This documentary transports the audience right back to the 1960s and into the world of the legendary band The Doors. This is the first feature documentary on the band and reveals some previously unseen and historic footage of Jim Morrison and the rock quartet’s life. When You’re Strange has been featured at the Sundance, Berlin, Deauville and San Sebastian Film Festivals and been touted as a crowd pleaser providing new insight into the revolutionary impact of the band’s music and legacy. With the narration by the charming Johnny Depp, this documentary is a must see – even if you’ve never been a big fan of the band, though how could you not? PN

PREMIERE 2 JULY

Oh gosh, not another teenage flick! My first thoughts exactly. But not to worry, Youth in Revolt is not just another High School Musical. Based on C.D. Payne’s series of books that have gained a cult status, this film gives a sympathetic and entertaining depiction of the disenchanted life of Nick Twisp – played by the ever-so-endearing Michael Cera (known from Juno). Nick is the antihero of his own life in which nothing exiting happens. But when he meets the girl of his dreams he decides to jump into action. The geeky youth creates himself an alter-ego, François Dillinger, to help him with his pursuit - and this is when things start to get interesting.

Actor Jeff Bridges won the Best Actor’s award in both the Oscar’s and the Golden Globe for his role in this film as Bad Blake, a faded country music legend who has had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. Bad has a grown son he has not seen for years and whose whereabouts he has no clue of. He tours from one backwater town to another playing his old hits in run-down joints, drifting further and further from his big comeback dream. All seems to be on the downhill slide for Bad, but when a young journalist enters his life things begin to change.

PN

PREMIERE 14 MAY

With the recent flurry of comic book films coming out of Hollywood, many beloved super heroes have received a rotten treatment. Amid the junk and clutter, gems like the first Iron Man film shine all the brighter. Casting a respected actor like Robert Downey Jr as the lead and amping up the humour and pure awesomeness, Iron Man was the closest thing to a Marvel comic come to life since the comic giant inaugurated their motion picture division. The second instalment brings back old Cold War era Marvel villains in another extravaganza of powered armour suits, race cars, hot Russian spies, big-ass explosions and proper badassitude.

First-time director Joonas Neuvonen followed his gang of substance-abusers in Rovaniemi with a video camera. The result is a harsh awakening, a trip through the mental landscape of drug-addicts in Finland’s northern metropolis, where daily life is little more than a continuous rat-race to score the next fix and shooting up anything that is at hand. The footage is unapologetic and brutally honest in its portrayal of a section of society that is often talked about but rarely seen. Incidentally, the film was certified K-18, as it ”portrays drug use in a positive light.” Go and see for yourself if the lifestyle appeals to you.

PREMIERE 9 APRIL