Michael Leader
@michaeljleader.bsky.social
Films, etc. | Writer, host, curator | Podcasts, books + screenings as Ghibliotheque
We really need to break this habit of casually describing films as 'forgotten' and 'rediscovered'. Here's a cinema newsletter saying The Nightmare Before Christmas was "soon forgotten" and "rediscovered on VHS".
November 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
We really need to break this habit of casually describing films as 'forgotten' and 'rediscovered'. Here's a cinema newsletter saying The Nightmare Before Christmas was "soon forgotten" and "rediscovered on VHS".
Earlier this week... We launched a book! 📚
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
November 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Earlier this week... We launched a book! 📚
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
My colleagues at the BFI National Archive have acquired the Daily Star's infamous Liz Truss Lettuce livestream, leading to this cover story. All part of our project to preserve more onine video.
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
October 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
My colleagues at the BFI National Archive have acquired the Daily Star's infamous Liz Truss Lettuce livestream, leading to this cover story. All part of our project to preserve more onine video.
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
Film in Print at BFI #LFF Day One: @tomhuddleston.bsky.social & @hannahstrong.co.uk on David Lynch, a panel on the art of the interview and an illustrated talk on the world's most important cinemas, plus a craft + career conversation between Kim Newman and Anna Bogutskaya!
October 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Film in Print at BFI #LFF Day One: @tomhuddleston.bsky.social & @hannahstrong.co.uk on David Lynch, a panel on the art of the interview and an illustrated talk on the world's most important cinemas, plus a craft + career conversation between Kim Newman and Anna Bogutskaya!
And as is tradition, I want to share the acknowledgements page for the Animation Atlas. Some of you are on here, some aren't, but you all played a part and I can't thank you enough.
October 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
And as is tradition, I want to share the acknowledgements page for the Animation Atlas. Some of you are on here, some aren't, but you all played a part and I can't thank you enough.
📚 Our new book is out today! 📚
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
October 9, 2025 at 1:45 PM
📚 Our new book is out today! 📚
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
Thanks to the writers, critics, editors and hosts who are sharing their time, insights and expertise with us across the Film in Print weekend at the LFF.
All these events are free and going on "sale" on 2nd October. See you there! 📚
All these events are free and going on "sale" on 2nd October. See you there! 📚
September 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Thanks to the writers, critics, editors and hosts who are sharing their time, insights and expertise with us across the Film in Print weekend at the LFF.
All these events are free and going on "sale" on 2nd October. See you there! 📚
All these events are free and going on "sale" on 2nd October. See you there! 📚
Film in Print is returning to the London Film Festival!!
I'm back in curator mode and we've put together a stellar weekend of events celebrating books, magazines and the art and craft of writing about cinema.
Coming to the BFI Reuben Library, 11th-12th October! 📚
I'm back in curator mode and we've put together a stellar weekend of events celebrating books, magazines and the art and craft of writing about cinema.
Coming to the BFI Reuben Library, 11th-12th October! 📚
September 10, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Film in Print is returning to the London Film Festival!!
I'm back in curator mode and we've put together a stellar weekend of events celebrating books, magazines and the art and craft of writing about cinema.
Coming to the BFI Reuben Library, 11th-12th October! 📚
I'm back in curator mode and we've put together a stellar weekend of events celebrating books, magazines and the art and craft of writing about cinema.
Coming to the BFI Reuben Library, 11th-12th October! 📚
Last night: my massive face introducing Grave of the Fireflies at the Barbican's Outdoor Cinema. Watching this film with 600+ people under the night sky was something else.
August 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Last night: my massive face introducing Grave of the Fireflies at the Barbican's Outdoor Cinema. Watching this film with 600+ people under the night sky was something else.
The Animation Atlas is almost here!
Animation is cinema, but it's also *world* cinema, and in our latest book, Jake and I take off and travel around the globe, celebrating great animation from 30 countries. 🌍
Landing in all good bookshops on 9th October! 📚
Animation is cinema, but it's also *world* cinema, and in our latest book, Jake and I take off and travel around the globe, celebrating great animation from 30 countries. 🌍
Landing in all good bookshops on 9th October! 📚
August 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The Animation Atlas is almost here!
Animation is cinema, but it's also *world* cinema, and in our latest book, Jake and I take off and travel around the globe, celebrating great animation from 30 countries. 🌍
Landing in all good bookshops on 9th October! 📚
Animation is cinema, but it's also *world* cinema, and in our latest book, Jake and I take off and travel around the globe, celebrating great animation from 30 countries. 🌍
Landing in all good bookshops on 9th October! 📚
Weekend reading, ahead of our sold out Animation at War screening at the Barbican on Wednesday...
August 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Weekend reading, ahead of our sold out Animation at War screening at the Barbican on Wednesday...
Akiyuki Nosaka's Grave of the Fireflies, the story that inspired Isao Takahata's 1988 film, is being published in English by Penguin Classics on 4th September. An essential addition to every Ghibli bookshelf.
August 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Akiyuki Nosaka's Grave of the Fireflies, the story that inspired Isao Takahata's 1988 film, is being published in English by Penguin Classics on 4th September. An essential addition to every Ghibli bookshelf.
