“Tense, funny, and thought-provoking all at once, and lifted by strong performances from Sydney Poitier and Rod Steiger, director Norman Jewison’s look at murder and racism in small-town America continues to resonate today”
DOORS: 18:45 | FILM STARTS 19:00
Our Screening Room Series is back for 2023! These intimate screenings will celebrate a diverse range of films that the Festival team have personally selected; from genre highlights to foreign cinema, to underrated classics to indie gems, we’ll be showing a mix of great cinema that deserves a wider audience.
Every screening includes an arrival drink and an introduction explaining the context and significance of the chosen film, and the rationale behind its selection for our programme.
We’re pleased to announce that Averys will be our Screening Room host for 2023! We launched the series here last May, and it’s good to be back for another year of great cinema.
Our March selection is In The Heat Of The Night, the Best Oscar-winning neo-noir murder mystery that unflinchingly addresses racial prejudice in 1960s America. Rod Steiger won an Oscar for his portrayal of a racist police chief, with Sidney Poitier every bit his match in one of his defining roles. Its anti-racist message had a major impact on contemporary audiences, and remains powerfully relevant today.
Take your evening further with our add-on options:
• Enjoy a pre-screening wine tasting session as you learn more about wine tasting over a glass
• Indulge with a delicious deli box from Two Belly, with cheeses, chutney and crackers to enjoy alongside your film and wine
• Attending in a group of six or more? Take a look at our new Group Bookings option below
About The Film
1967 | 12A | 110 mins
When a wealthy businessman is found murdered in Sparta, Mississippi, the racist local police force - led by Bill Gillespie - are initially quick to pin it on Virgil Tibbs, a Black stranger passing through town. However, when it transpires that Tibbs is a top homicide detective from Philadelphia, Gillespie must reluctantly put aside his prejudices and work with Tibbs to solve the case.
Contains moderate threat, sex references, racist language
About The Location
Averys began in 1793 and over the years, the family has built its reputation as one of the UK’s most pioneering wine merchants. Their historic wine cellar can be found beneath their shop on Culver street, and is an atmospheric and intimate setting for our Vintage Screenings.
Watch The Official Trailer
Pre-Screening Tasting
Before your screening, we are now offering the opportunity for a pre-screening tasting session with Averys expert, and Vintage Screening co-host Frank Mason.
For £6.50 per person, enjoy a brief introduction to wine tasting hosted by Frank, sampling a white and a red as he talks you through the key steps to understanding the aromas, flavours and characteristics of wine.
Frank has been working with Averys since 2010 and heads up the Events team, delivering over 120 events a year both virtually and in Averys historic vaulted cellar in the centre of Bristol. Frank completed the WSET Diploma in wine – a two year course on wine drinking, back in 2014! And now teaches those wine courses to both customers and staff. In his spare time he loves listening to death metal and is a professional crocodile wrestler (his words!).
Two Belly Deli Box
Indulge during your screening with a delicious deli box from Two Belly cheese and beer shop. Enjoy 3 different cheeses, along with an artisan chutney and crackers, as a perfect complement to your wine tasting.
Tickets
Our Group Bookings option has been introduced in response to the larger parties of six or more people who attend our events and are looking to add something extra to their evening to enhance the experience.
Before the screening, you will enjoy a tutored wine tasting with an Averys expert, sampling two different wines and discovering more about the world of wine tasting. Each group member will receive a Deli Box from our friends at Two Belly to enjoy during the film, which includes a selection of premium cheeses with crackers and chutney. Your group’s reserved seating will mean you can enjoy the film from the best seats in the house!
Tickets from £40pp | Enquire Today
Bristol Film Festival’s Red Carpet Club is an opportunity for film-lovers to make the most of our events throughout the year.
Take advantage of advanced booking facilities, discounts on tickets and a range of benefits from our partners and supporters.
Find Out More
Getting Here
Averys Wine Merchants is located at 9 Culver Street, Bristol, BS1 5LD. The screening room can be accessed via the street-level entrance on Frogmore Street.
The nearest bus stop is College Green. The closest train station is Bristol Temple Meads.
Wherever possible, we encourage walking the use of public transport when travelling to our events.
Accessibility
There is level access to the venue via the entrance on Frogmore Street.
There is an accessible toilet at the venue.
Please contact us if you require a wheelchair space, or require seating in a particular area (e.g. closer to the exit, at the end of a row).
If you require subtitles, please contact us in advance of making your booking.
We want to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information about this venue’s accessibility.
Venue & Event Information
Doors for this event will open at 6:45PM (18:45). You will not be able to access the screening room before this time, so we recommend arriving as close to this time as possible.
If you have booked a Pre-Screening tasting, please arrive at 6:15PM via Averys Shop.
Please do not consume hot food in the Screening Room.
We strongly encourage all guests to take a lateral flow test before attending this event, for the safety of other guests and event staff.
FAQs
I don’t drink white/red wine - can I have an alternative? Yes! We can offer all white/all red wine tastings, but strongly advise you to let us know in advance via the contact form.
Can I buy food at the venue? Currently we only offer Two Belly Deli Boxes on a pre-order basis. These can be ordered up to 48 hours before your event.
I have a BuyAGift/Red Letter Days/other voucher. How do I redeem this for this event? Head to this page for more information about redeeming Gift Vouchers.
Is my ticket refundable? We operate a no-refunds policy; tickets may be exchanged for event credit to the same value of your ticket up to 48 hours before the start of an event. To request an event credit, please complete our event credit application.