Lights! Camera! Action! Lincoln’s Newest Cinema Opens Next Month

News release

24th August 2012

Film fans in Lincoln will get their first look at the city’s newest digital cinema next month when The Venue opens its doors at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln.

BG has invested over £75,000 to turn Bishop Greaves Theatre on the Longdales Road campus into a state-of-the-art cinema which can also stage theatrical productions.

Lincoln Film Society, which has screened films at BG since 1987, has worked closely with BG on the project and has invested £7,000 of its own money in a new screen.

Together The Venue and Lincoln Film Society will show a vibrant mix of mainstream and independent films to complement other cinema offerings in the city.

There will be a gala VIP opening of The Venue on Tuesday 4th September, where invited guests will enjoy a drinks reception before watching a special screening of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith.

The film will also be screened for the general public on the following day in the cinema, which now boasts a new digital projection system, surround sound and fully refurbished seating,

“Our new cinema is a tremendously exciting opportunity for us and one which we hope will prove very popular for residents and visitors to Lincoln,” said Bev Bamber, Head of Conferencing and Events at BG.

“We want to encourage the local community to make better use of our campus, and investing in this new cinema venue was a way for us to do that while at the same time providing more choice for people who love great films.

“Our main commercial offering will be films, but The Venue will continue to be used for drama teaching and stage productions too.”

Lincoln Film Society celebrates its 60thseason this year but needed to find modern digital cinema facilities in order to continue offering an alternative programme of films to the Lincoln public.

“We were delighted to find that Bev Bamber and his colleagues at BG were very receptive to our ideas, and I’m thrilled that they’ve been able to make this investment,” said Richard Hall, Honorary Chairman of the Lincoln Film Society.

“Lincoln is really lucky to have two fully fledged cinemas and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 60thanniversary than by welcoming the creation of The Venue.”

The invitation-only gala opening begins at 7pm on Tuesday 4th September 2012.

Reporters, photographers and TV crews are welcome to attend for photographs and interviews.

To find out about film showings, times and ticket prices visit www.bishopg.ac.uk/thevenue.

Note to editors

• Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln was established in 1862 and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2012.
• It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln and awarding its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• In January 2012 there were for the first time more digital cinema screens in the world rather than analogue screens.
• By the end of 2012 35mm projection's share of the global market will have declined to 37%, and that figure is expected to halve again by 2015.
• Lincoln Film Society was founded in 1953 and offers people in Lincoln the chance to see films from around the world that otherwise might not be shown in the city.
• The society has been based at Bishop Greaves Theatre since 1987.
• It is a thriving members-only organisation which welcomes new members and guests. The membership list is currently open – contact lincolnfilmsociety@hotmail.co.uk or call 01522 889782 for further information.

Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry

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