The choice of films on offer to UK cinema-goers is to be massively increased from later this year thanks to the creation of the world's first 'Digital Screen Network' involving more than 200 cinemas across the country, the UK Film Council announced today.

A total of GBP11.7 million from the UK Film Council's share of National Lottery funding is to be used to install state-of-the-art digital film projectors and related equipment in 209 cinemas across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the first cinemas in the network programming screenings later this year.

In return for the new equipment, the cinemas, which range from smaller local and 'art-house' cinemas to multiplexes, have committed to providing more screening time to showing a greater selection of more specialised (i.e. non-Hollywood), classic, and foreign language movies. As a result more people will be able to see critically acclaimed films such as British multiple award winners Touching the Void and Vera Drake, House of Flying Daggers, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Downfall, Motorcycle Diaries and Dear Frankie.

The introduction of digital distribution will mean that films such as these will reach around 30 million people throughout the UK with an increase in specialised film screenings of up to 75,000 in the first year alone, rising to 165,000 in four years from now. The overall number of cinema visits in the UK could be raised by up to 4 million, thanks to the more diverse range of films available to audiences.

As well increasing the screen time available to non-Hollywood films, providing films in a digital format will mean that distributors can make more copies available more quickly to a larger number of cinemas.

Currently, the cost of producing prints of a specialised film for distribution to cinemas can be anywhere in the region of GBP1,500 per 35mm print, which can often limit the number of available copies of a film which often has a potentially wide appeal, and therefore the film receives a limited release and fails to reach a wide enough audience. In addition to art-house and foreign language films, British produced movies can also suffer in this way. In contrast, films can be duplicated in a digital format at a substantially lower cost allowing film companies to increase the number of film prints available to cinemas.

The Digital Screen Network will also offer audiences and local communities a range of other benefits, as cinemas will be encouraged to use the equipment to show, for example, films made by local filmmakers, film clubs and schools.

Announcing details of the network John Woodward, the UK Film Council's Chief Executive Officer said that the Digital Screen Network will change the face of cinema-going right across the UK.

"This initiative is a world first for the UK and is a hugely exciting and significant development for British cinema and cinema-goers. Nearly 20 years ago the introduction of multiplexes transformed the choice of mainstream films on offer to cinema-goers at any one time. We believe that the Digital Screen Network could increase the opportunities on offer for people to see more specialised films in the same way."

Welcoming the move, James Purnell MP, Minister for Film said: "Many cinema goers often only get the pick of a crop of big budget blockbuster films, particularly outside London. That is going to change.

"The groundbreaking digital network will give film fans more choice - they'll get to see more British, critically acclaimed and small budget films, alongside classics on the big screen, where they belong."

In addition to the awards to 209 cinemas, a further 83 cinemas have been offered the option of buying in to the services provided by the Digital Screen Network and its management company Arts Alliance Digital Cinema. These cinemas will be able to benefit from a wide range of services such as training, installation of equipment and maintenance.

Notes to Editors:

1) A full list of the 209 cinemas is below.

2) The assessment process was conducted by UK Film Council executives, external advisors who are experts in their own fields and was rigorously monitored by independent assessors to maintain correct codes of practice.

3) Cinemas awarded by type:

    
                                   Sites awarded      Screens awarded
 
    By cinema type:
 
    Mainstream independents             31                 31
    Multiplexes                        129                141
    Specialised                         49                 66
 
    Total awards:                      209                238

4) UK Film Council - Film is a rich and popular part of our culture. It also makes a significant contribution to the UK economy with an estimated annual turnover of GBP5 billion. The industry employs 57,000 people across the UK.

Cinema is this country's most popular and powerful form of entertainment. In 2004 there were 171 million visits to the cinema in the UK, the second highest for 30 years. British films are watched by millions of people around the world promoting Britain abroad and boosting tourism.

As the lead agency for film, the UK Film Council aims to stimulate a competitive, successful and vibrant UK film industry and culture, both now and for the future.

For this reason, we use National Lottery support to develop new filmmakers, fund exciting new British films such as Touching the Void and Vera Drake and give audiences the opportunity to see a wider choice of films such as The Motorcycle Diaries and The House of Flying Daggers.

The UK Film Council also helps to promote Britain as a filmmaking location and to raise the profile of British films abroad.

