29 December 2004
Paradiso

The New Cool Collective perform a soundtrack they have composed for the film Jungle Book (Zoltan Korda, 1942). This live-action version of Kipling's famous book was made by Korda 25 years after the animation version came out. Television celeb and theatermaker Wilfried de Jong narrates (in Dutch). Note that matinee performance is specially for kids.

Wizard of Oz
25 December 2004

An early-morning screening on Christmas Day of the original 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz by Victor Fleming at the sumptuously restored Tuschinski cinema. For the Dorothy in us all... Note there are also additional screenings for children at the Filmmuseum on 12 and 15 December at 2pm.

23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 December 2004
Filmmuseum

22 December 2004
Paradiso

A special night with Das Pop featuring The Go Find (Belgium), Pitchtuner (Germany) and DJ Buenavista (Spain).

19 December 2004
Hotel Pulitzer

A handful of young singers from the Internationaal Opera Centrum Nederlands, on the threshold of their international opera careers, perform English and Italian operatic works. The concert is at 2.30pm with the option to partake in midday brunch beforehand (12.30pm-2.30pm: €63) or the high tea arrangement following (3.30pm-5pm: €39) in the art deco Tuinzaal (Garden Room). Though decidedly decadent it remains an unpretentious and informal affair. Reservations can also be made by emailing: laurien.roos@starwoodhotels.com

19 December 2004
Vrolijk Book Store

Visiting from the US, Lynn Breedlove will talk about her new lesbian novel Godspeed (on sale in Vrolijk Bookshop), her punk dyke band Tribe8, and the movie Rise Above: The Tribe 8 Documentary (which is being screened during De Roze Filmdagen).

19 December 2004
Paradiso

This year's Rocket Clip Festival has the cheery theme of disaster movies. Being screened are 25 short films (no longer than 9 minutes each) that amateur filmmakers have created, inspired by the soundtracks of disaster movies such as Armageddon, The Day After Tomorrow, Towering Inferno, Titanic, The Perfect Storm and Twister etc.

18 December 2004
Various Venues

Hot on the heels of the successful Museum Night, ten locations in Amsterdam are opening the doors for all-night movie screenings (that's 3000 seats and 50 films!). Film tickets are cheaper than usual in the evening and after midnight films cost just EUR 1 each and are a mix of musicals, animals films, monster films, classics, short films and more...

16, 17 December 2004

Highly respected in the industry and for their work with artists such as Erykah Badu, the rap and hip-hop crew The Roots – who hail from Philadelphia – are in town for two sell-out gigs. With a reputation for great live shows – they don’t use DJs, turntables or samples to create their sound – beg, borrow or steal for a ticket. Alternatively, roll up to the Paradiso tonight and you might be lucky enough to pick one up outside. Support both nights is Martin Luther.

15-17 December 2004
Filmmuseum

MGM studio boss, Irving Thalberg, asked Tod Browning, director of Bela Lugosi’s Dracula (1931), to give him something that would 'out-horror Frankenstein' A year later, Browning shocked the world with Freaks, inspired by his childhood recollections of running away with a circus and befriending the sideshow freaks. Erroneously deemed so disturbing to the public, it was withdrawn by MGM a few weeks after its release… and banned in the UK for over 50 years.

14 December 2004
Heineken Music Hall

10-19 December 2004
Various locations

The eighth edition of this inspired gay and lesbian film festival, The Pink Film Days, takes place at the Cavia, De Balie and the Filmmuseum and include's the latest underground offerings as well as the old favourites such as Hitchcock's Rope, Bond gem Diamonds Are Forever (partially shot in Amsterdam), the moving The Times of Harvey Milk and vampire classic Daughters of Darkness...

9 December 2004
Paradiso

A solo concert by the former member of the legendary Velvet Underground who will be performing on both the piano and guitar.

8 December 2004
Amstelkerk, Amsterdam

Rodney Bolt will read from and discuss History Play: The Lives and After-life of Christopher Marlowe (HarperCollins, July 2004), a gloriously playful retake of the biographies of Shakespeare and Marlowe. For all those who ever wondered if Shakespeare really did write those incredible works, this is for you...

7, 9 December 2004
Filmmuseum

'It's better than sex, but more than an obsession' declare film junkies about Cinemania. The documentary follows a group of New Yorks that live in a permanent state of 'cinemania'. It's preceded by the short film Filmmuseum – Altijd Scherp (Mark de Cloe, 1998).

6 December 2004
Paradiso

The far from regal – yet brilliant – bunch are back in town to promote their latest album Aha Shake Heartbeat. Support is The Mooney Suzuki.

4 December 2004
Ahoy (Rotterdam)