FACT is back with a new film season, extended exhibitions and even a local bakery

FACT Liverpool reopens from Wednesday 2 December with current exhibitions And Say the Animal Responded? and Augmented Empathy extended until Sunday 14 February.

The reopening of the arts venue also sees the launch of a new film programme in collaboration with HOME Manchester and the opening of a brand new bakery and café by The Wild Loaf.

Bringing a bold, independent cinema programme to Liverpool city centre, FACT has teamed up with HOME to bring 3 months of specially selected films to the big screen on Wood Street.

Kicking off on Thursday 14 January, the film season launches with Shirley (2020), an award-winning biopic starring Elisabeth Moss who gives a tour-de-force performance as Shirley Jackson, one of the greatest horror writers of the 20th Century.

FACT’s film programme in collaboration with HOME will showcase the very best in moving image with screenings of 2020 releases, 4K restored classics, international cinema and independent titles. The season continues with Brandon Cronenberg’s arthouse sci-fi horror Possessor (2020) and a seductive and sun-soaked tale of first love told in French-Belgian drama, Summer of 85 (2020).

Following the safe and successful reopening of FACT in the summer, the arts organisation and charity were saddened to hear that Picturehouse (owned by Cineworld) would close all of their UK cinemas indefinitely from October. Not wanting the screens to be left empty and thanks to a new partnership with HOME, FACT will screen a limited selection of films from January to March 2021.

Each film will be shown just once (making each screening extra special) with a limited number of tickets available to ensure households can sit together whilst safely maintaining social distance.

Augmented Empathy (2020)

Screenings will take place on Thursday and Friday evenings plus Saturday afternoons and film listings and times can be found on the FACT website and below. Tickets are £9.50 for adults and £7.50 for concessions and can be booked online, on the phone or in-person.

Exciting news for 2021 continues with the announcement of The Wild Loaf bakery opening at FACT. Founded in 2016 by art graduates Jess Doyle and Emily Sandeman the bakery specialises in organic sourdough breads and was previously based on Hardman Street until Covid-19 restrictions forced the bakery to close. Jess and co-founder Emily continued to bake throughout both lockdowns as the launch of The Wild Loaf online shop boomed.

With a new and larger custom-built home at FACT and all operations moving to Wood Street, visitors will be able to watch the baking in action whilst eating in or takeaway from the bakery café. The new bakery will take the place of The Garden by LEAF café, which sadly had to close earlier this year. The opening of a new café and bakery has been supported by Arts Council England and the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. More information about The Wild Loaf at FACT opening date, times and menu will be announced soon.

Nicola Triscott, CEO and Director at FACT, said:

“We are over the moon to be working with HOME and The Wild Loaf to share this exciting news. 2020 brought many challenges but FACT continues to adapt and evolve to offer exciting programmes of art and film for our visitors to enjoy safely. The team has gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of our visitors and we look forward to welcoming you back soon”.

Dave Moutrey, Director and CEO at HOME said: 

“HOME is delighted to be working with FACT to bring a diverse and dynamic film season to Liverpool. We believe that cinema shapes our perceptions of the world we live in and that arts and culture can bring us together. As two of the UK’s leading venues for the support and exhibition of moving image, HOME is proud to be working with our friends at FACT Liverpool”.

Jess Doyle, Founder of The Wild Loaf said: 

“We are really excited about this new collaboration with FACT and can’t wait to be working there. We consider bread making an artistic process and feel and feel like FACT is the perfect setting for this!”

Visit the FACT Liverpool website here.