Sell-out screenings for Plymouth Arts Cinema highlight the value of independent cinema

14th October 2020

Plymouth Arts Cinema has released details of its November – December programme, with new films including ‘On The Rocks’, starring Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of ‘Rebecca’, French Film Festival, and ‘I Am Greta’, the new documentary about teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg.

PAC enjoyed a strong opening month with many sellout screenings in October, despite a climate of uncertainty within the film industry.

The closure for the foreseeable future of Cineworld and other multiplex chains is sad news for cinema, with the postponement of films such as the latest 007 ‘No Time To Die’ leaving them with little to screen.

However, there is the potential for independent cinema to be more robust. Plymouth Arts Cinema and other smaller cinemas are lighter on their feet and a good variety of British, US, and foreign language independent films are still scheduled for release. Loyal audiences have returned to PAC, as well as those discovering the cinema for the first time.

Director and Film Programmer Anna Navas said: "Our opening month was more successful than we could have predicted, given the circumstances. We are so grateful to our audience for their support, and we have loved seeing familiar faces back in the cinema. This is also a wonderful opportunity to welcome new  audiences through our doors and introduce them to the great films that we are screening this season.”

The team have worked hard to ensure the cinema is a safe place to visit, with socially distanced seating, face coverings, temperature checks, and an enhanced cleaning regime. They have received positive feedback from audience members who feel safe and happy to return, such as one film goer who said “I was really impressed with how PAC have handled reopening the cinema - it's so lovely to come in and feel welcomed, but for it to also be very obvious that all the necessary precautions are being taken. Well done for doing this so successfully!”

Social distancing means that the cinema capacity is greatly reduced for now, so income from ticket sales and donations is more valuable than ever, as is the continued support of Plymouth City Council.

Following the hard work of organisations such as the BFI and FAN network, many independent cinemas also have access to the Cultural Recovery Fund, which, if granted will provide a buffer to help get them up and running again at full capacity in the future.

To see the full programme and book online, please visit plymouthartscentre.org/whats-on.

Community is important to this long-established Plymouth organization, and following a successful Crowdfunder campaign the team at the cinema are pleased to be able to offer free cinema trips for key workers who kept the city running during lockdown. The ticket ballot can be entered here: https://plymouthartscentre.org/key-worker-tickets/