Welcome to Plymouth's only independent cinema. We are passionate about films, and we want as many people as possible to experience cinema and feel inspired, challenged and thrilled by what they watch.
Plymouth Arts Cinema has an established history in the city since 1947. In early 2019 we moved from our original home of Plymouth Arts Centre on Looe street, to Arts University Plymouth’s main campus at Tavistock Place. Generous help from our audience through a successful Crowdfunder campaign, and from Plymouth City Council, helped us to make this move. You can expect a warm welcome at our brand new, custom built 118 seat cinema.
From world cinema and arthouse films to more mainstream fare, our film programmer Anna Navas picks the best of what’s around, along with the occasional classic to enjoy on the big screen – look out for her recommendations in the cinema guide. The best way to enjoy film is the shared experience of a visit to the cinema. We love to hear people’s reactions to what they’ve seen, so do share your opinions with us on social media!
In recent years, our film programmer Anna Navas and the rest of the cinema team have developed a national reputation as champions of gender equality in the film industry, as an early adopter of The F-Rating and Birds Eye View’s Reclaim the Frame. We have also taken the initiative in introducing younger audiences to independent cinema by introducing our popular £4 ticket price for our audience members aged 25 and under.
We host regular talks by internationally renowned filmmakers such as director Ben Wheatley, and Oscar winners Roger Deakins and Mia Bays, which continue to build in popularity.
Our audience is broad and we have events and screenings for all. The ever-popular Bringing in Baby gives new parents a break and a chance to catch up on the latest releases. Our Dementia Friendly screenings are specially set up for people living with dementia and their friends. We love to see people of all ages developing a passion for cinema and we are a popular alternative venue for the annual Into Film schools film festival. We always encourage visits from schools and colleges.
We are committed to developing and showcasing film-making skills. Plymouth Film Festival was established in 2013 at Plymouth Arts Centre by Plymouth University graduates William Jenkins and Ben Hancock. Initially established as a local festival it has rapidly grown to include both national and international films alongside some of the very best filmmakers based in the South West of England. The popularity of the festival has surpassed all expectations, and the programme continues to extend to meet demand.
During the summer months we go on tour and take great cinema all over Plymouth with Open Air Cinema. In 2011 we put on our first Open Air Cinema screenings at Royal William Yard as part of the Ocean City Festival, and since then this has continued to grow into an extremely popular series of events, with more than 2500 people watching films in unusual venues such as Tinside Lido, the industrial Factory Cooperage or the National Marine Aquarium.
Following a successful Crowdfunder campaign in 2015, we are delighted to be able to stream live theatre, opera and ballet, as well as footage from major exhibitions, to our cinema for people to enjoy here in Plymouth.
When we ask people what they like about the cinema, the answers they give us most often are the fact that we’re independent, the intimate cinema, and the quality and breadth of the films we show. The atmosphere is friendly and many people are just as happy to visit on their own as they are in a group – you’ll always find a fellow film-lover to chat to!