Steve Buscemi in Trees Lounge (1996)

GOING to the cinema is not always about the film. It can be just as much about anything from the big sound system and giant screen to the velvet ropes, popcorn tubs and the eye-blinking when you leave the auditorium.

For cinephiles, the rise of the streaming service has often been seen as a direct competition to how directors want their audiences to experience their work. It would be a rare old thing for a director to say “just hop on your sofa, flick on the telly and of course feel free to punch pause when you want a cuppa”.

But for the true film lover, subscribing to the British Film Institute’s streaming service is surely a welcome addition to ways to consume great films. With a world-leading team of discerning selectors picking what they provide, unlike so many other streaming services that lead to endless flicking through disappointing options, the BFI focus is on classics, both contem­porary and from the vaults.

This month, they are offering a special readers’ code to sign up – see the details below – and include the tempting carrot of two stunning releases that illustrate the selection BFI can afford to conjure up.

Carlos Gallardo in El Mariachi (1992)

Steve Buscemi’s acting and directorial debut Trees Lounge (1996) is the film that really helped solidify his reputation as an actor, too. Tommy (Buscemi) is the recently sacked car mechanic whose life is slowly drowning in a bottle of beer. The film follows his alcoholic descent, and is riddled with pathos, reflective humour, and a dollop of realist humanity.

Alongside Trees Lounge, this August sees the 1992 directorial debut of Robert Rodriguez released. El Mariachi tells the story of a brutal life of a wandering musician and how he becomes embroiled in a case of mistaken identity with a hitman (Carlos Gallardo).

Its success saw Rodriguez make two sequels: Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Desperado, with Antonio Banderas in the lead to ensure a big box office draw.

The inclusion of these two contemporary classics reflects on the BFI’s sterling job to promote global new releases which the big chains might ignore, recognise rare cult classics and give new audiences access to acclaimed masterpieces.

• New subscribers can save £15 on an annual subscription by using the voucher code SUMMER50. The offer is valid until Sunday August 31 2025, reducing the annual cost from £65 to £50. Visit: player.bfi.org.uk