Part of a group of companies that together form one of the UK’s leading developer and operator of state-of-the-art cinemas.
Odeon
Founded in 1930, it is the largest and best-known cinema chain in the UK and Ireland.
Was established as not just somewhere to watch films, but somewhere to experience films.
Are at the forefront of cinema experience, with both Imax and Isense offering excellent cinema viewing.
Reel
Play an important role in supporting the communities that they serve, through offering great choice and excellent customer service.
They also help good causes through running special events and money raising activities.
Cineworld
Was founded in 1995 and is now one of the leading cinema groups in Europe. Originally a private company, it re-registered as a public company in May 2006 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in May 2007. Currently, Cineworld Group plc is the only quoted UK cinema business. In December 2012, the Group acquired the Picturehouse chain of cinemas consisting of 21 cinemas, and in February 2014, the combination with Cinema City completed, creating the second largest cinema business in Europe (by number of screens). The enlarged Group now has 217 sites and a total of 2,000 fully digital screens. Our portfolio includes four out of the ten highest grossing cinemas in the UK and Ireland. We pride ourselves on outstanding picture quality and atmospheric surround sound; the soft, deep-down comfort of our modern seating; the crunch of our popcorn; and, most importantly, the friendliest customer service around. All our sites are digital, and we are one of the market leaders in 3D, a format which will become increasingly important. In 2014, Cineworld accounted for 82.9 million admissions, had revenues of £619.4 million and an Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) before exceptional items of £126.6 million.
Phoenix
They are Leicester’s centre for independent cinema, art and digital culture. They are a charity. In their two modern cinema screens they show everything from micro-budget independent films to the latest Hollywood blockbusters, and regularly organise festivals and events. Their regularly changing art programme presents work by local and international artists, and our education work helps people of all ages to learn about, and create their own, film and art. They believe that both film and art have the power to enhance our lives. Watching a movie or visiting a gallery can entertain and inspire us, offering new perspectives on our lives and those of others. They deserve to be experienced somewhere special – which is why they work hard to ensure that Phoenix is a place everyone can feel welcome and inspired. As a local charity, all of their earnings go back into developing their creative programmes, enabling them to reach out to more people.
Curzon
They been in the cinema industry since 1934 and have made it their business to bring films to audiences curious about the world. They have twelve venues across the UK and they are designed and furnished individually as well as being equipped with superior cinema technology. The founder of Curzon, Harold Wingate, imported unknown films during the post-war period and it’s that questioning spirit that still drives the company. In 2006, UK film distribution company Artificial Eye was acquired by Curzon and today Curzon is a film company that buys, distributes and shows films. Artificial Eye was founded in 1976 and became part of Curzon thirty years later, continuing the legacy of releasing critically-acclaimed films to discerning UK audiences. Winner of the Independent Distributor of the Year at the Screen Awards 2014, Curzon Artificial Eye enjoyed its most successful year at the box office in 2015. Oscar winner Still Alice has proven to be the company's highest grossing film ever at £2.6 million, and Andrew Haigh's 45 Years became the first day-and-date release to cross the £1 million mark at the UK box office. Curzon Artificial Eye has released films by some of the world's greatest directors, including Michael Haneke, Lars Von Trier, Lynne Ramsay, Abbas Kiarostami, Andrea Arnold, Andrei Tarkovsky, Peter Strickland and many more. The company's films were nominated for eight awards at the 2015 BAFTA Film Award, picking up three wins in the process. They launched Curzon Home Cinema in 2010, their on-demand film service enabling audiences to watch a range of films that are released on the same day as in cinemas. In addition to a website, the Curzon Home Cinema app is currently also available on: BT TV, Virgin Media: TiVo®, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Stick and Freesat Freetime. Curzon is a brand that has stood the test of time, evolving to meet the demands of audiences and the fast changes of a dynamic film industry but the same thing drives us as it always has – offering films that we believe are worth sharing, that spark conversations and stay with you long after the lights have come up. As of 2015, Curzon Cinemas are the first independent cinema group in the UK to pay the Living Wage.
Film House
Is a world-class, three-screen independent cinema showing a wide range of films from all over the world, from quality crowd-pleasers and family films to esoteric arthouse works, via restored classics, retrospectives and themed seasons and festivals.
Their home at 88 Lothian Road is in a former church, which we took over in 1976 and commenced screenings at in 1978. At first we had only one 90-seat screen, accessed via a back door on Chuckie Pend, off Morrison Street, but by 1985 the restoration work was complete, and Cinema 1, the bar and the front doors were opened. Cinema 3 was added in 1997.
Filmhouse's programme includes around 700 films and events every year, and we can screen work digitally and from film, be it 35mm, 16mm or even 70mm. They frequently host Q&As and panel discussions, and their Education and Learning department offer a range of screenings, workshops, courses and events for all ages. All three cinemas are fully accessible, and we regularly screen films with audio description and hard-of-hearing subtitles. In 2012 we received a Go Shop Award from the Royal National Institute of Blind People, in recognition of our good practice.
