Inaugural winner of the Gibson Award announced at the closing gala of the 2024 Chichester International Film Festival. A young teacher hopes to be transferred to Istanbul after four years of mandatory service in a remote village, but an accusation may derail his work and private life.

Nestled away in wintry East Anatolia, public-school art teacher Samet (Deniz Celiloğlu) yearns to leave the sleepy village for cosmopolitan Istanbul. Further disenchanted when he and colleague Kenan (Musab Ekici) come under public scrutiny, Samet fears circumstances will keep his dreams of a new life permanently out of reach. A silver lining is a budding relationship with fellow teacher Nuray (Merve Dizdar) who develops connections with both Samet and Kenan. As with all of Ceylan’s films, this features compelling patient storytelling, it is often mesmerising and is filled with an undeniable atmosphere. (Subtitles) Will include a short comfort break.

Turkey 2023 Nuri Bilge Ceylan 197m

A riveting historical thriller that recreates one of the largest manhunts in FBI history, where an agent believed that the crimes he was investigating were not the work of financially motivated criminals, but rather a group of dangerous domestic terrorists.

For over a year, a series of bold daylight bank robberies and armoured car heists leaves law enforcement baffled and the public panicked throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the attacks become increasingly violent, FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) becomes convinced that the robberies are the work of a gang that plans to use the loot to finance an armed uprising against the U.S. government. As the militia builds a war chest of over $4 million, Husk pursues the malevolent racist Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult) to a final bloody standoff that will go down in U.S. history. Intelligent, gripping and smouldering, this is a real-life thriller that Hollywood rarely puts on the big screen anymore. Described as ‘rigorously authentic and briskly compelling’ by Variety and ‘a nail-biter from start to finish’ by The Hollywood Reporter, this brooding, suspenseful thriller has Jude Law leading the cast with confident authority, and his combination with his icy-eyed adversary Hoult keeps us gripped until the end.

USA/UK/Canada 2024 Justin Kurzel 114m

Luca Guadagnino’s latest film is a highly anticipated adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel Queer. Known for his lush, atmospheric storytelling, Guadagnino brings a haunting, visually rich style to this intense, introspective narrative.

Following Lee (Jeremy Allen White), a troubled American expat in Mexico City during the 1950s, Queer explores the highs and lows of his obsessive pursuit of Allerton (Jacob Elordi), a younger man who remains enigmatic and distant. As Lee grapples with inner turmoil, his relationship with Allerton becomes a vehicle for his own self-discovery, bitterness, and, ultimately, self-destruction. Guadagnino’s direction combines lush visuals and moody cinematography to evoke Lee’s disorienting, passionate journey, turning Burroughs’ narrative into something deeply cinematic. Darkly evocative and emotionally charged, Queer captures both the grimness and beauty of Burroughs' original work while showcasing Guadagnino’s unique vision.

Italy/USA 2024 Luca Guadagnino 112m