Image via https://stillsfrmfilms.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/2001-a-space-odyssey/

2015 was a year I kept track of all the films I watched by making a list evey month. It was a year I discovered a lot of old films. Thanks to online streaming and repertory film programming in cities like London I was able to watch a lot of films I never had a chance to see before and discover new old films.

Here's my list of top 25 favourite film discoveries of the year with a few lines added for some of the films.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)

I watched this on 70mm at the Prince Charles Cinema in London. It was a glorious experience. I erased the memory I had of watching it on TV. Watching it in the cinema is the only way to experience this film.

2. Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu, 1953, Japan)

It took me a long time, but I finally watched this film. So many painful truths expressed in this film. Profound and heartbreaking.

3. Films directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien:

Flowers of Shanghai (1998), Millennium Mambo (2001), Cafe Lumiere (2003), Three Times (2005)

This was a major discovery for me this year, I watched these films on 35mm at the BFI in London and can't wait to see the rest of his films.

4. A New Leaf (Elaine May, 1971)

This film needs to be seen by more people. A comedy masterpiece.

5. Films directed by Eric Rohmer

L'Amour l'après-midi (Love in the Afternoon), 1972 / Le Rayon Vert (The Green Ray), 1986

I want to see more Eric Rohmer films in 2016.

6. Films directed by Tsai Ming-liang

The Wayward Cloud (2005), I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (2006)

7. Walkabout (Nicolas Roeg, 1971)

Image via The Guardian

8. The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)

9. Boom! (Joseph Losey, 1968)

I watched this on 35mm at the BFI in London. I had a grin from ear to ear the whole time. This film is fabulous. John Waters said "If you don’t like this film, I hate you." I agree.

Image via BFI

10. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (Lou Adler, 1982)

Starring a very young Diane Lane as feminist punk rock singer. "Every girl should be given an electric guitar on her 16th birthday" Corinne Burns (Diane Lane).

Ladies+and+Gentlemen+The+Fabulous+Stains.jpg

11. Contempt (Jean-Luc Godard, 1974)

12. The Servant (Joseph Losey, 1963)

13. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965)

14. Rocco and his Brothers (Luchino Visconti, 1960, Italy)

Image via http://sensesofcinema.com/2010/cteq/rocco-and-his-brothers/

15. Once Upon a Time in America: Extended Director's Cut (Sergio Leone, 1984, 2012)

I watched this at a screening organised by Badlands Collective in London and it was followed by a discussion with Elizabeth McGovern. Read more about it here.