    Cinema                               Operator
    Arts Picturehouse Cambridge          City Screen Limited
    Barbican                             Barbican Centre
    Brewery Arts Centre                  Kendal Brewery Arts Centre Trust Ltd
    Broadway Cinema Letchworth           Broadway Cinema Ltd
    Broadway Cinema Nottingham           Broadway Media Centre
    Carlton Cinema Westgate on Sea       Reeltime Cinemas Ltd
    Chelsea Cinema                       Artificial Eye (Chelsea Cinema Ltd)
    Cineworld Ashford                    Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Ashton under Lyne          Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Bexleyheath                Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Bishops Stortford          Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Bradford                   Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Braintree                  Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Burton on Trent            Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Bury St Edmunds            Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Castleford                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Cheltenham                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Chesterfield               Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Chichester                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Didcot                     Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Falkirk                    Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Feltham                    Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Huntingdon                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Ilford                     Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Llandudno                  Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Luton                      Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Milton Keynes              Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Newport Isle of Wight      Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Rugby                      Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Runcorn                    Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Shrewsbury                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Solihull                   Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld St Helens                  Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Stevenage                  Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Sunderland                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Swindon                    Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Wakefield                  Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Wandsworth                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Weymouth                   Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Wolverhampton              Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Wood Green                 Cine-UK Ltd
    Cineworld Yeovil                     Cine-UK Ltd
    City Screen York                     City Screen Limited
    Clapham Picturehouse                 City Screen Limited
    Cornerhouse Manchester               Cornerhouse
    Curzon Cinema Loughborough           Curzon Cinemas Ltd
    Curzon Mayfair                       Curzon Cinemas Limited
    Curzon Soho                          Curzon Cinemas Limited
    David Lean Cinema - 
    Croydon Clocktower                   David Lean Cinema
    Dorset Film Touring, Cinemobile      Dorset Film Touring Ltd
    Everyman Cinema Club                 Everyman Cinema Club
    Filmhouse Edinburgh                  Filmhouse
    Genesis Cinema, Mile End             Genesis Entertainment Ltd
    Glasgow Film Theatre                 Glasgow Film Theatre
    Greenwich Picturehouse               City Screen Limited
    Harbour Lights Picturehouse,
    Southampton                          City Screen Limited
    ICA Cinema                           ICA Cinema
    Kino, Hawkhurst                      Kino Holdings Ltd
    Leeds (The Light ) Ster Century      Ster Century (UK) Limited
    Light House Wolverhampton            Light House Media Centre
    Macrobert, Stirling                  macrobert
    Majestic Cinema Kings Lynn           C & R Cinemas Ltd
    Metro Cinema Derby                   Metro Cinema
    National Film Theatre London         British Film Institute
    New Picture House, St. Andrews       New Picture House (St Andrews) Ltd
    Odeon Chelmsford                     Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Colchester                     Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Covent Garden                  Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Guildford                      Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Kingston Upon Thames           Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Lincoln                        Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Panton Street London           Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Southend                       Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Tunbridge Wells                Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Odeon Wimbledon                      Odeon Cinemas Ltd
    Orpheus Cinema Bristol               Reeltime Cinemas Ltd
    Parkway Cinema Cleethorpes          Parkway Entertainment Company Limited
    Pavilion Cinema Galashiels           Andrew Poole
    Peckham Multiplex                    Movieshack Ltd
    Pendle Stairway Cinema               Pendle Stairway Cinema
    Perth Playhouse                     Caledonian Cinemas, Cairnstar Limited
    Phoenix Arts Leicester               Phoenix Arts
    Phoenix Cinema London                Phoenix Cinema Trust Ltd
    Phoenix Picturehouse, Oxford         City Screen Limited
    Picture House Cinema Keighley        Northern Morris Associated Cinemas
    Plaza Cinema Dorchester              Reeltime Cinemas Ltd
    Plaza Cinema Skipton                 Northern Morris Associated Cinemas
    Plymouth Arts Centre                 Plymouth Arts Centre
    Regal Cinema Melton Mowbray          Regal Cinema
    Renoir Cinema                        Artificial Eye (Renoir Cinema Ltd)
    Rich Mix Cinema, Bethnal Green       Rich Mix Cultural Foundation
    Rio Cinema Dalston                   The Rio Centre (Dalston) Ltd
    Ritzy Cinema Brixton                 City Screen Limited
    Romford (The Brewery) Ster Century   Ster Century (UK) Limited
    Roxy Cinema Oldham                   Roxy Cinema Ltd
    Royal Cinema St Ives                 Merlin Cinemas Limited
    Royalty Cinema Bowness               Northern Morris Associated Cinemas
    Screen at Reigate                    Bloom Theatres Ltd
    Screen On The Green                  Bloom Theatres Ltd
    Screen on the Hill                   Bloom Theatres Ltd
    Showcase Teesside                    National Amusements (UK) Ltd
    Showcase Walsall                     National Amusements (UK) Ltd
    Showroom Cinema Sheffield            Showroom Cinema
    Stamford Arts Centre                 Stamford Arts Centre
    The Aldeburgh Cinema                 The Aldeburgh Cinema Limited
    The Barn Cinema Dartington           Dartington Arts - a department of
                                         The Dartington Hall Trust
    The Cameo Edinburgh                  City Screen Limited
    The Capitol Horsham                  Horsham District Council
    The Corn Exchange Newbury            The Corn Exchange Trust (Newbury)
    The Courtyard, Hereford              The Courtyard Trust
    The Curzon Community Cinema Clevedon The Curzon Community Cinema Ltd
    The Duke of York's 
    Picturehouse Brighton                City Screen Limited
    The Dukes, Lancaster                 The Dukes
    The Gate Cinema, Notting Hill        City Screen Limited
