The Cultural Programme at Oxford University present, in partnership with the Ultimate Picture Palace
Followed by a Q&A with director Ben Rivers
Book TicketsWednesday 14 May
The Ultimate Picture Palace, Jeune Street, Oxford, OX4 1BN
£16 adult / £15 concessions
Cert-TBC
6pm
Written and directed by Ben Rivers, Bogancloch immerses viewers in the rhythms of a life lived in nature. The film was nominated for the prestigious Golden Leopard at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in August 2024.
Bogancloch (2024, 86m)
Tucked away in one of Scotland’s vast Highland forests, modern-day hermit Jake Williams lives a quiet, solitary life. Bogancloch follows his journey through the changing seasons, capturing moments when others briefly enter his otherwise secluded world. Filmed in textured, grainy 16mm, this poetic documentary is a follow-up to Ben Rivers’ earlier portrait, Two Years at Sea. The result is a captivating, dreamlike reflection on nature, solitude, music, and one man’s unique way of living on the fringes of society.
Exclusive Q&A with Ben Rivers
We invite you to a special Q&A with director Ben Rivers following the screening.
The Film in Focus series, presented by the Cultural Programme at Oxford University in partnership with the Ultimate Picture Palace and curated with Dr C.W. Winter, who has brought together this extraordinary partnership and conversation.
The Film in Focus series will showcase some of the finest art house films from last year’s Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Locarno film festivals. Many screenings will feature post-film Q&As with the filmmakers, offering audiences a unique and exciting opportunity to engage with the artists behind the works. The series connects the Cultural Programme at Oxford University with new audiences and partners as the programme prepares for its new home in the Schwarzman Centre in 2025.
Ben Rivers, Director
Mark Thomas, Executive Producer
John Archer, Producer
Chu-Li Shewring, Sound Designer
The Ultimate Picture Palace, Jeune Street, Oxford, OX4 1BN
Based just off Cowley Road, the Ultimate Picture Palace is easy to find. There is no off street parking, so we recommend a car free visit if possible. However, there are two blue badge disabled parking spaces directly opposite the cinema. The number 1 and 5 bus from Oxford city centre stop right outside and there are numerous bike parks very close by.
We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts.
We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!
Our Grade II listed building has its challenges when it comes to accessibility, but we have put measures in place to ensure that we are an inclusive place for everyone.
Is the cinema auditorium accessible to wheelchair users?
Yes. The auditorium and box office is on street level. Book tickets as normal through the website and then email us on info@uppcinema.com to let us know that you require a wheelchair space and if you need to reserve a seat for a personal assistant.
Do you have accessible toilets?
We don’t have currently accessible toilets on site. The toilets in our listed building are below the screen down a few steps. However, if you do need to use an accessible toilet during your visit, please speak to a member of staff and they will let you into an accessible toilet in the church just opposite the cinema.
Do you show films with hard-of-hearing subtitles?
We always try to show at least one or two screenings per week with deaf/HOH subtitles. Please consult the listings for more info.
C.W. Winter was born in Newport Beach, California. He is a film director and writer. His previous film, The Works and Days, co-directed with Anders Edström, won the Encounters Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Independent Film of the Year from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. His first film, The Anchorage, won a Best Film Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. He will curate ideas from his forthcoming book Underdetermined: A Partial History of Low Virtuosity into a travelling museum show beginning at MUDAM (Luxembourg) in 2027. He completed his DPhil in Art Practice & Theory at The Ruskin School of Art and Wolfson College, Oxford. He is currently the William Golding Junior Research Fellow in the Arts at Brasenose College, Oxford.
The Cultural Programme at Oxford University present, in partnership with the Ultimate Picture Palace
Followed by an In Conversation and Q&A with director Marta Mateus
Wed 11 Jun
The Ultimate Picture Palace
with Q&A with special guest Waad al-Kateab and Professor Dawn Chatty
Mon 12 May
Curzon Cinema Oxford
Fuelling Change: Values and Ethics in Cultural Production
Public Conversations, Live from Oxford
Tues 3 June
The Story Museum
Hosted by Travis Alabanza
Thurs 15 May
Mansfield College Chapel