The Castle Cinema Blog

Come with us on an adventure through space and time as we explore the outer reaches of the universe in our Summer Of Sci-Fi season! Taking place throughout June, July and August, we have films and events brought to you by all of our favourite film clubs: Science Fiction Theatre, Zodiac, Pinc, No Bollocks, Queer Horror Nights, Pitchblack Playback and, of course, the all-mighty Cine-real with a real 16mm treat.

As you may know, we regularly host film screenings by the local group Ciné-Real, run by filmmaker Liam Saint-Pierre and projectionist Ümit Mesut, who runs a terrific vintage film shop on Lower Clapton Road. What makes these screenings special is that unlike the majority of our shows, which are digitally projected, these are shown on vintage 16mm prints, the medium-gauge format that’s higher quality than 8mm home movie film but more portable than the 35mm format that was used in most cinemas in the age of physical film.

We’ve recently completed the installation of new HVAC (heating, ventilating & air conditioning) systems in both auditoriums. The main reason for the change was to incorporate MVHR - Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery. An MVHR system offers significant benefits in terms of increased comfort, lower energy costs and reduced carbon emissions. These ventilation systems are designed to ensure the cinema enjoys continuous fresh, clean air whilst retaining most of the energy that has already been used in heating or cooling the space to a comfortable temperature.

When it comes to Halloween our film clubs bring all the ghouls to the yard. We’re hiding under the table just thinking about the films, honestly. THEY’RE SO SCARY! Cine-real A club playing from actual film prints is basically bringing the dead back to life with every screening, right? They always go all out for Halloween and the films this year are no exception. Misery (15) Sun 24 Oct, 7.

Our ticket prices are changing on Friday 1st October, 2021. In general there will be a £1 increase, though there are some exceptions, detailed below. Why now? This is the first time we have updated our prices since the cinema opened in 2017. We have recently provided a pay rise to our team, and have made a commitment to review this again before the end of the year, following this price rise, with the aim of reaching London Living Wage.

We’re so excited to start our regular, monthly, dementia-friendly screenings! They’ll take place every second Wednesday of the month. The film will start at 11am, and our cafe and facilities will be open from 10am for early arrivals, tea, coffee & cake! You can book tickets here. And as with all our accessible screenings, carers go free. We’re a dementia-friendly venue and all our staff have been dementia trained via the Alzheimer’s Society.

We’re very excited to announce the introduction of relaxed autism-friendly screenings - every second Sunday of the month at 11am! These offer a chance to see films in a relaxed environment and are open to everyone to attend, but are especially for those with autism or others with sensory needs, as well as their friends, family and carers. Read our social story which can be used to see the venue before your visit.

Castle COVID-19 precautions We know how much everyone loves a COVID-19 update… Social distancing in screens: We will be hosting both socially distanced and full capacity screenings as part of a controlled, phased move back to being a full capacity venue. We are closely monitoring our screenings and any feedback from guests and staff. Currently we are trialling different ways of identifying which screening is socially distanced or not, but it will always be clear on the website and when booking in person.

Pink is the new green There is sweat, there is blood and there are tears. The latest movie of Magnus von Horn is more organic than it seems and behind the pink aesthetic there is emotional and physical violence which is always barely visible. These phenomena of invisibilisation are just markers of our time. Sweat captures, in a very clever way, how social media exacerbates the failings of our capitalist and sexist society.

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS + COCKTAILS We LOVE Another Round. It stars the brilliant Mads Mikkelsen who plays a teacher that, along with some friends, decides to get drunk and stay that way, to see if it makes them more productive. There is some strong dancing. To celebrate the film, we’re offering a pair of tickets and a cocktail from our list for each attendee. For your chance to win, let us know the ingredients you would use for a cocktail called ‘The Castle’.