    The Grosvenor Cinema Glasgow         The Grosvenor Cinema
    The Other Cinema                     City Screen Limited
    The Palace Cinema Malton             Ryedale Entertainments Ltd
    The Plaza Cinema Truro               The Capitol, St Austell Ltd
    The Ritz (Belper)                    The Ritz
    The Screen at Oxted                  Bloom Theatres Ltd
    The Screen at Winchester             Mainline Pictures Ltd
    Theatr Mwldan                        Theatr Mwldan
    Tyneside Cinema                      Tyneside Film Theatre Trust
    UCI Cardiff                     United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Greenwich                   United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Hatfield                    United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI High Wycombe                United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Maidenhead                  United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Norwich                     United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Port Solent, Portsmouth     United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Printworks, Manchester      United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Surrey Quays                United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UCI Whiteleys                   United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
    UGC Aberdeen                          Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Bedford                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Birmingham Broad Street           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Boldon                            Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Bolton                            Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Brighton                          Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Cardiff                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Chelsea                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Chester                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Crawley                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Didsbury                          Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Dundee                            Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Eastbourne                        Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Edinburgh                         Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Enfield                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Fulham Road                       Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Glasgow Renfrew Street            Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Gloucester                        Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Harlow                            Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Haymarket                         Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Hull                              Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Ipswich                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Liverpool                         Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Middlesbrough                     Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Newport                           Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Northampton                       Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Nottingham                        Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Rochester                         Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Shaftesbury Avenue                Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Sheffield                         Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Slough                            Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Staples Corner                    Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Stockport                         Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC West India Quay                   Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    UGC Wigan                             Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
    Vue Acton                             Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Basingstoke                       Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Belfast                           Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Birmingham Star City              Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Blackburn                         Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Bristol Longwell Green            Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Bury                              Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Carlisle                          Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Cheshire Oaks                     Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Croydon Purley Way                Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Dagenham                          Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Doncaster                         Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Finchley North                    Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Finchley Road                     Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Fulham                            Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Hamilton                          Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Harrow                            Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Hartlepool                        Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Inverness                         Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Islington                         Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Leeds                             Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Leicester                         Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Livingston                        Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Newcastle Under Lyme              Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Plymouth                          Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Preston                           Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Reading                           Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Scunthorpe                        Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Shepherds Bush                    Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Southport                         Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Staines                           Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Thanet                            Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Thurrock                          Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Watford                           Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue West End                          Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Vue Worcester                         Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
    Watershed Cinema Bristol              Watershed Media Centre
    Wells Film Centre                     Wells Entertainment
    West End Cinema, Boston               Savoy Cinemas (Boston) Ltd
    Wotton Electric Picture House         Wotton Electric Picture House Ltd
    Zeffirellis Ambleside                 Zeffirellis

www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

Source: UK Film Council

Ian Thomson/Caroline Nagle, UK Film Council Press Office, T: +44-207-861-7901/7508/7861, E: press@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk