If you could chose a worst possible time to open a London cinema and it wasn’t just before the pandemic, it would have to be just after it.
New movie releases were in short supply, keeping/putting the lights on was expensive, and everyone was too busy wrapping up on The Queen’s Gambit to get back into the moviegoing habit. .
Yet west London’s , which opened in Acton’s old Passmore Edwards library in 2021, hasn’t just survived but flourished in that uncertain timeline.
The cinema turns five next month and it has five days of special events and get-togethers planned to celebrate this remarkable London success story.
The Acton picture house recently hosted William, Prince of Wales, and will shortly be hosting the prince of broadcast film criticism, Mark Kermode, too.
On October 10, Kermode will be sharing his favourite examples of movie music in a special evening for anyone with an interest in film scores and .
Other highlights include a Sunday screening of George Lucas’s 1973 coming-of-age classic featuring a guest appearance from its legendary, three-time Oscar winning – sound designer Walter Murch.
Look out, too, for a nostalgic screening of – ActOne’s first ever feature presentation back in 2021. There are prizes for the best Bond-themed costume, so dust off your
As reported by Time Out at the time, ActOne opened with collaboration from another community cinema, the Rio in Dalston, and seats and projector sourced from Uckfield Picture House and Scotland respectively.
To join the celebrations, head to the ActOne website for info and tickets.
How many of the best cinemas in the UK and Ireland have you been to?