This week we catch up with Sam Clark – chair of everyone’s favourite indie cinema, the David Lean – about their summer collaboration with Croydon Pride. They have programmed  a selection of queer screenings and events, which kicked off earlier in June to celebrate the official Pride month and extends into August when our borough’s queer community celebrates Croydon Pride.

Croydonist: You are collaborating with Croydon Pride on a series of screenings and events this summer. How did the partnership come about?

Sam: We’re always looking for meaningful ways to work with local organisations and make cinema as inclusive as possible. For Pride Month, partnering with Croydon Pride felt like a natural fit. At the David Lean Cinema, our vision is to enrich lives through the magic of film, and we’re keen to welcome more of Croydon’s LGBTQ+ community through our doors – not just during June, but throughout the year through thoughtful and imaginative programming.

Croydonist: What made this the right moment to develop a programme of queer films and events?

Sam: We’re entering an exciting new chapter. In 2025, we launched a three-year strategy focused on securing the long-term future of our cinema, and a key part of that is growing and diversifying our audience. Croydon is an incredibly vibrant and diverse borough, so it’s important that everyone feels welcome, represented and comfortable when they come to see a film with us.

Croydonist: The season includes dramas, documentaries, literary discussion and audience Q&As. What was your thinking behind creating such a varied programme?

Sam: LGBTQ+ creativity has always been rich and diverse, so we wanted the programme to reflect that. By bringing together different genres, formats and conversations, we’ve created a season that offers a range of experiences and points of connection. Each event highlights different aspects of LGBTQ+ life and culture, giving audiences the opportunity to engage with a broad spectrum of stories and perspectives.

Croydonist: Films such as Fairyland, Enzo and All of Us Strangers explore very different experiences. Were there particular themes or conversations you wanted audiences to engage with?

Sam: Although these films tell very different stories, they’re connected by themes of identity, belonging, love, loss and self-discovery.

Fairyland, adapted from Alysia Abbott’s memoir, explores grief, family and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis on a personal level. Enzo follows a teenager pushing back against the expectations of his affluent family as he navigates his feelings for Vlad, a Ukrainian bricklayer who has fled the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, All of Us Strangers carries particular resonance in Croydon, where much of it was filmed, while exploring themes of loneliness, memory, connection and reconciliation.

In different ways, they’re all coming-of-age stories that invite audiences to reflect on what shapes us and how we find our place in the world.

Croydonist: Several events pair films with live discussion, including a screening of All of Us Strangers followed by a conversation with writer John Grindrod about his book Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains. Why are those conversations such an important part of the David Lean Cinema experience?

Sam: Creating opportunities for discussion is a vital part of what we do. Film can open up powerful conversations, and we want the cinema to be a place where those conversations continue beyond the closing credits.

Our screening of All of Us Strangers is a perfect example. The film is beloved by many queer Croydonians, not least because it was set and filmed in the borough. Afterwards, Croydon-born writer John Grindrod will discuss the film alongside his new book, which explores many of the same themes – including isolation and escape, love and community.

We’ve previously welcomed directors, screenwriters and actors for Q&As, and these events help foster a creative and curious community. They give audiences the chance to engage more deeply with ideas, hear new perspectives and feel part of a shared cultural experience.

Croydonist: You’re also screening the acclaimed documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, with Joanna Scanlan hosting a post-film discussion. What drew the cinema to that film?

Sam: Come See Me in the Good Light is an award-winning documentary about the American poet and activist Andrea Gibson. It’s a deeply moving film that explores identity, creativity, love and mortality through Gibson’s life and work, while also documenting her battle with ovarian cancer.

The screening has a special connection to the David Lean Cinema through our patron, Joanna Scanlan. Joanna first heard about the film through actress and writer Stephanie Alleyne, whose wife, Tig Notaro, is one of the documentary’s producers. After supporting the film’s awards campaign in the UK, Joanna became a passionate advocate for it.

