Kermode on Film

This month, Mark once again was an integral part of the Provence Arts Festival du Film, an annual festival dedicated to documentary cinema and the arts held in the hilltop Luberon village of Ménerbes, founded by Lucy Darwin, which this year focuses on music documentaries.This is the first of a few episodes from the festival. Today Mark is joined by Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth to talk about their film BROKEN ENGLISH about legendary singer-songwriter Marianne Faithfull, starring George Mackay and Tilda Swinton. They also touch on 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH, their film chronicling Nick Cave's life.This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and recorded and edited by Richard Gay.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production© HLA Agency

Recorded in the mosquito-infested fields of Latitude Festival, Mark and Jack dig into film music to mark the paperback release of Mark's book Surround Sound: The Stories of Movie Music, co-written with Jenny Nelson.They talk composer-director shorthand including John Williams and the "shark" scene from Jaws, Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan's one-page brief for Interstellar; they discuss the "great soundtrack, shame about the film" phenomenon referencing S. Darko, Cannibal Holocaust, Exorcist II: The Heretic; and how Jack worked with composer Benjamin Squires on his own short film The Second Time Around.Mark also talks about Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and the eerie 15/8 time signature that makes The Exorcist's theme feel so wrong, and gives some hard-won advice on sticking with a creative career when nobody's paying you yet.Titles mentioned in this episode include:Spider-ManThe Social NetworkDriveInterstellarMan of SteelSupermanThe Lord of the RingsTinker Tailor Soldier SpyThe Wolfman (2010)Jennifer 8S. DarkoDonnie DarkoCannibal HolocaustExorcist II: The HereticThe ExorcistDon't Look NowE.T.JawsJurassic ParkYou Were Never Really HereThere Will Be BloodThe Zone of InterestWicked / Wicked: for GoodMary Poppins (Blunt-era)Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with MeBlade RunnerDrive My CarPsychoSuspiriaThe ShiningThe OdysseyThe Second Time Around (Jack Howard's brilliant short film, now available on Channel 4)This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Jack Howard.  Recorded by Richard Gay.Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.© HLA Agency

In this episode of Kermode on Film, Mark talks to Imran Perretta about his moving debut feature ISH and to Jason Isaacs about the eight projects he's filmed back to back recentlyIf you missed the first half of this edition of Mark Kermode Live in 3D at the BFI Southbank, listen to episode 290, in which Mark talks to founder of the Straight 8 Film Competition Ed Sayers about his documentary feature SUPER NATURE, a stunning exploration of the natural world filmed on Super 8 Film by 40 filmmakers from all across the world. And he talks to Sian Clifford about her surreal mockumentary LADY.MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.Opening title quotes from:·       Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)·       Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)·       Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)·       The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair) This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.  Image by Julie Edwards.Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.© HLA Agency

Mark Kermode and Jack Howard discuss Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey at the Sun Pub on Drury LaneOther films mentioned in this episode:Silent Running (1972)2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)The Dark Knight (2008)Dunkirk (2017)Society (1989)Oppenheimer (2023)Spirited Away (2001)Interstellar (2014)Inception (2010)The Ninth Configuration (1980)The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001-3)With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency productionProduced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop© HLA Agency

In this episode of Kermode on Film, Mark talks to the founder of the Straight 8 Film Competition, Ed Sayers about his documentary feature SUPER NATURE, a stunning exploration of the natural world filmed on Super 8 Film by 40 filmmakers from all across the world.Next, he welcomes Sian Clifford to talk about her new feature LADY, a surreal mockumentary which follows a lonely aristocrat's attempt to find the spotlight. Sian discusses her love for comedy, ten years of FLEABAG and her childhood fascination with Laura Dern.Tune in to next week's Kermode on Film to hear the other half of July's MK3D when Mark talks to Imran Perretta about his debut feature ISH and to Jason Isaacs about the eight projects he's filmed back to back.Take a front row seat for the 115th edition of MK3D at the BFI Southbank. Enjoy!MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.Opening title quotes from:·       Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)·       Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)·       Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)·       The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair) This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.  Image by Julie Edwards.Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.© HLA Agency

Mark Kermode and Jack Howard discuss Matt Johnson's Canadian comedy Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie at the Sun pub in London's West End.Other films mentioned in this episode:Back To The Future (1985)Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)The Hangover (2009)Borat (2006)Backrooms (2026)Obsession (2025)Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)The Holdovers (2023)Blackberry (2023)With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency productionProduced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop© HLA Agency

Mark Kermode and Jack Howard talking about Christopher Nolan's films at The Sun Pub on Drury Lane.Films mentioned in this episode:The OdysseyOppenheimerThe Dark KnightInceptionTenetInterstellarThe PrestigeDunkirkBatman BeginsMementoThe Dark Knight RisesInsomniaFollowingSilent RunningThe ExorcistKnowingWith thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency productionProduced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop© HLA Agency

In this episode of Kermode On Film, Mark talks to Olivia Cooke about HOUSE OF THE DRAGON series 3, and about working with Steven Spielberg. Next, he welcomes Ronni Ancona to the stage to talk about comedy, impressions, EASTENDERS and her new feature THINK OF ENGLAND. Finally, in a special pre-record, Mark talks to Lucy Darwin, founder and curator of the Provence Arts Film Festival.  The festival runs from 29th July - 1st August. Tickets are available now from https://provencearts.com/en/book/If you missed it, you can hear the other half of June’s MK3D on last week’s Kermode On Film when Mark talked to Ellen E. Jones about radio 4 series BOMBSHELL: FIVE FACES OF MARILYN MONROE (available on BBC Sounds) and to filmmaker Jeanie Finlay about her documentary feature ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA, about beleaguered Teesside fishers whose journey through grief to finding power in community, is full of wry humour.  Take a front row seat for the 114th edition of MK3D at the BFI Southbank. Enjoy!MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.Opening title quotes from:·       Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson,Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)·       Nope (Jordan Peele, UniversalPictures – featuring Keke Palmer)·       Withnail & I (BruceRobinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)·       The Exorcist (William Friedkin,Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair) This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.  Image by Julie Edwards.Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.© HLA Agency

In this episode of Kermode On Film, Mark talks to journalist, broadcaster and film critic, Ellen E. Jones about celebrating 100 years of Marilyn Monroe in her radio 4 series BOMBSHELL: FIVE FACES OF MARILYN MONROE (available on BBC Sounds). The series coincides with a BFI Season celebrating Marilyn's centenary, titled MARILYN MONROE: SELF-MADE STAR. Next, Mark talks to filmmaker Jeanie Finlay about her documentary feature ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA, in which Jeanie worked with the beleagured Teeside fishers, charting their journey through grief and wry humour to finding power in community. ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA will screen in cinemas in autumn 2026.  Tune in to next week’s Kermode On Film to hear the other half of June’s MK3D when Mark talks to Olivia Cooke about HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (season 3) and to Ronni Ancona about comedy, impressions, EASTENDERS and her new feature, THINK OF ENGLAND. Plus Mark talks to Lucy Darwin, founder and curator of the Provence Arts Film Festival.  Take a front row seat for the 114th edition of MK3D at the BFI Southbank. Enjoy!MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.Opening title quotes from:·       Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)·       Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)·       Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)·       The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair) This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones.  Image by Julie Edwards.Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.© HLA Agency