Bideford Town Centre

The Bideford Film Society was formed at an inaugural meeting in September 2001.A grant was received from the Bridge Trust and Bideford Town Council which enabled the Society to hire the first film. A film is shown every two weeks except when the Theatre is needed by the School. Films are shown at seven thirty in the evening on Friday and Saturday nights (they don't show trailers or advertisements)

Listen out for details of films now showing on Lantern FM's 'What's On', read about them in the Bideford Gazette and North Devon Journal or here on Bideford Town Centre site & pick up a programme at Bideford Library (programmes also available at the box office).

They try to show popular films before their release on video or DVD. Usually they receive the film after it has been shown in all major cinemas (there are two lists A and B for the release of the film : they are on list B) It also depends on the number of copies of the film (could be over a 100 or less than 30 available to hire). Some films are damaged and withdrawn after their first release: others are not expected to be exceedingly successful so less copies are made. The charge for the hire of the film varies and usually a percentage of cost of seats sold is required by the agents for the distributors. This can sometimes be as much fifty percent.

They would like to show bygone classic films ( "Gone with the Wind" again) but regrettably these films need a different sized lens costing over two thousand pounds!

The cinema has a sweet shop selling sweets, chocolates and cold soft drinks at very reasonable prices.

All of the people involved in running the cinema are volunteers, from the projectionist, doormen, cashiers and shop assistants to the front of house manager.

For more information ring Bideford Library (01237) 476075 who may be able to help or log on the Film Society website