As Joanna says: “I had the pleasure of working with the wonderful actress and writer Stephanie Alleyne last year. Stephanie, perhaps best known in the UK for The L Word, is married to Tig Notaro, who is a producer of Come See Me in the Good Light. After hearing so much about the film from Stephanie, I supported their Oscar campaign in the UK. I am incredibly impressed by the entire team and believe this is one of the most affecting documentaries made in a long while.”

We’re delighted that she’ll be hosting the evening and leading a discussion afterwards.

Croydonist: Beyond the films themselves, what role do you think a community cinema can play in creating spaces for connection, reflection and dialogue?

Sam: First and foremost, film should be for everyone. As our patron Joanna Scanlan recently observed: “Film takes us to emotional pinnacles instantly. Watching a film, we enter the wizardry of filmmakers and the camaraderie of our fellow filmgoers. The emotions found on cinema screens chime profoundly with our own lives. But not always – and in those cases there follows an opportunity for understanding others.”

That’s what community cinema can do at its best. It creates opportunities for people to come together, share experiences and see the world through someone else’s eyes. Whether audiences are meeting special guests, chatting with volunteers or simply sharing a screening with neighbours, those moments of connection matter.

Croydonist: How has the audience response been to queer stories and LGBTQ+ themed programming in recent years?

Sam: We’re fortunate to have a loyal and engaged audience who are passionate about great cinema. The David Lean Cinema has always championed the richness and diversity of British and world film, and our audiences are open to discovering new stories and perspectives.

Whether we’re celebrating the work of filmmakers from a particular country or showcasing LGBTQ+ voices and experiences, people appreciate the care that goes into our programming. We’re proud of that reputation and hope this season will encourage even more members of Croydon’s LGBTQ+ community to discover what the cinema has to offer.

Croydonist: Looking ahead, do you see this as the start of a longer-term relationship with Croydon Pride and similar community partners?

Sam: Absolutely. We already work closely with organisations including Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Family Hubs, Croydon Carers, Age UK Croydon, Croydon Dementia Action Alliance and Club Soda, and we’re keen to build equally strong and lasting relationships with Croydon Pride and other community groups.

We’re a community cinema in every sense of the term, and we thrive when we work together with the people and organisations that make Croydon such a dynamic place.

Croydonist: For readers who haven’t visited the David Lean Cinema before, what can they expect from an event there?

Sam: First and foremost, a warm welcome. We’re a volunteer-run cinema powered by nearly 100 local people who are passionate about film and about creating a great experience for audiences.

With just 68 seats, the cinema offers an intimate atmosphere that brings you closer to what’s happening on screen. Over the past year we’ve upgraded both our screen and sound system, so audiences can enjoy exceptional picture and audio quality.

From the latest releases and acclaimed independent films to world cinema, cult favourites and timeless classics, we programme a huge variety of films. Whatever your taste, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to surprise and delight you.

Croydonist: Finally, is there one screening or moment in the programme that you’re especially excited about?

Sam: It’s difficult to choose just one. We’re particularly looking forward to the All of Us Strangers event with John Grindrod, which promises to be a fascinating conversation about the film, Croydon and LGBTQ+ life in the suburbs.

We’re also incredibly excited about our August screening of Come See Me in the Good Light, which we’re presenting with special permission from Apple. Joanna Scanlan will host the evening and lead a post-film discussion with Mia Bayes, Head of Commissioning at the BFI.

Both events capture what this season is all about: great films, thoughtful conversations and bringing people together through shared cultural experiences.

Thank you to Sam for chatting with us.

From left: Sam Clark; Joanna Scanlan; John Grindrod

Enzo is on Tuesday 30 June at 2.30 & 7.30pm Book here.

All of Us Strangers is on Wednesday 5 August (with a post film Q&A with Croydon-born writer John Grindrod, discussing the film and the many themes it shares with his new book Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains). Book here.

Come See Me in the Good Light is on Tuesday 18 August (with a post film discussion with Mia Bayes, Head of Commissioning at the BFI hosted by Joanna Scanlan)

The David Lean Cinema resides in Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET. Keep up to date with their news and screenings on their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Images courtesy of David Lean Cinema

Posted by Julia