Over 350 UK Cinema Association members and colleagues from across the wider industry gathered in London this week at the organisation’s two-day annual conference Innovation and the Big Screen Experience.
Hosted by Picturehouse Central, London, the programme for the event allowed attendees to hear more and consider innovations across a range of areas including, programming, marketing, data use and cinema technology.
Edward Berger.
Picture by Julie Edwards.
Kicking off with a Keynote Interview with multi award-winning writer and director Edward Berger, whose film Conclave recently won the awards for Best Film and Best British Film at this year’s BAFTA Film Awards, the mood of the event was one of measured optimism given the strong performance of the UK sector in the closing months of last year and into 2025.
Amongst other highlights of the two days were an Executive Roundtable featuring senior voices from Natl Amusements (UK), Everyman and Manero Cinemas as well as Walt Disney Studios and Lionsgate Films, and a repeat of last year’s ‘young audience’ panel organised by the youth film agency Into Film.
Picture by Julie Edwards.
Attendees were also able to hear an update on the work of the charity MediCinema, itself recognised for its outstanding contribution to cinema at this year’s BAFTAs, and a presentation from Universal Pictures, setting out the planning and execution of the marketing strategy behind the all-conquering 2024 release Wicked, the biggest film released in that year.
Further details on the event, including copies of the slides used on the day and recordings of the key sessions (coming soon) can be found here.