The Rise of the Student Cinema

At universities up and down the UK lovers of film are joining together and setting up their own cinemas. Though they have been around for years, student cinemas are on the rise. With high definition projectors cheaper than ever, it has never been easier for student societies to create a cinema: for students, by students.

Some student cinemas are run by huge societies, with daily screenings in large lecture theatres. Others are far smaller, intimate groups of people who put on their own weekly screenings for other fanatics. Either way, there is no great secret why student cinemas are so popular- they have loads of benefits over traditional chains.

Cheaper Tickets

The most obvious benefit is the price. Cinema tickets seem to be going up in price all the time, and chances are you're going to have to shell out over a tenner for a ticket at most cinemas these days. In contrast, you can go and watch a film at a student cinema from just £2. Most student cinemas also have membership schemes, making tickets even cheaper for regular filmgoers.

Wider Range of Films

Unlike normal cinemas, student cinemas are not run with only profit in mind. Therefore, they take more risks with what they show. If one of the organisers has a real passion for independent documentaries, then chances are, you'll see a few of them on the schedule each month. However, that's not to say they don't also show the latest big blockbusters dominating the mainstream cinemas.

To take Warwick Student Cinema (one of the biggest in the country) as an example, their schedule for the next month is eclectic to say the least. From old classics such as ‘Psycho' and ‘Rocky', to recently Oscar-nominated films like ‘Life of Pi' and ‘Argo', they have a little bit of everything.

Student cinemas also tend to show a great selection of world cinema too, reflecting the international makeup of most British universities. Taking Warwick's example again, ‘Holy Motors', ‘Amour' and ‘Life is Beautiful' all sit alongside their Hollywood equivalents.

Whether you're a film buff looking to watch on of your obscure favourites on the big screen, or you're more into the Hollywood blockbusters, it is this diversity of student cinemas that makes them different from the big chains.

Special Events

Almost all student cinemas make an effort to hold regular special events. Rather than just showing a film, they will add something extra, making for an unusual and brilliant night out. Midnight screenings of horror films are a standard for most student cinemas, whilst famously bad action films always attract a good audience of can drinking students on a night out. The examples of special events going on in the next month are almost endless.

York Student Cinema has a Lord of the Rings week coming up, with all three films being shown and special events going on around them. At Southampton in February they are having a Pixar vs Dreamworks battle of the animated films all-nighter. The Loughborough Student Cinema holds legendary outdoor screenings throughout the summer.

There are dozens of student cinemas throughout the UK, so, next time you fancy watching a film, why not check out what your university's student cinema is showing?

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