You might be forgiven for thinking that the only place to see a film in the cinema these days is a multiplex, but you would be wrong. Look past the gaudy neon of the chains and you will find more than twenty independent cinemas and over 1,600 film societies up and down the country. While the cinemas are run as professional, commercial operations, more often than not film societies are in small communities where access to cinema is limited and are staffed by enthusiasts and volunteers.
What they all have in common is a shared passion to bring interesting, diverse and challenging films to audiences who may know nothing about them. Moreover, the films they show often only get a limited release, meaning that without the work of these organisations, many people would miss the chance to see them altogether.
Two organisations, both funded by the British Film Institute (BFI), support the independent sector: the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) and Cinema for All (C4A). They offer advice on finance, technical questions, training, access to equipment and above all, programming.
C4A is especially good at supporting film societies, with a choice of hundreds of films, including recent releases and classics in DVD or Blu-ray format. The ICO meanwhile focuses on showcasing what’s about to be released. Several times a year, it runs screening days around the country, allowing those looking to programme for their audience the chance to preview what distributors will be releasing in the short to medium term.
Screening days for independent cinema support innovative programming
I have helped run Lincoln Film Society since 1980 and was pleased to join the ICO for their spring event recently at BFI Southbank along with those who run independent cinemas and film societies all over the country. The Central region was very well represented, with delegates from Shropshire, the Black Country, Buxton, Derby, Nottingham, Market Harborough and Northampton.
Over the two days 24 films were shown in the three BFI screens, from 9am until 5.30pm. Because screenings happen simultaneously, you can never see more than eight films in total. Most, though not all, are unlikely to appear in multiplexes and are therefore going to appeal to those people running independent cinemas and film societies and looking for exciting, innovative programming ideas.
What a film society looks for
Lincoln has an Odeon and an Everyman, so mainstream audiences are well catered for. Our film society therefore tries to offer more interesting alternatives. Having a particular responsibility for our programming, I have a set of criteria that I apply to decide what is likely to go down well.
Firstly, most of the films need readable subtitles. Many of the films we show are made abroad, so obviously this is essential. Good subtitling makes these films accessible and enjoyable. Moreover, cinemas are much more conscious of accessibility for their audiences and subtitles and captions are becoming increasingly common. The vast majority of film societies and independent cinema audiences are elderly and their hearing isn’t as sharp as it was. English language films where actors mumble or talk too fast mean the audience cannot hear what’s being said. Subtitling reduces that problem.
The other key ingredients include an engaging story. It doesn’t have to be thrilling but it does have to hold attention and not be predictable. If it’s funny, so much the better. A good script and direction are essential, as is the quality of the acting. Special effects aren’t necessary.
All film genres are eligible including documentaries, which are often very well received. Our two most recent screenings were the Oscar nominated documentary Black Box Diaries which scored an extraordinary 88% approval rating from the audience and Crossing, a Swedish/Georgia co-production about the community of trans women in Istanbul – not the most accessible theme but watched by 175 of our members who gave it an approval rating of 80%.
Value for money
If you think all this sounds a bit nerdy, think again. Cinema admissions may have recovered remarkably well from the effects of the pandemic but with the average ticket price at nearly £8, including at the good independents, regular film-going can get very expensive.
Compare that with the film society movement. They have membership schemes which help build a sense of community. You pay a minimal fee to join and then a much lower ticket price compared with commercial cinemas. Some, like ours in Lincoln, work it differently. Membership for our current season is £36 but entry to all films is free for members thereafter. There are 15 films in our programme which works out at a good value of £2.40 a film if you see them all.
Value for money is one thing: a feeling of belonging is crucial. Independent cinemas and especially film societies offer safe spaces for people to enjoy an evening out, meet friends, have a drink and watch a film. These are the characteristics of the independent film sector, the things that make people want to get involved. If you like cinema but don’t like the atmosphere that can be found in the multiplex, you may well find there are attractive alternatives available near you.
