Join us for a voyage into the works of one of the all-time masters of world cinema in the exhilarating company of the award-winning novelist, broadcaster and critic Will Self.

“All art, of course, is intellectual, but for me, all the arts, and cinema even more so, must above all be emotional and act upon the heart.” – Andrei Tarkovsky

On a distant planet, a sentient ocean conjures apparitions of the dead.

A middle-aged intellectual bargains with God to prevent nuclear holocaust.

A guide leads a tour through a forest where the laws of physics no longer apply.

Touching upon metaphysical themes with a rare sophistication and poignancy, the seven films of Andrei Tarkovsky transport us from the edge of the universe to the hidden depths of the human psyche, offering rich rewards for anyone prepared to embark upon the journey through his majestic and intimidating oeuvre.

One of Britain’s most renowned and accomplished living novelists and a lifelong fan of Tarkovsky’s luminous cinema, Will Self returns to How To Academy to guide us through the dream-like evocations of time, memory and conscious experience conjured by this master of the form.

Whether you are already a Tarkovsky fanatic or a newcomer intrigued by the possibilities of a medium more commonly employed in the service of gangsters and superheroes than profound philosophical inquiry, this livestream event is an unmissable treat.