September 29, 2014—The National Media Museum and Picturehouse Cinemas today announced that they will be entering into a commercial cinema partnership from the 31st October 2014. The new partnership—Picturehouse at National Media Museum—will see Picturehouse taking over the operation of the three screens at the Museum—the 300-seat Pictureville (which Lord Puttnam described as “The best cinema in the world”), the 100-seat Cubby Broccoli Cinema and Europe’s first IMAX screen.
The opening of Interstellar, Christopher Nolan’s IMAX space epic on the 7th November, will serve as a celebration of the National Media Museum’s historic role in introducing the IMAX format to the UK and its status as one of the few ‘true’ IMAX 70mm film cinemas in the world. Interstellar could be one of the last studio films ever to be released in the 70mm film format.
Later in November the National Media Museum will play a key role in the release of Hockney—the acclaimed feature documentary by Randall Wright, an intimate portrayal of David Hockney, one of the most significant artists of his generation. Bradford born and raised, Hockney's beginnings as an artist can be seen through unprecedented access to personal archive footage, giving an insight into how his beloved hometown helped carve out his creative journey. The film, distributed by Picturehouse Entertainment, will launch with a special preview at Picturehouse at National Media Museum, followed by a live Q&A with David Hockney by satellite from his L.A. studio on Tuesday 28 November.
Museum Director, Jo Quinton-Tulloch, said: “Film and cinematography are key chapters in the story that this Museum tells. Our partnership with Picturehouse Cinemas will ensure the long-term sustainability of cinema on this site—in the heart of UNESCO’s first City of Film in Bradford. The marketing reach and expertise of Picturehouse will help deliver an increase in audiences and revenue for the Museum. And investment in technology and facilities will deliver an even wider programme of film and a better experience for our visitors.”
Lyn Goleby, Managing Director of Picturehouse Cinemas said: “The National Media Museum is an incredibly important part of cinema geography and cinema heritage in the UK and we are very much looking forward to becoming part of its future. The Museum has always been at the forefront of cinema technology and we will make sure that continues. We will work very hard to ensure that the cinema is successful and contributes to Bradford’s status as a UNESCO City of Film.
Picturehouse at National Media Museum will become the 20th cinema in the Picturehouse group. The first new Picturehouse since the opening of The Duke’s at Komedia in Brighton, Picturehouse at National Media Museum will be followed by four further Picturehouses recently announced: East Dulwich Picturehouse (opening in December), Crouch End Picturehouse, Chiswick Lane Picturehouse, and a flagship seven screen cinema in London’s West End: Picturehouse Central. http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/PicturehouseatNationalMediaMuseum
About The National Media Museum:
The National Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. It explores the science, technology and art of the still and moving image and its impact on our lives; drawing from more than 3.5 million objects in its National Photography, Television and Cinematography Collections. The Museum creates special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults, and is home to three cinemas, including Europe’s first IMAX cinema screen and the world’s only public Cinerama screen outside the USA. Entry to the Museum is free. www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk.
About Picturehouse Cinemas:
Formed in 1989 to challenge the multiplex model, Picturehouse Cinemas own and operate 19 cinemas and programme a further 42 venues across the UK. Picturehouse Cinemas are located in city centres and are architecturally unique venues that provide café bars, restaurants and live events alongside the traditional movie-going experience. Their programmes encompass quality mainstream, family, art-house, independent, foreign-language and documentary films. Picturehouse Cinemas were a pioneer of live satellite cine-casts in the UK, bringing non-film content such as Q&As and talks, concerts, art exhibitions, the New York Met Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Bolshoi Ballet to community cinema screens. Picturehouse Cinemas were the winner of Exhibitor of the Year (50 Screens of Under) at the 2013 Screen Marketing and Distribution Awards.
Picturehouse Cinemas have a distribution arm, Picturehouse Entertainment, which has distributed both feature films and alternative content to cinemas in the UK and internationally since its launch in 2010. Recent theatrical releases include BAFTA winner The Imposter, Shane Meadows’ The Stone Roses: Made of Stone, Ben Wheatley’s A Field in England, Jeremy Saulnier’s acclaimed thriller Blue Ruin, Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard’s Nick Cave docu-drama 20,000 Days On Earth and the forthcoming Hockney, directed by Randall Wright. Picturehouse Entertainment is also the distributor of seasons from the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Bolshoi Ballet, and one-off events such as the V&A’s David Bowie is happening now, Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary episode and Monty Python Live (mostly), beamed from the O2 to more than 570 cinemas in the UK and 2,000 worldwide. www.picturehouses.co.uk