Over the years, Filmhouse has had hundreds of special guests at its screenings and other events, including the likes of Andrei Tarkovsky, Michael Powell, Martin Scorsese, Richard Attenborough, Sean Connery, James Mason, Derek Jarman, Kenneth Anger, Tom Stoppard, Jimmy Cliff, Ian Dury, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp and Francesco Rosi. Amongst those they were privileged to welcome in 2013 Andrei Konchalovsky, Borgen's Sidse Babett Knudsen, Monika Treut and Jörn Donner. In 2014, Bill Forsyth and musician Edwyn Collins were in attendance for Q&As at sold-out screenings, and queues formed up Lothian Road when Russell Crowe made a special appearance as Filmhouse played host to the Scottish premiere of Darren Aronofsky's Noah. Filmhouse has also branched out into the world of video on demand, with a range of specially selected films available via theFilmhouse Player. And, May 2013, it lauched Filmhouse Distribution, with releases to date including Alexey Balabanov's The Stoker and Victor Kossakovsky's ¡Vivan Las Antipodas!. Its newest release, the luminously beautiful documentary My Name Is Salt, will open in cinemas nationwide on Fri 13 Mar. In 2014, Filmhouse undertook two major new screening projects. The Cinema of Childhood, an ambitious season of 17 films from 12 different countries, was launched in April and the films have since had over 450 screenings across 56 separate UK venues. We also began our ongoing First World War in Cinema season, which will screen a wide range of films over four years, each tied to the ongoing centenary of the 1914-1918 conflict. Since its inception, Filmhouse has been the home of the Edinburgh International Film Festival and has been host to many fantastic screenings and events as part of the festival. The two organizations have always worked closely together, and this arrangement was formalized in 2010 with the formation of the Centre for the Moving Image, a registered charity which incorporates Filmhouse and EIFF. From 4 Apr 2014, the CMI has also been very proud to operate the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen. Filmhouse receives funding from Creative Scotland, Europa Cinemas, City of Edinburgh Council and the British Film Institute.
IMAX
Combines powerful digital sound and clear digital projection with a larger than normal and slightly curved and tilted cinema screen. Which is complimented by a customized geometric seating plan that is designed for the most comfortable position for both the eyes and the neck, as well as a better viewpoint of the action.
Isense
Ultra-high-definition screens that stretch from floor to ceiling, wall to wall, using Dolby Atmos sound systems that can reach up to volume 11, combined with luxurious seating.
Have 4K digital projectors that deliver almost 9m pixels, which is four times the resolution of a standard screen, so the film is brighter, clearer and alive with detail. See every hair blow in the breeze. Every raindrop splash on the street. Every piece of debris hurtle towards you. Hear every footstep in the night. Every bullet whistling through the air. Every gasp for breath. With all this realer-than-real detail, it’s as if you can touch, taste and smell the world before you. This is a truly immersive cinema experience. Live your film, sense by sense.
Film exhibitions
National media Museum
Is situated in the heart of Bradford, UNESCO City of Film. They aim to be the best museum in world for inspiring people to learn about, engage with and create media. The Museum is home to over 3.5 million items of historical significance. They look after the National Photography, National Cinematography and National Television Collections. Insight: Collections & Research Centre is where much of the Collection is held, to be explored and enjoyed by everybody. Traditional and interactive galleries located across seven floors of the Museum investigate and celebrate film, photography, television, animation and new media. Two gallery spaces display a changing programme of exhibitions which are inspired by our Collection. The UK's first IMAX theatre opened in Bradford. It continues to offer an exciting programme of 3D and blockbuster films for that essential, all-embracing viewing experience. The Museum houses two other cinemas which can accommodate a wide range of film formats. Our Pictureville and Cubby Broccoli cinemas host an impressive film programme, from cult classics to contemporary art house cinema. Pictureville cinema boasts the only permanent, regularly programmed Cinerama installation in Europe, a magnet for enthusiasts worldwide. A comprehensive programme of cultural and educational events and activities bring the Museum's subject matter to life for families, schools and adults alike. For a venue with a difference, the Museum can provide the setting for a whole spectrum of events and corporate conferences.
