Northampton Filmhouse: Independent cinema announces opening date, movies, ticket prices, and the new 'Shockwaves' season

Northampton Filmhouse in Derngate, has today (Tuesday) confirmed it will be reopening on Friday, June 11 after being closed since December due to the covid crisis.

The news comes after prime minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday (May 10) that the country will be sticking to its roadmap and easing lockdown restrictions on May 17, which includes the reopening of indoor cinemas.

A Filmhouse spokeswoman said the reopening of the establishment has been made possible thanks to a grant from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

Northampton Filmhouse Chief Executive Jo Gordon said: “We’re delighted that we will be seeing cinema-goers back in the Filmhouse at last.

"Having reopened at Christmas, however briefly, we feel well prepared with tried and tested measures in place for our teams to welcome customers safely back into our beloved cinema.

"We are so grateful for all the messages of support we have received while closed and can’t wait to be back up and running!”

The cinema said it is offering a line-up of the 'best new independent films from Britain and around the world', recent award-winners including The Father and Nomadland, and introducing the Shockwaves season.

Thanks to a grant of £6,600 from the BFI Film Exhibition Fund made possible through funds from the National Lottery, the Filmhouse said it is also pleased to announce Shockwaves: The Best Emerging Filmmakers from Around the World, a season which will feature a 'fascinating' selection of films that highlight 'diverse and underrepresented narratives, casts and places'.

Films being featured in the Shockwaves season include Rare Beasts, the debut feature from writer, star and director Billie Piper, Darius Marder’s Oscar-winning debut feature Sound of Metal starring Riz Ahmed, and tense thriller Surge, from debut British filmmaker Aneil Karia, starring Ben Whishaw.

The cinema will also be showing Oscar winning films including The Father (Anthony Hopkins for Best Actor), Nomadland (Best Picture and Best Director for Chloé Zhao), Judas and the Black Messiah (Daniel Kaluuya for Best Supporting Actor) and Minari (Yuh-jung Youn for Best Supporting Actress).

Tickets

For most screenings, tickets are priced at £10.50 with concessions available for over 60s, under 14s, students, receivers of Universal Credit and disabled patrons.

Monday to Thursday, tickets for 16 to 25 year olds are £5.50 for standard screenings.

Tickets must be booked in advance and will be sent as e-tickets. Films will go on sale to Members from Friday, May 14, with a general on-sale from Tuesday, May 18.

Bookings can be made online at www.northamptonfilmhouse.com or by calling the box office on 01604 624811.

Covid safety

Measures are said to be in place to ensure everything is Covid-safe for audiences and staff, in line with national guidance.

Customers will be contacted prior to their visit with information confirming the guidelines and measures current at the time of their screening, the cinema said.