaps because his no-budget epics are short in sleepy Argentinian villages using amateur casts and crews from the neighbourhood.
When And Where You Can See It: Sun 17, 21:00, NFT1 - online booking here
Better Than: Coercing your mates into filming that East Eng gangster flick you've always wanted to make, geezer.
Conviction
Why You Should See it: All three screenings this week are sold out, but if you're quick you might bag a seat for the final showing next Monday (18th).
When And Where You Can See It: Mon 18th, 14:45, Vue Screen 5 - online booking here
Better Than: Getting lairy with the rozzers and getting hauled up in court on a trumped-up charge,
Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields
Why You Should See It: The first of a suprising number of music documentaries playing during the festival, alongside films about Lemmy, Creation Records and even Mott The Hoope (Wikipedia 'em, kids).
When And Where You Can See It: Fri 15th, 18:30, NFT 1 - online booking here - or Sat 16th, 18:45, ICA 1 - online booking here
Better Than: Seeing your mate's band playing to a handful of unimpressed giggers in a pub
Amigo
Why You Should See It: John Sayles is a maverick even amongst American independent directors, content to push beyond his comfort zone where others are content to stick to the same template.
When And Where You Can See It: Fri 15th, 21:00, Vue Screen 3 - online booking here - or Sat 16th, 13:00, Vue Screen 3 - online booking here
Better Than: Protesting against the Iraq War outside the Houses of Parliament. Blair's long gone, you know?
Self Made
Why You Should See It: Pick of the New British Cinema strand this week for which tickets are still available, artist Gillian Wearing's debut blurs boundaries between fiction and documentary.
When And Where You Can See It: Fri 15th, 14:45, Vue Screen 5 - online booking here
Better Than: Getting accosted by a camera crew in Soho.
Pandora's Box
Why You Should See It: to remind yourself that James Cameron was not cinema's first visitor to Pandora.
When And Where You Can See It: Thurs 14th, 18:00, NFT 1 - online booking here
Better Than: Getting boxed in by irate commuters on a crowded tube train.
