Deptford Cinema

Deptford Cinema is a volunteer run, not-for-profit, community cinema, art gallery, and occasional music venue, formerly located at 39 Deptford Broadway in the Deptford district of the London Borough of Lewisham. At the time of opening in 2014 it was the borough's only functioning cinema.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It has one downstairs screening room with roughly 40 seats, a mixture of traditional velvet movie theatre seating and sofas.

Deptford Cinema
39 Deptford Broadway, former location of Deptford Cinema, photographed in 2022
Address39 Deptford Broadway,
London
SE8 4PQ
United Kingdom
LocationDeptford, Lewisham, London
Coordinates51.474487°N 0.024487°W / 51.474487; -0.024487
Capacity40
Opened2014
Website
www.deptfordcinema.org

History

The volunteer body transformed the two-floor derelict space, a former shop front that had been closed for about 15 years, into a cinema using funds donated through Kickstarter. Prior to its opening Lewisham had for a time been one of only two London boroughs with no dedicated cinema.[7][8]

The volunteer body has no hierarchy, meaning anyone can get involved with any aspect of running the cinema; from programming and marketing, to construction, front of house duties etc.[9]

Whilst struggling to pay off a large business rates bill in 2016, despite at the time being registered as a Community Interest Company, Deptford Cinema saw support from notable people such as Glenda Jackson and Sue Perkins.[3][4][8]

As of early 2018 the cinema had run, or was planning to run, seasons of films by directors such as Claire Denis, Xavier Dolan, Terry Gilliam, Doris Wishman, Spike Lee, Powell and Pressburger, Akira Kurosawa, Pedro Almodóvar, Andrzej Zulawski, Agnès Varda, Andrei Tarkovsky and more. The cinema also teamed up with streaming company Mubi several times for screenings to showcase films currently available through their service.

In October 2020 the collective announced due to ongoing temporary closures enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic they had voted not to renew the lease on their current premises and would be seeking a new location.[10]

References
  1. Hennings, Emily (17 February 2018). "5 independent cinemas in SE London perfect for a date or great night out". News Shopper. London: Newsquest. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  2. Ashenden, Amy; Whitlock, Simon (15 July 2016). "Deptford Cinema is a volunteering project that is uniting Lewisham's community by creating the area's only cinema". Evening Standard. London: Evening Standard Ltd. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. Nosloe, Eir (27 May 2016). "Deptford Cinema faces bankruptcy over council bill". East London Lines. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  4. Razaq, Rashid (25 July 2016). "Actress Glenda Jackson backs campaign to save Deptford Cinema after £12,000 tax bill". Evening Standard. London: Evening Standard Ltd. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. Saville, Alice (17 January 2017). "So You've Never Been To Deptford Cinema". Time Out London. London: Time Out Group. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  6. Hoad, Phil (9 October 2014). "A local cinema for local people: the neighbourhood picturehouse returns". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. Finamore, Emma (10 September 2014). "Lights, camera, action: the silver screens in Deptford". East London Lines. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  8. Clark, Jess (7 June 2016). "Deptford cinema could close due to sudden council business rate demands, say volunteers". News Shopper. London: Newsquest. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  9. Hans, Simran (7 September 2017). "Screening it for themselves: young DIY British film programmers". BFI. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  10. "Covid-19 Response - Deptford Cinema is looking for a new home". Deptford Cinema. October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020.
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