Dalston's Rio cinema has hosted local politicians and documentary makers, but not so far Oscar-nominated US stars.

All that will change on Saturday when the actors and director behind the hotly tipped American Fiction give a Q&A at the independent film theatre.

Jeffrey Wright (Angels in America, No Time To Die, Rustin) is nominated for best actor in a leading role, Sterling K Brown (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, This Is Us, The People V OJ Simpson) for best actor in a supporting role, and debut director and screenwriter Cord Jefferson has been recognised with a nod for best picture at this year's Academy Awards which take place on March 10.

Ham & High: Sterling K Brown and Jeffrey Wright the stars of American Fiction give a Q&A at The Rio in Kingsland RoadSterling K Brown and Jeffrey Wright the stars of American Fiction give a Q&A at The Rio in Kingsland Road (Image: Curzon)

Based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, the film is a sharp social comedy that poses awkward questions around race, class and culture. It follows Wright's frustrated novelist-professor, who writes an outlandishly stereotypical "black" book as a satire, only for it to achieve high sales and praise.

George Binette, vice-chair of the Grade II listed Rio Cinema's  board of trustees, said they were "pleased and proud" about the event on Saturday (February 3) which is hosted by Bounce Cinema director Mathieu Ajan.

"We do have a lot of special events and fundraisers, we've had the odd MP - Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn - a Q&A with Mike Leigh, and Idris Elba even proposed to his wife on the stage of The Rio, but so far I don't think we've had Oscar nominees," he said.

Ham & High: Director Cord Jefferson wrote the screenplay and made his directorial debut on American FictionDirector Cord Jefferson wrote the screenplay and made his directorial debut on American Fiction (Image: Curzon)

"This film has a whipsmart script that examines the complexity of the middle-class African American experience. It got the people's choice award at the Toronto Film Festival, and stars Jeffery Wright who is one of the best actors in the English speaking cinema.

"We are really pleased and proud that they are coming here."

Binette said London's oldest independent non-profit making cinema relies on ticket sales, special events and membership fees to keep going.

Ham & High: Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction which is out in UK cinemas on February 2Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction which is out in UK cinemas on February 2 (Image: Curzon)

"We've been a charity since 1979 but there's been a cinema on this site for 110 years," he said.

"As with the industry in general, things like Barbenheimer and Saltburn did very well for us, and January has been pretty good with Poor Things and The Holdovers getting good attendance."

The Rio’s interim director Tim Stevens said: "We are proud to host Jeffrey Wright, alongside director Cord Jefferson and co-star and fellow Oscar nominee Sterling K. Brown for a very special evening."Ham & High: Not for profit charity The Rio in Dalston is a Grade II listed art deco gemNot for profit charity The Rio in Dalston is a Grade II listed art deco gem (Image: Archant)

"We at the Rio were repeatedly told that a cinema like ours couldn’t attract big name actors and directors. Again, we’ve proved the naysayers wrong, which is a great tribute to the work of Rio staff.”

American Fiction is out in UK cinemas on February 2 and tickets are available for the 4pm screening on February 3 at The Rio followed by the Q&A.