Step into film’s past and future at Hove Museum this autumn

Hove Museum of Creativity is opening its doors to a new exhibition celebrating the city’s pioneering film heritage. Play Back Forward runs from 4 October 2025 to 12 April 2026, inviting visitors to explore early cinema through a contemporary, hands-on lens.

The exhibition takes inspiration from filmmaking trailblazers G.A. Smith, James Williamson and other local innovators, whose early experiments shaped the language of cinema. Their legacy is brought to life with a mix of archival films, creative responses from local young people, and new installations by artists Chahine Fellahi and Annis Joslin.

Expect a playful clash of old and new: analogue trickery meets digital experiments, past technologies spark future visions, and film history is reimagined in surprising ways. The result is an immersive space to watch, play and create.

To celebrate the launch, the museum will host Days of Wonder: Press Play on Saturday 25 October, 11am–4pm. This free, drop-in event for all ages will offer hands-on activities from optical tricks and experimental animation to zine-making workshops led by exhibiting artists.

Play Back Forward is presented as part of Days of Wonder, a three-year project exploring the heritage of film and media in Brighton & Hove. The project is curated and produced by videoclub and Corridor in partnership with Brighton & Hove Museums and Screen Archive South East, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, and BFI/Film Hub South East.

Play Back Forward runs 4 October 2025 – 12 April 2026
Hove Museum of Creativity
Admission free