Gill Lindley, a volunteer at Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre, visited ICO Autumn Screening Days, at Phoenix Cinema in Leicester, with the support of our bursaries.
In a new blog post, Gill reflects on their experience.
"There were so many ideas to take home. This couldn’t have come at a better time, as we’re about to launch our own regular rep film night."
Blog written by Gill Lindley
After an early start and a slightly chaotic train journey (thanks, Storm Claudia!), I arrived in Leicester a little soggy but looking forward to learning more about the independent cinema landscape and meeting some of the inspiring people who make these venues such special cultural spaces in the UK.
I volunteer at the Film Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, a venue that’s quite different from many others. We operate four nights a week and are entirely volunteer-run, from Director and Front of House to marketing and programming. What brings us together is a shared love for film and the belief that independent cinema plays a vital role in our community.
One of the first conversations I had was with the CEO of the host venue, who, incredibly, also began as a volunteer.
Throughout the day, I connected with people representing all kinds of venues, each with their own creative strategies for audience engagement. From informal post-film meetups to classic cinema seasons (turns out younger audiences' love discovering classics on the big screen!), there were so many ideas to take home. This couldn’t have come at a better time, as we’re about to launch our own regular rep film night.
The industry insights session was another highlight, offering a clearer picture of the UK cinema climate, what’s thriving, what’s shifting, and which films are surprising box-office successes with almost no traditional marketing. When something captures the audience’s imagination, organic word-of-mouth takes over.
The UX session was also incredibly useful. I often think our website needs a complete overhaul, but I left feeling more confident that, while there’s always room for improvement, it does a solid job, especially given our limited budget and volunteer-led structure.
The Exploring Audience Data and Monitoring session gave me a lot to consider as well. As we continue rebuilding our presence following a four-year closure and relocation to a new venue, understanding our loyal audience while also connecting with new local film lovers is crucial.
Finally, a brilliant case study rounded off the day, featuring the Magic Lantern Cinema in mid-Wales. It was fascinating to hear about their events, community work, and the ways they engage both staff and audiences.
The conversations carried on after the workshop finished, before we shifted straight into screening-weekend mode, ready to dive into a lineup of exciting new indie films
Inspired to get involved with more development opportunities? Independent Cinema Office has opened REACH: Strategic Audience Development webinars.
Hear from expert speakers on three core areas: Memberships for independent cinemas, Building and retaining new audiences and Using the right social media platform for you.
ICO Spring screening days are just around the corner!
Screening Days is an in-person and online event where the Independent Cinema Office share previews of key upcoming independent UK and international films so you can plan how to bring in new audiences for them.