The UK Cinema Association has welcomed today’s announcement by the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) that they will for the first time introduce a ‘Cinema of the Year’ award as part of their 2025 Awards.
The Award, supported by Kia, recognises the role that all UK cinemas play in bringing the widest possible range of films to their audiences.
As the BIFA announcement here rightly says:
‘Nothing is quite like the communal experience of watching a film on the big screen and we want to celebrate the special cinemas around the country that are at the heart of their communities, bringing audiences together and championing independent film.’
The UK Cinema Association is pleased in particular to see a focus on independent film rather than the ownership or business model of each cinema, something which often results in considerations getting bogged down in subjective arguments over what is and is not an ‘independent cinema’.
Initial nominations for the Award close on Thursday 31 July and the Association is excited to see how many and how wide range of cinemas find themselves under consideration as the competition develops.