In 1925, a pioneering group of cultural visionaries – including filmmakers Ivor Montagu and Anthony Asquith, exhibitor Sidney Bernstein, film critic Iris Barry, artist Augustus John, and economist John Maynard Keynes – established The Film Society in London. Their goal was to create a space where artistically significant films, often overlooked by commercial cinemas, could be celebrated and shared with the public.
On 25 October 1925, The Film Society held its inaugural screening at London’s New Gallery Kinema, showcasing Paul Leni’s German silent anthology Waxworks and Charlie Chaplin’s Champion Charlie. This historic event laid the foundation for a vibrant grassroots movement that continues to thrive today.
A century later, the UK is home to over 1,600 community screens – from major arts venues to pop-up cinemas in village halls and even garden sheds – uniting films and audiences in every corner of the country. This diverse, inclusive, and creative movementplays a vital role in the cultural life of communities of all kinds.
FESTIVAL OF COMMUNITY CINEMA
To celebrate this centenary, Cinema For All, the national support organisation for volunteer-led community cinemas, is leading anationwide celebration: the Festival of Community Cinema.
The festival offers both new and established film societies the opportunity to mark this historic occasion by screening a film from aspecially curated collection of 25 titles, spanning the years 1924 to 2025. This unique programme represents a century of creativity and diversity in community cinema, featuring landmark titles, audience favourites, and rediscovered gems from around the world.
All the information on how volunteer-led film societies can take part and how you can find a film society near you is available on theCinema For All website. Tickets for each screening will be just £3, encouraging participation and helping to continue the legacy of community cinema for the next 100 years.
Highlights from the programme include:
- Waxworks (Paul Leni) — screened at the very first Film Society meeting in 1925
- Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock)
- Singin’ in the Rain (Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly)
- Peeping Tom (Michael Powell)
- The Big City (Satyajit Ray)
- A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick)
- Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee)
- Muriel’s Wedding (P.J. Hogan)
- Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore) — voted No. 1 by Community Cinema members in the 100 Years, 100 Films poll
“For 100 years, community cinemas have brought together a love and a passion for film with the desire to build a community around the big screen,” said Jaq Chell, CEO Cinema For All. “They offer affordable, local, safe spaces for people to see films together, as an audience. With over 1600 community screens across the UK, they make an important impact on the film industry, on film education, on access to arts and culture and on people’s lives.”
Why is Community Cinema important?
- Community cinemas and film societies bring film to all areas of the country – 31% of community screens operate in rural areas, compared to only 3% of commercial venues.
- The support of home-grown film and talent – 25% of films shown by community groups are UK productions.
- A film society experience brings you together as a community to share the magic of cinema. Community cinemas bring back that habit of cinema-going, that was once thought lost.
- A community screening can be an inspiring and unique way to experience cinema. The passion and enthusiasm of the volunteer organisers comes through in many thoughtful and highly creative ways.
About Cinema For All
Cinema For All (formerly the British Federation of Film Societies) provides free guidance, tools and national advocacy to groups at every stage – from start-up advice to licensing and funding support. It champions inclusion, access, and innovation across the sector through:
- Coaching, training and bursaries
- Low-cost film hire
- Low-cost equipment hire (screen, projector, speakers) available from 18 nationwide locations
- Publications, toolkits, and educational resources
- Events, workshops and networking
