1. HOST YOUR OWN FESTIVAL
If one film just isn’t enough, make a night of it and put on your own triple bill of movies. They could be curated by director, actor, genre or theme, but tailor it to your guests; think the best of the Brat Pack, Wes Anderson’s greatest hits or your favourite romantic comedies. Then settle in for the evening and immerse yourself with snacks to fit your film festival.
2. GET FANCY
Cinephiles who’ve always dreamed of being on the silver screen will jump at the chance to dress up as their favourite idols, so match your movie with a dress code. Classic films with iconic characters are the most fun for fancy dress – and don’t forget to award a prize to the best (and worst) dressed.
3. SET UP A BAR
Make a night of it, and invite your guests to help themselves to drinks by setting up a well-stocked drinks trolley or bar cart in close proximity to the screen. Make sure you’ve got all the essentials at hand including ice, soft drinks and garnishes to match your drinks to your film of choice; a Bloody Mary for horror, Martini for Film Noir or and aged Whiskey for Western. And make sure to have plenty of tasty snacks, so you won’t miss a minute of the action on the screen.
4. CREATE A CINEMA LOUNGE
Forget the sofa. Channel your 10-year-old self and build your own cosy slumber party-style cinema lounge. Push back the coffee table, gather all the cushions you own, et voilà. Just the thing for three-hour epics and large gatherings where seating is scarce. Delicious finger food, snacks or sharing platters are ideal, to keep the cosy mood going throughout the evening.
5. QUIZIFY YOUR FILM NIGHT
Make movie night more interactive with a trivia quiz. Invite your most competitive friends and self-proclaimed film buffs (everybody knows one), and test their knowledge on the night’s entertainment. Remember to throw in a few diverting questions and really challenge those your movie loving friends.