Love: shared, spurned and celebrated at Showroom Cinema I can’t stand it when a film takes me for a ride. One moment you’re sitting there, easily enjoying a bit of escapism. The next, tears are streaming, memories are unearthed and you’re keenly aware there’s less than five minutes to compose yourself before house lights come up. But Valentine’s Day is around the corner. The time of year we can’t help but lap this stuff up. Extravagant gifts, exorbitant flowers, and (presented by Showroom Cinema) films that make you f-e-e-l.

Brief Encounter (Director David Lean), leads the charge. The achingly beautiful story, of two strangers’ chance meeting at a railway station, celebrates its 80th anniversary. An enduring classic, it serves as the spiritual seed for beloved romances like In The Mood for Love and Carol. Also in Showroom Classics, we revisit Billy Wilder’s 1960’s rom com The Apartment, restored in 4k.

Moonlight is Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning drama of a black man told across three acts. Through a superb ensemble cast (Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali), Jenkins explores the moments, relationships, and unknowable forces that shape our lives and make us who we are. In Memoir of a Snail (Director Adam Elliot), Grace Pudel (Sarah Snook) narrates her life of hardship to her slimy pet. A poignant and hilarious story, of a perennial outsider in search of a silver lining, it was recently Oscar-nominated for Animated Film (but certainly not child-friendly).

Hey, it’s not all tough love. Saving Face is a joyful cult rom-com by Alice Wu (The Half of It) about a Chinese-American mother and daughter who bond over their respective relationships' defiance of cultural expectations. All out Friday 14 February. And we can’t forget Galentine’s Day. Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (Director Michael Morris) arrives one day earlier on Thursday 13. Our imperfect heroine is back again, juggling work, motherhood, and two eligible bachelors after the untimely departure of Mark Darcy. Or catch But I’m a Cheerleader (Director Jamie Babbit). This conversion-therapy comedy celebrates female relationships of every form, with hilarious turns from Natasha Lyonne, Melanie Lynskey, Clea DuVall and the one and only RuPaul Charles as “ex-gay” Mike. Picked by BFI Young Programmers’ Group.

And why not make it dinner and a date? The Showroom Café Bar, is serving up delicious sharing platters all weekend, for you to make doe-eyes over. And we can’t wait to have the spectacular Emma Maezin back for V-Day drag bingo on Wednesday 12 at 7pm.

Grab a ticket for our Valentine's screenings today!