Following a month that included sell-out screenings of 20 Feet from Stardom and The Lunchbox, the Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign has announced a July programme of six films at the cinema.

At a time of year associated with mostly American “summer blockbusters”, and the Mrs Brown’s Boys film, the Campaign is offering a clear alternative with a diverse programme that includes titles from Ireland, Sweden and Australia.

A highlight will be a rare opportunity to see the acclaimed Nigerian film Half of a Yellow Sun on July 17. This tells the story of twin sisters caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war. Following the 7.30pm screening, there will be a discussion with special guests focusing on the causes and impact of the war.

The Campaign also received requests to screen Tracks, based on the remarkable 1,700-mile journey across the Australian Outback made by Robyn Davidson, accompanied by four camels and her dog, in 1977.

Online booking is easy via the David Lean Cinema Campaign’s TicketSource page. To be added to the Campaign’s membership list, please email savedavidlean@gmail.com

• Tickets for all screenings are £7.50. Concessions (Freedom Pass-holders, full time students, claimants and disabled) £6. Bookings can be made  via TicketSource 

David Lean Cinema July programme

All films are at 2.30pm and 7.30 pm unless stated

Thu July 3 CALVARY (15) 
2014 IRELAND / UK 101min Director: John Michael McDonagh
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly. A very dark comedy from the director and star of The Guard. Gleeson’s decent small-town priest is told that he has one week to live – but which of his parishioners will kill him to avenge the sins of the church?

Thu July 10 WE ARE THE BEST! (15)
2013 SWEDEN / DENMARK 102min (subtitled) Director: Lukas Moodysson
Starring: Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin, Liv LeMoyne. Outsiders in early 1980s Stockholm, 13-year-olds Bobo, Klara and Hedwig form a punk band and learn to handle boys, booze and embarrassing adults.

Thu July 17 HALF OF A YELLOW SUN (15)
2013 NIGERIA / UK 111min Director: Biyi Bandele
Starring: Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Chiwetel Ejoifor. Newton and Rose shine as sisters caught up in the Nigerian civil war, in this adaption of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel. There will be a discussion after 7.30pm screening

Mon July 21 (at 7.30pm only) PANTANI: THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A CYCLIST (15)
2013 UK 96min (subtitled) Director: James Erskine
Featuring: Bradley Wiggins, Greg LeMond. Tour de France champion at 28, banned from the Giro at 29, dead at 34, Marco Pantani was among the greatest climbers in cycling history. This documentary, which we’re screening on a Tour de France rest day, features thrilling race footage and interviews which explore his life and early death.

Thu July 24 TRACKS (12A)
2013 AUSTRALIA 112min Director: John Curran
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver. A young woman treks 1,700 miles across the stunning landscape of Western Australia accompanied by four camels and her dog – a fine addition to the David Lean’s tradition of beautifully filmed travelogues.

Thu July 31 LOCKE (15)
2013 UK / USA 85min Director: Steven Knight
Starring: Tom Hardy, Olivia Coleman, Ruth Wilson. Construction manager Ivan Locke drives away on the eve of the biggest day of his career, and begins a sequence of phone calls that risk everything. This one-man-in-a-car thriller succeeds through Knight’s lively direction and tense but often hilarious screenplay, and fine performances from Hardy and the voice cast.

Coming to Croydon

• Crystal Palace Overground Festival, June 26-29
• Warnings to the Curious, Spread Eagle Theatre, June 27
• Metamono Secrets of Nature, Upper Norwood, June 27
• Park Hill Park meet the police session, June 27
• St Peter’s Village Fayre, South Croydon, June 28
• South Norwood Allotments open day, June 28
• Croydon Careers Fair, North End, June 30
• Fragile, Spread Eagle Theatre, July 24-26
• Coast to Capital business briefing, July 4
• Basically Johnny Moped at Stanley Tech, July 8
• CODA’s Midsummer Night’s Dream at Wandle Park, Jul 30-Aug 2
• Elm Tree Cottage garden open day, Aug 10
• Norwood Society Talk: War Memorials, Sep 18
• Norwood Society Talk: From Fire Station to Theatre, Oct 16
• Norwood Society Talk: Lambeth’s Archives, Nov 20

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