Film events and pop-up cinema screenings are popping up everywhere! There’s something magical about going to the cinema, and even more so when the experience is immersive and throws you into the film by creating a unique surrounding at the perfect venue.

Ever thought about creating your own film event? Well we asked five experts running amazing film experiences, how to create a great film event. Learn from these experts and start your own film event soon!

Clare Woodcock,  PR & Partnerships Manager & Event Producer at The Nomad Cinema

There are a few elements that you need to create a great film event, at the Nomad Cinema we generally use magic! It’s true, our tech team are all wizards and they’re the most important element, without them we’d just be dust. For us it also takes the combination of a beautiful setting matched with a film fitting to its surroundings, but it has to be a well-loved film as the other important ingredient in our potion is the audience. We can create the setting and pull the strings, but the audience bring the wonder and creates the new memories. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to help carve a future for kids in South Africa, with the profits that we donate to our charity, the Sustainability Institute.

Nick Rainey, Co-founder of Feed Me Films 

Choose the right movie! It might sound obvious but certain films have much more established and adventurous audiences that will respond better to immersive experiences

You can’t explain enough. In our experience the clearer you can make proceedings (prior and during) the more enjoyable it is for guests. People don’t want to miss out or feel confused.

Welcome drinks are hugely appreciated. What’s the first thing you do at a party, restaurant or bar-mitzvah? Get yourself a drink of course! Make this easy for guests by passing them a beer when they walk in, it immediately creates a genial atmosphere and makes them feel right at home.

Gerry Cottle, Founder of Rooftop Film Club

A great event is really all about creating a memorable experience through detail. Whether it be a really big smile from your staff at the box office when the customer first arrives, to making sure all your customers have a warm blanket if it gets cold; it’s what people remember and adds to their enjoyment. You can have a great product and great service but it’s that detail and thought you put into each customer that makes it a great experience and a really great event.

Asher Charman, Founder of Theatron Media (Hot Tub Cinema / Pillow Cinema) 

For us, the core elements of a great film event are:
  • a fascinating and memorable venue
  • a distinctive and comfortable style of seating
  • a well-curated choice of films, chosen with the particular event in mind
In this sense, Hot Tub Cinema suits light-hearted, classic movies such as Top Gun, whereas Pillow Cinema is great for recent and subtle titles such as Carol.
Once you’ve got those pieces in place, the two challenges are (a) making sure everyone hears about your shows, and (b) that you deliver an outstanding production. In the words of Thomas Edison – 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration!

Heather Walker, Producer at Eden Arts (Picnic Cinema)

First you need to pick a great film – and then we find great locations to screen them in. For Picnic Cinema events it’s all about what happens around the film. It’s a mini festival, its dressing up, its dancing, its friendly and quirky staff, it’s a social event with great music on the sound system and fun and games before the film. So it is thinking about all these elements in the round that makes a great film event, not just putting a screen up and putting on the film.

*Main image © Sarah Ginn for The Nomad Cinema