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A look-ahead at what we’ll be watching in 2018, what really constitutes a “film featuring a strong female lead”, and the highs and lows of 2017 at the box office.

From sets and scenery to costume creation, we sit down with some of today’s leading voices for a lesson in crafting films’ visual identity. Sean Baker, director of ‘The Florida Project’, takes us inside the setting of his standout film, we step inside the workshop of Viennese costume designer Monika Buttinger and film critic Tim Grierson explores the architecture of Woody Allen’s 1979 film ‘Manhattan’.

Grab yourself a glühwein as we get into the festive spirit with our favourite picks of the season. Tara Judah recalls some of her seasonal films, we touch down at the Rome Film Festival and embark on a tour of Alfred Hitchcock’s London.

In this inky special we examine the many ways cinema impacts the printed page. Pedro Almodovar’s storyboard artist Pablo Buratti takes us inside the often-hidden art, we get a lesson in graphic art from Austrian poster designer Matthias van Baaren, and Taschen’s Paul Duncan has the last word in creating beautiful film books.

Join us on a coastal journey from Brooklyn to Iceland as we explore three beachside films. Director Eliza Hittman discusses her sensitive portrait of a struggling young gay man in her new film, ‘Beach Rats’, and Monocle’s Carlota Rebelo reveals the story behind Wim Wenders’ affection for Lisbon. Plus: Icelandic filmmaker Erlingur Thoroddsen discusses the stunning scenery of his new thriller ‘Rift’.

Meet Hadley Freeman, journalist, author and possibly the world’s biggest fan of the classic 1982 film ‘Tootsie’. She explains why the film, which stars Dustin Hoffman, maintains a timeless relevance and why films of the 1980s are superior to today’s mainstream cinema.

Meet Lois Smith, the 86-year-old actress who began her career opposite James Dean in 1955’s ‘East of Eden’. Now she’s starring with Jon Hamm in ‘Marjorie Prime’. She recalls her experience breaking into acting alongside an icon of cinema.

Step inside Madrid’s magnificent Cine Dore, the shining architectural jewel in the Spanish culture ministry’s Filmoteca and an impressive national archive of global stories committed to celluloid.

Meet Maysaloun Hamoud, whose debut feature ‘In Between’ tells the story of three women in Tel Aviv enjoying their independence. It’s won acclaim since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival but also provoked fury in Israel, where Hamoud was issued with the first fatwa since 1948.

The French screen star sits down with Monocle’s Culture editor Robert Bound to discuss her approach to acting, the directors she chooses to work with and her relationship with the audience.

Meet the man behind ‘The Crying Game’, ‘Interview with the Vampire’, ‘Michael Collins’, and ‘The End of the Affair’. Today he’s one of the most sought-after film-makers.

Meet the man in charge of restorations and revivals at this year’s 74th Venice International Film Festival. Ben Rylan sits down with Giuseppe Piccioni, jury president of the Venice Classics section, to discuss how modern audiences relate to older films.

Is virtual reality really cinema? The emerging medium has its detractors but legendary German film-maker Wim Wenders is not one of them. He explains why he has high hopes for a virtual cinematic future.

Renowned composer Michael Nyman discusses his soundtrack to the extraordinary 1997 science-fiction film ‘Gattaca’.

Do you fancy a glass of gin with your screening? We meet the clever folk behind Edible Cinema, an immersive event that takes food and drink off the screen and into the hands of the audience.

Writer and director David Lowery discusses his extraordinary new film starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara and we tell you why, despite appearances, it might be one of the most unexpectedly moving films you’re ever likely to see.

When James Bond met Q at London’s National Gallery in 2012’s ‘Skyfall’, the pair sat opposite a painting rich with symbolism. It also happens to be the UK’s favourite artwork. We visit the gallery with deputy director Susan Foister to discover the symbolism behind ‘The Fighting Temeraire’.

Designing a luxury cinema for picky picture-goers in the age of streaming is a tricky business. Architect Takero Shimazaki shares his insights following his redesign of London’s stunning Curzon Bloomsbury art house.

Meet the man who helped give “Nocturnal Animals” the unmistakable look for which its director, Tom Ford, is so well regarded. From 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” to Ryan Murphy’s “The Normal Heart”, Shane Valentino explains how he designs for the screen.

Before he was making feature films Adam Smith was the creative force behind several television campaigns for brands including Nike and Adidas. He shares his thoughts on what makes an attention-grabbing TV spot.