Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question about Tufnell Park Film Club? Hopefully we’ll be able to answer it below…
Where and when do screenings take place?
We show a great film every Tuesday evening upstairs at The Star, 47 Chester Road, London, N19 5DF (Nearest Tube: Archway; Overground: Gospel Oak or Upper Holloway; Buses: 4, 134, 390, C11)
Films start at 8pm. Look at the screening schedule for details of the next film or sign up to our email list for advance notice of screenings.
What type of films do you show?
Doing our best to abide by Billy Wilder's commandment 'Thou shalt not bore' it could be anything from a Hollywood classic, forgotten gem or a cult favourite. The twist is that every two weeks the film is linked to the one screened a fortnight before. We select three films somehow connected to that week's screening, and afterwards the audience vote for which one we show next. On the alternate weeks we'll show something connected to a recent event or as part of a festival - or, more often than not, tribute screenings to the recently departed.
How do I vote for the next film in The Chain?
Voting is carried out every two weeks in person immediately after the film, and is conducted via the traditional raising of hands. (Ya gotta be in it to win it - so no casting of ballots via email!)
OK. I’m in. So, how do I become a member?
Annual membership is £20 – payable in cash at your first screening. Membership entitles you to year’s worth of FREE weekly screenings and 10% off food in The Star on a film club night.
Can I attend a screening before becoming a member?
Afraid not. Because the majority of screenings are at max capacity we just don’t have the space to accommodate non-members without excluding actual paid-up members. This is partly why we’ve kept the annual membership fee at a very reasonable £20 (the price of a small round of drinks nowadays).
Can I bring a guest?
You can bring a guest on the proviso that they will have to become a fully paid-up member. (See above.)
How do I reserve a seat?
Just reply to one of our regular emails or contact us via this form and let us know which screening/s you’d like to attend, along with the names of all the people you’re reserving seats for. (We always ask for all the names to prevent accidental multiple bookings).
How far can I book in advance?
As soon as a film is scheduled, you can reserve a seat for it.
Is there any post-film discussion?
We always introduce each screening with some background and context of the films but there’s no formal, organised discussion afterwards. A number of members always stick around for a drink and chat afterwards but the vibe is more chat-chat than analysis.
Sounds great! So, I assume it’s ok to occasionally check my phone, noisily unwrap sweeties and generally have a bit of a whispered natter during screenings, right? I mean, it all sounds very informal, and who’s going to notice?
Um. How can we put this politely…
OK. Got it. So, how long has the club been going?
The club was set up in July 2012 by Nigel Smith and Wayne Gooderham. Nigel’s been a movie-geek since he first went to the cinema to see Superman II. Wayne has just about got over the discovery that Robert de Niro wore a bald wig in Taxi Driver. You can find out more about what they get up while not running film club in Extracurricular Corner.
From July 2012 to December 2015 we met at The Lord Palmerston Pub on Dartmouth Park Hill before our first stint at The Star on Chester Road between January 2016 and August 2017. We moved back to The Lord Palmerston after The Star's function room was converted into a gin distillery. For a very happy nine weeks between April and June 2024 we enjoyed a brief residency at The House a bit further up Dartmouth Park Hill, while the Lord Palmerston had a(n unnecessary) refurb. Then, from July 2024 to January 2025 we returned to the refurbed Lord Palmerston (keep up). And, then, at the end of January 2025 we decided to return to The Star where gin-making had thankfully ceased and the function room could be ours again. Phew…
Anyway. Is that Malcolm McDowell on your logo?
Since the beginning we’ve used Malcolm McDowell as Alex in A Clockwork Orange as our social media profile pic. During lockdown the great man recorded us this rambling message:
Have any famous people actually visited the club?
Well! Glad you asked us that, because, yes, we’ve been lucky to have welcomed a number of notable visitors to the club over the years…
I have another question…
Please get in touch and we’ll do our best to answer it.
