
London recently got its first proper taste of American artist/provocateur John Waters at his recent Sprüth Magers exhibition – and it seems we can’t get enough. Throughout September and October, the British Film Institute (BFI) on Southwark's Southbank is hosting its very own 'Pope of Trash' film fest, dedicating an entire season to a retrospective of the cult filmmaker.
‘This tribute is like receiving a plenary indulgence from the movie gods above and for once I can be show-biz thrilled without the slightest drop of irony in my thanks,’ says Waters. ‘Yikes, respectability... the final outrage.’ To mark BFI Southbank’s Waters-centric season, we take a look at his greatest hits…
‘The Complete Films of John Waters (Every Goddam One of Them...)’ runs at BFI Southbank until 6 October 2015. For a full programme, click here
Pictured: a still from Pecker (1998). Photography: Michael Ginsburg

Roman Candles (1966)
Baltimore-born Waters began making experimental short films as a teenager, often using his home as a location, and casting his friends. His clique – known as the Dreamlanders and including Divine, Mary Vivian Pearce, David Lochary and Mink Stole – would become core cast members in his earlier shorts.
Courtesy of Dreamland Productions

Roman Candles (1966)
Courtesy of Dreamland Productions

Eat Your Makeup (1968)
These underground short films – never before seen in the UK – are set to screen in a compilation programme, John Waters: The Early Shorts. Shorts such as Eat Your Makeup alluded to the visionary films that would follow in his career.
Courtesy of Dreamland Productions

Eat Your Makeup (1968)
Courtesy of Dreamland Productions

Mondo Trasho (1969)
This was Waters’ first feature, and was heavily influenced by both Andy Warhol and Russ Meyer. The guerrilla-style artwork brought his audience closer to his Dreamland acting troupe.
Courtesy of Dreamland Productions