Independent Cinema in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The United Kingdom has a well-established history of independent cinema exhibition dating back to the 1930s and the Film Society Movement, which still exists as the British Federation of Film Societies
. Since the 1980s independent exhibition has thrived in a series of regional film theatres set up under the auspices of the British Film Institute
. The cinemas are linked to the Europa Cinemas Network which guarantees to promote at least 50% European titles, as well as to represent the history and diversity of world cinema.
The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) has comprehensive information for developers and owners of independent cinemas.
A full directory of UK independent cinemas can be found on the ICO website.
British Federation of Film Societies
The British Federation of Film Societies is the national agency for the development and support of the film society and community cinema movement in the UK....
. Since the 1980s independent exhibition has thrived in a series of regional film theatres set up under the auspices of the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
. The cinemas are linked to the Europa Cinemas Network which guarantees to promote at least 50% European titles, as well as to represent the history and diversity of world cinema.
The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) has comprehensive information for developers and owners of independent cinemas.
Current locations
The principal regional film theatres include:- Broadway, NottinghamBroadway, NottinghamAs one of the leading exponents of Independent Cinema in the United Kingdom, Broadway Media Centre in Nottingham began life as a Wesleyan Chapel in 1860, where the Methodist preacher William Booth experienced a religious conversion and later founded the Salvation Army in 1878...
- Chapter Arts CentreChapter Arts CentreChapter Arts Centre is an arts centre in Canton, Cardiff, Wales. It hosts films, plays, performance art and live music, and includes a free art gallery, café and bars. There are also over 60 work spaces, used for an eclectic range of purposes including Chapter's own training courses.Income for...
, Cardiff - Cornerhouse, Manchester
- Edinburgh Film House
- Foundation for Art and Creative TechnologyFoundation for Art and Creative TechnologyFACT is a new media arts centre based on Wood Street in Liverpool, England.-Support for the creative industries:...
, Liverpool - Glasgow Film TheatreGlasgow Film TheatreThe Glasgow Film Theatre or GFT is an independent cinema in Rose Street, , Glasgow. GFT is a registered charity...
- National Media Museum, BradfordBradfordBradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
- Queen's Film Theatre, BelfastQueen's Film TheatreThe Queen's Film Theatre or QFT is a small independent cinema at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland that was founded in 1968. The QFT focuses mainly on art house, indie and world cinema and plays an important role in the cultural life of Belfast, in particular through contributions to...
- Showroom, SheffieldShowroom CinemaThe Showroom Cinema is an independent arthouse cinema in Sheffield, England. It is housed in a 1936 art deco building which was formerly the Kennings car dealership...
- Watershed Media CentreWatershed Media CentreWatershed opened in June 1982 as the United Kingdom's first dedicated media centre. Based in former warehouses on the harbourside at Bristol, it hosts three cinemas, a café/bar, events/conferencing spaces, and office spaces for administrative and creative staff. It occupies the former V and W sheds...
, Bristol
A full directory of UK independent cinemas can be found on the ICO website.