Project Detail

The Show of Shows

Name: The Show of Shows
Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
Released: 2015
Duration: 73 mins

Synopsis

This film tells the story of itinerant circus performers, cabaret acts and vaudeville and fairground attractions. In this film, rarities and never-before seen footage of fairgrounds, circus entertainment, freak shows, variety performances, music hall and seaside entertainment are chronicled from the 19th and 20th century. We will see early shows that wowed the world and home movies of some of the greatest circus families.

Director Benedikt Erlingsson takes us back to the days when the most outlandish, skillful and breathtaking acts traveled the world.

This rich visual archive has been created with exclusive access to The University of Sheffield’s National Fairground Archive and is accompanied by an epic new score by Georg Holm and Orri Páll Dýrason of Sigur Rós, in collaboration with Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Kjartan Dagur Holm.

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Details

Year: 2015
Type of project: Features
Running time: 73 mins
Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
Producer: Margret Jonasdottir, Heather Croall, Mark Atkin, Professor Vanessa Toulmin
Composer: Sigur Ros

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Sagafilm

Laugavegi 176
105 Reykjavik
Iceland

Crossover Labs

The Workstation,
15 Paternoster Row,
Sheffield,
S1 2BX,
UK
T: +44 (0)114 276 5141

Sales Company

Dogwoof

19-23 Ironmonger Row
London
EC1V 3QN
UK
Tel: 02072536244

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The story of itinerant circus performers, cabaret acts and fairground attractions. Rarities and never-before seen footage of fairgrounds, circus entertainment, freak shows, variety performances, music hall and seaside entertainment are chronicled from the 19th and 20th century - early shows that wowed the world and home movies of some of the greatest circus families at a time when the most outlandish, skillful and breathtaking acts traveled the world. Created in collaboration with The University of Sheffield’s National Fairground Archive.

Joy of Joys

Director: Jonathan Glazer

Year: 2026

JOY OF JOYS is a short documentary about the recording sessions for War Child Records' HELP(2) at Abbey Road Studios, directed by Jonathan Glazer and devised by Mica Levi and Glazer. Children in London film themselves and the musicians, including Olivia Rodrigo, Arctic Monkeys, Damon Albarn, Cameron Winter, Fontaines DC and Pulp. While children in Gaza Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen film themselves and their surroundings. The documentary interweaves these layers across continents and backgrounds to show a universal innocence and the joy of childhood itself. Glazer and Levi describe the film as being “by children, for children”. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

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Smiling man facing camera with a group of people in nun costumes and Outrage placards behind

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Director: Theo Rollason