Initially banned from mainstream British TV in 1992 for its provocative depiction of drug taking and the euphoric escape from the banal realities of life, Weekender – the film by WIZ for Flowered Up’s 13-minute epic single – is hailed as one of the most innovative music films ever made. A cultural artefact, it has gained genuine cult status and influenced a network of creators across 30 years. Now this pioneering meditation on the British rave experience is celebrated in I Am Weekender (2022, Heavenly Films), Chloé Raunet’s new documentary about the film’s making, impact and legacy.

The BFI is releasing both films together on Blu-ray on 19 June 2023, with Weekender newly restored in 2K from the original negative. The presentation contains numerous special features including a new audio commentary. The first pressing is strictly limited to 2,000 copies featuring a slipcase, postcard and a 36-page illustrated booklet with new essays by Miranda Sawyer, Adelle Stripe, Des Penney and WIZ.

A lockdown project, Chloé Raunet's I Am Weekender relied solely on Zoom interviews and WIZ's personal archive to highlight more diverse voices and lesser-known aspects of Acid House culture. As well as comments from lead actor Lee Whitlock there is co-star Anna Haigh’s first hand female perspective. Quaff Records’ founder Roy ‘The Roach’ Marsh describes the black experience of the early scene. Twenty-seven interviewees include Irvine Welsh, Jeremy Deller, Lynne Ramsay, Bobby Gillespie, Clive Langer, Mark Moore, Róisín Murphy, Annie Nightingale, Shaun Ryder and David Holmes.

Ahead of the Blu-ray release, BFI Southbank’s Sonic Cinema strand will host a screening of both films in NFT1 followed by a Q&A with special guests + DJ set on Thursday 15 June at 8.30pm. The screening sold out as soon as tickets went on sale. Further UK cinema screenings are to be announced.

Weekender & I Am Weekender will be released by the BFI on Limited Edition Blu-ray, iTunes and Amazon Prime release on 19 June 2023 at the RRP of £19.99.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Weekender (1992, 19 mins): the film itself, remastered from the original camera negative and presented in a new 2K restoration
• New audio commentary by director WIZ, recorded and produced by Adam Dunlop
• Rushes Revisited (Adam Dunlop, 2023, 9 mins): four sketches made from unseen rushes featuring previously unheard isolated tracks from the original recordings
• Take It (1991, 4 mins): Flowered Up promotional video directed by WIZ
• Phobia (1990, 4 mins): Flowered Up promotional video directed by Paul Cannell
• It’s On (1990, 4 mins): Flowered Up promotional video directed by Pinko
• Raise (1990, 4 mins): Bocca Juniors promotional video directed by WIZ and featuring Anna Haigh
• Nish (1990, 4 mins): a short film about early acid house culture by WIZ
• Turn It Up! (2023, 27 mins): Chloé Raunet discusses the making of her documentary
• Strictly limited to 2,000 copies featuring a slipcase, postcard and a 36-page illustrated booklet with newly commissioned essays by Miranda Sawyer, Adelle Stripe, Des Penney and WIZ

Pre-order from the BFI Shop: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/i-am-weekender-blu-ray.html