London Film Museum
They the only film museum of its kind in Great Britain, supporting the Film Industry and the talent within it. They are self supporting, reinvesting back into the museum and within the community, creating a number of local area initiatives that also form an important part of the school curriculum. The London Film Museum was founded and created by Jonathan Sands in February 2008 following the success of Star Wars The Exhibition, which he co-promoted at the same venue the previous year. About 50% of the museum’s collection is from his private archive. Jonathan began his career as a commercial and advertising photographer, opening his own studio at the age of 17. He moved to the famous Elstree Film Studios as resident photographer in 1997 where he met Nicholas Harrison who owned a prop and events company called Weird and Wonderful. Starting in 1998 Jonathan worked with Nick Harrison on special projects which included The Aliens Resurrection party at BAFTA and a grand event for the Prince of Malaysia on the set of Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace at Leavesden Studios. Sadly, Nick Harrison passed away at the age of 37, but his legacy lives on. Jonathan bought the collection and company in 2001 and built it up into a full service production company, creating attractions like The Seven Deadly Sins at Thorpe Park and the Chelsea Football Club Centenary Museum at Stamford Bridge. He was invited to help co-ordinate a tie-in at the Monaco Grand Prix between Lucasfilm and Red Bull, which included the transportation and installation of full size space-crafts, and the co-ordination of the actors in costume during the event.
In 2006 Lucasfilm requested that the 30th Anniversary Exhibition be hosted in London and Jonathan was approached by the promoter to host the event at County Hall, where he had negotiated a short term license to present the exhibition. Star Wars -The Exhibition opened on May 4th 2007 and was a great success and voted Britain’s No1 family attraction by the Telegraph. Weird and Wonderful continued to service the film industry with props and set pieces but was falling victim to the CGI technologies which required less physical objects, coupled with a diminishing themed events market. When Star Wars closed and moved on in January 2008, Jonathan set about moving his entire collection into County Hall under the banner of The Movieum of London, which opened to a fantastic reception in February 2008, following the signing of a 25 year lease on 35,000 sq.ft of the first floor.
However, the team are determined to constantly improve the offering and to create a film museum that is worthy of flying the flag for the industry and the individuals working within it. Everything is produced in-house and in a similar way to a film, from the initial concept, script, art direction, set construction, production and editing. In March 2008 Jonathan was introduced to Rick Senat, an ex-Senior Executive at Warner Bros. and a pillar within the British film industry. In March 2009, Rick became Chairman and Jonathan Chief Executive. Rick then formed the Movieum's Advisory Group which included David Robinson, Leslie Hardcastle OBE, Linda Ayton and Professor Ian Christie. The first two key decisions to be passed by the new Advisory Group were the rebranding of the name to London Film Museum and to create the Chaplin Exhibition.
In January 2010 The Movieum officially changed its name to the London Film Museum and embarked on curating a number of exhibitions that included Charlie Chaplin - The Great Londoner and Ray Harryhausen, Myths & Legends. With the South Bank location having attracted many thousands of visitors over the 6 years, the lease interest was finally sold to Merlin Entertainments in December 2013. In August 2010, property company Capital and Counties Plc began negotiations with the Directors to create a new London Film Museum as part of their plans in Covent Garden and planning permission was approved by Westminster City Council in November of the same year, paving the way for a multi million-pound development of the former Flower Cellars, a 25,000 sq. ft facility to build alongside the famous all new Balthazar restaurant. The new State of the art facility opened its doors on April 21st 2012 with an iconic exhibition called Magnum on Set, with images by Magnum photographers taken on the sets of films such as 'The Seven Year Itch', 'Rebel Without a Cause', 'Moby Dick' and 'Zabriskie Point'. The photographs – which include Eve Arnold's shots of Marilyn Monroe and Robert Capa's images of Ingrid Bergman, Billy Wilder and John Huston. In January 2014, production began on the Bond in Motion exhibition in partnership with Eon Productions opening a new chapter in the London Film Museum's history.
Cinema Museum
The Cinema Museum is devoted to keeping alive the spirit of cinema from the days before the multiplex. Set in historic surroundings in Kennington, close to the Elephant & Castle, the Cinema Museum houses a unique collection of artefacts, memorabilia and equipment that preserves the history and grandeur of cinema from the 1890s to the present day.
Television exhibitions
TV connect
Is the principal global based show that focuses on the evolution of the Connected Entertainment industry, bringing together a unique mix of leaders in OTT TV, Pay TV, Broadcast, Cable, Broadband and Telco, with leading Technology Providers. Taking place in at London's ExCeL Centre, this market leading industry event translates trends, experiences and meetings into actionable business insight through focused content and concentrated networking opportunities, enabling the development of Next Generation Entertainment on a global scale.
Coventry Museum
Is supported by the BBC, ITV and The University of Warwick, and is set to open on Friday before ending in September.
The Story of Children’s Television is a highly interactive and family friendly exhibition which traces the fascinating history of children’s television from its earliest days to the multi-channel world of today. The exhibition allows us to explore our relationship with these programme's, and how they were at the forefront of technological advancements in the wider world, looking in detail at animation, drama, puppets and factual programme's. The exhibition brings together objects, memorabilia, merchandise, clips and images from iconic children’s programs. The original objects and characters span the decades, from Mummy Wooden top to the original Tracy Island model created on Blue Peter, Gordon the Gopher, The Wombles, Rastamouse and the singing veggies from Mr Bloom’s Nursery.