📽️ New screenings! 📽️
On September 6th, we're taking over the BFI IMAX for an afternoon celebrating the early work of Mamoru Hosoda! 💫
Come join us for special screenings of THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME and SUMMER WARS on the UK's biggest cinema screen! 🍿
On September 6th, we're taking over the BFI IMAX for an afternoon celebrating the early work of Mamoru Hosoda! 💫
Come join us for special screenings of THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME and SUMMER WARS on the UK's biggest cinema screen! 🍿
August 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
📽️ New screenings! 📽️
On September 6th, we're taking over the BFI IMAX for an afternoon celebrating the early work of Mamoru Hosoda! 💫
Come join us for special screenings of THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME and SUMMER WARS on the UK's biggest cinema screen! 🍿
On September 6th, we're taking over the BFI IMAX for an afternoon celebrating the early work of Mamoru Hosoda! 💫
Come join us for special screenings of THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME and SUMMER WARS on the UK's biggest cinema screen! 🍿
Also, several docs on/interviews with Aardman from across the studio's history - my faves being those from around 1989-1990, including one clip where Nick Park is seen clinging to the work in progress print of his then-unreleased film, A Grand Day Out.
August 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Also, several docs on/interviews with Aardman from across the studio's history - my faves being those from around 1989-1990, including one clip where Nick Park is seen clinging to the work in progress print of his then-unreleased film, A Grand Day Out.
My latest curated collection for the BFI Mediatheque is a treasure trove for animation fans and researchers. Over 50 documentaries, interviews and behind-the-scenes specials celebrating the best of world animation and the genius artists who create it. 🎨📽️
August 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
My latest curated collection for the BFI Mediatheque is a treasure trove for animation fans and researchers. Over 50 documentaries, interviews and behind-the-scenes specials celebrating the best of world animation and the genius artists who create it. 🎨📽️
Chuffed to return to the pages of @sightsoundmag.bsky.social with a "hidden gem" recommendation for HEROIC TIMES, which you can see on the big screen at the Barbican in October, or watch at your leisure if you import the Blu-ray from @deafcrocodile.bsky.social!
July 30, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Chuffed to return to the pages of @sightsoundmag.bsky.social with a "hidden gem" recommendation for HEROIC TIMES, which you can see on the big screen at the Barbican in October, or watch at your leisure if you import the Blu-ray from @deafcrocodile.bsky.social!
Has anyone lost their Wii Fit manual by the roundabout near the Tesco Express in Burgess Hill?
July 23, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Has anyone lost their Wii Fit manual by the roundabout near the Tesco Express in Burgess Hill?
The Animation at War season at the Barbican is expanding!
In October, we're screening József Gémes's medieval epic, HEROIC TIMES.
This is a glorious painted masterpiece of Hungarian animation, and to our knowledge this is the first time the film has been screened in the UK.
In October, we're screening József Gémes's medieval epic, HEROIC TIMES.
This is a glorious painted masterpiece of Hungarian animation, and to our knowledge this is the first time the film has been screened in the UK.
July 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The Animation at War season at the Barbican is expanding!
In October, we're screening József Gémes's medieval epic, HEROIC TIMES.
This is a glorious painted masterpiece of Hungarian animation, and to our knowledge this is the first time the film has been screened in the UK.
In October, we're screening József Gémes's medieval epic, HEROIC TIMES.
This is a glorious painted masterpiece of Hungarian animation, and to our knowledge this is the first time the film has been screened in the UK.
Small but growing stack of disc releases I've been lucky to contribute to...
July 14, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Small but growing stack of disc releases I've been lucky to contribute to...
And then there's the oh-so-90s film show Moviewatch, in which Johnny Vaughan travelled the country and hosted the programme from a different cinema each week, with reviews from local youngsters. One episode we have in the collection was filmed at the Warners multiplex in Bury - my local as a kid.
July 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
And then there's the oh-so-90s film show Moviewatch, in which Johnny Vaughan travelled the country and hosted the programme from a different cinema each week, with reviews from local youngsters. One episode we have in the collection was filmed at the Warners multiplex in Bury - my local as a kid.
Lots to discover in this collection, including an invaluable batch of works from amateur filmmaker Alan Stingemore, who filmed the decline and demolition of many cinemas in the 1980s - works we have on Replay courtesy of Screen Archive South East: screenarchive.brighton.ac.uk/collection/1...
July 10, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Lots to discover in this collection, including an invaluable batch of works from amateur filmmaker Alan Stingemore, who filmed the decline and demolition of many cinemas in the 1980s - works we have on Replay courtesy of Screen Archive South East: screenarchive.brighton.ac.uk/collection/1...
New curated collection by me over on BFI Replay, tracing the changing face of 'the cinema' as a cultural and architectural icon over the last 100 years, from grand picture palaces to sticky-floored multiplexes. Find it at your local library. 🍿
July 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
New curated collection by me over on BFI Replay, tracing the changing face of 'the cinema' as a cultural and architectural icon over the last 100 years, from grand picture palaces to sticky-floored multiplexes. Find it at your local library. 🍿
Princess Mononoke 4K is coming to BFI IMAX from 15th August!
July 1, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Princess Mononoke 4K is coming to BFI IMAX from 15th August!
According to the distributor it's coming to a bunch of cinemas in the UK (and Dublin) in "June-July" but with no specific dates, so check your local listings I guess.
June 23, 2025 at 11:38 AM
According to the distributor it's coming to a bunch of cinemas in the UK (and Dublin) in "June-July" but with no specific dates, so check your local listings I guess.