Rave On For The Avon + Director Q&A12A

Directed by Charlotte Sawyer | UK | 2024 | 1h 26m

England is one of only two countries in the world with a fully privatised water and sewage system. With just 14% of its rivers in good ecological health, the effort to keep them clean is falling short. In this inspiring documentary, director Charlotte Sawyer follows a community of wild swimmers in Bristol as they grapple with the impact of raw sewage pollution in the River Avon. Determined to reclaim their waters, they take on water companies and local authorities in a fight for cleaner, healthier rivers.

One-off screening featuring a panel discussion and Q&A with director Charlotte Sawyer, ‘Big Oil’ whistleblower Caroline Dennett, and Martha Townend, President of Oxford Wild Swimming Society. 

Reviews

‘Campaigning never looked so fun and friendly as it does in this joyous documentary’
★★★★
Cath Clarke, The Guardian

Caroline Dennett
Caroline Dennett is an environmental activist and whistleblower committed to corporate accountability. After witnessing sewage dumping in her hometown of Weymouth, she launched the #DontPayForDirtyWater campaign in 2023, urging consumers to boycott water bills in protest. An Extinction Rebellion activist since 2019, she has secured media coverage in The Telegraph, The Observer, iNews, the BBC, and local press. As a Shell Oil whistleblower, Caroline publicly resigned in 2022 after 11 years as a safety consultant, exposing the company’s environmental harm and greenwashing, a move that went viral.

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Rave On For The Avon + Director Q&A between April 24, 2025 and April 24, 2025.

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Today (Wednesday 27th May)

15:30

The Magic Faraway Tree U
1h 50m
The Thompson children discover a magical tree leading to fantastical lands. Facing quirky inhabitants and wondrous adventures, they reconnect and grow closer. Enid Blyton’s beloved classic comes to life in this enchanting adaptation starring Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, and Claire Foy.

Book here

18:00

The Barnabáš Kos Case 12A
1h 32m | Slovak w/ English subtitles
A timid triangle player is unexpectedly promoted to Musical Director, but soon becomes corrupted by power. Peter Solan’s darkly comic satire exposes absurd hierarchies, sharply skewering state bureaucracy and the fragile egos behind positions of authority.

Book here

20:15

Rose of Nevada 15
1h 54m
When a long-lost fishing boat returns to a Cornish village, hope rises for renewal. Nick and newcomer Liam join a voyage, but return transformed and caught in a haunting time loop. Shot on grainy 16mm, Mark Jenkin (Bait) delivers a haunting, mind-bending folktale.

Book here


Tomorrow (Thursday 28th May)

12:30

The Magic Faraway Tree U
Parent + Baby Screening
1h 50m
The Thompson children discover a magical tree leading to fantastical lands. Facing quirky inhabitants and wondrous adventures, they reconnect and grow closer. Enid Blyton’s beloved classic comes to life in this enchanting adaptation starring Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, and Claire Foy.

Book here

15:00

The Stranger 15
2h 2m | French w/ English subtitles
Set in French Algeria, Meursault drifts through life until his mother’s death sparks judgment, conflict, and tragedy. François Ozon’s sensitive, queer-inflected adaptation illuminates the emotional and moral complexities at the heart of Albert Camus’s existential masterpiece.

Book here

17:45

Frida Kahlo 12A
1h 41m
This documentary explores Frida Kahlo’s life and art, from her iconic self-portraits to the passion and pain that shaped her work. Featuring exhibition footage, expert insight and her own letters, it offers an intimate portrait of the revolutionary Mexican artist.

Book here

20:15

The Barnabáš Kos Case 12A
+ Intro w/ Peter Strickland
1h 32m | Slovak w/ English subtitles
A timid triangle player is unexpectedly promoted to Musical Director, but soon becomes corrupted by power. Peter Solan’s darkly comic satire exposes absurd hierarchies, sharply skewering state bureaucracy and the fragile egos behind positions of authority.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.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 only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!