Nearly 50,000 people have voted for their favourite local cinema as independent venues report a revival, with 15 cinemas from across the UK now selected for the British Independent Film Awards’ (BIFA) Cinema of the Year longlist, supported by Kia UK.

More than 70 cinemas entered this year’s award, each telling BIFA what makes their venue special to their local community. The nation has spoken; the 15 cinemas on the longlist are:

(in alphabetical order)

• Abbeygate Cinema, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
• Astoria Cinema, Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland
• Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
• Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness, Falkirk, Scotland
• The Kinema in the Woods, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
• Lonsdale Cinema, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
• Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham, West Midlands
• The Odyssey Cinema, St Albans, Hertfordshire
• Penarth Pier Pavilion Cinema, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
• Penistone Paramount, Penistone, South Yorkshire
• The Silver Screen Cinema, Folkestone, Kent
• Theatreship, Canary Wharf, London
• The Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford, Oxfordshire
• Wellington Orbit, Wellington, Somerset

A shortlist of five will be announced alongside the full BIFA nominations on Tuesday 3 November, with the winner revealed at the annual ceremony on Sunday 6 December.

Exceptional voting numbers for the Cinema of the Year award highlight a thriving UK cinema revival led by young audiences and local communities.

One voter said, “This was the cinema where my grandfather worked for many years as chief projectionist – it’s a delight to see it open as a cinema once again,” while another remembered a much loved venue reopening: “We queued outside to get back in to our lovely cinema and cried.” As one local put it, “Our cinema has brought the heart, soul and pride back to the little town. Every town should have a cinema.”

BIFA directors Amy Gustin and Deena Wallace said: “Tens of thousands of audience members voted and told us how much their local cinemas mean to them. This longlist for Cinema of the Year supported by Kia is a fantastic showcase of the exceptional cinemas up and down the UK that are – in the words of one voter – what community feels like.”

Steve Hicks, Marketing Director at Kia UK Ltd, said: “Congratulations to everyone on being selected as one of just 15 cinemas on the longlist for BIFA’s Cinema of the Year award. This recognition reflects the dedication, passion and hard work required to champion independent cinema and create meaningful experiences for audiences in your local community. At Kia, we are passionate about independent film and the venues that bring it to life. Supporting independent cinemas allows us to connect with audiences in a powerful, human way, at the heart of communities across the UK, while celebrating creativity, accessibility and inclusive storytelling. We are proud to continue our partnership with BIFA and wish all of the longlisted cinemas the very best of luck as the competition progresses.”

Kia UK has been championing independent cinemas and their communities since 2022 and is a proud supporter of independent cinema and the screening of independent films. As well as supporting The BIFA Podcast, Kia is proud to continue its commitment to independent cinemas by re-partnering with BIFA on the second ever Cinema of the Year award, an exciting award where local communities can celebrate their favourite UK cinemas. More information here.

About BIFA
The British Independent Film Awards celebrate, promote and support talent and creativity in British independent film, to develop a rich, inclusive, and sustainable independent film culture in the UK. Founded in 1998 by Raindance Film Festival, BIFA has championed the best and most innovative independently funded British filmmaking for over 25 years, working at the heart of the industry to nurture emerging talent, promote fair practice, and develop a broader, more inclusive audience for British independent film. We are a Community Interest Company, driving a British independent film revival, harnessing the power of British creativity to enrich lives through independent film.

Patrons: Adrian Lester, Meera Syal, Samantha Morton. Alumni patrons: David Thewlis, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, James Nesbitt, Ken Loach, Michael Sheen, Michael Winterbottom, Mike Figgis, Ray Winstone, Tilda Swinton, Tom Hollander, Trudie Styler.

About Kia UK
Kia UK is a leading automotive brand offering one of the industry’s largest range of models across multiple vehicle segments. Founded in 1944, Kia has provided mobility solutions for more than 75 years. The company first entered the UK market in 1991 and has now grown to encompass over 190 dealerships located across the country. Following a total transformation of the brand in 2021, Kia UK is now widely known as a leader in electrification for its advanced products that offer the technology of tomorrow, today. In 2022, Kia UK was the sixth best-selling brand in the new car market, selling over 100,000 units for the first time – a figure it has exceeded every year since. Today, Kia is the third best-selling car brand in the UK. The brand has further broadened its appeal with the introduction of its innovative Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) range, starting with the market launch of the PV5 this year. Kia plans to establish a total EV lineup of 15 models (nine in the UK), including mass-market EVs and PBVs by 2030.