Throughout 2025
Bradford: A City of Film
Cinema for everyone, everywhere.
We've teamed up with the National Science & Media Museum throughout 2025 to bring the joy of cinema to people across Bradford District.
Bradford: A City of Film is our celebration of cinema in Bradford in 2025. With the support of the BFI, we’ve taken the magic of the movies to people and places across Bradford – from established cinemas, such as Pictureville at the National Science & Media Museum, to arts centres, village halls – and some more unexpected spaces.
Think British film favourites under the stars at Ilkley Lido, Hollywood gems in Haworth and Holme Wood, cult classics at church halls and community centres – and that’s before we’ve got on to film festivals, previews and premieres, special CineSpotlight screenings, director Q&As and much more.
Our seasons have included Epic Yorkshire – a city-wide film season and screen celebration of Yorkshire, a spotlight on northern female filmmaking with Northern Soul, a celebration of young identity at Northern Youth, premieres, previews and director Q&As with Film4 Presents at Pictureville Cinema, and a look at Bradford’s rich history of migration with A Time and a Place.
But Bradford: A City of Film has been about much more than movie screenings. We’ve also celebrated community cinemas across Bradford. We’ve connected different parts of the district’s cinematic ecosystem. And helped groups across Bradford set up their own community cinemas where they are – which may be where you are, too.
In partnership with
Christmas at Pictureville
Head to Pictureville cinema at the National Science and Media Museum this December for Christmas classics, family favourites and new releases.
Film highlights from 2025
Specially curated film seasons took place across the district throughout 2025 – with special events, Q&As, gala screenings, and more.
Northern Soul
Clio Barnard curated a special season at Pictureville Cinema dedicated to northern female filmmaking.
Open-Air Cinema
We invited you into our cinematic wonderland – immersive screenings of cult and classic films under the stars.
Drive-In Cinema
We turned back the clock in 2025 with our drive-in cinema, a classic moviegoing experience.
Northern Youth
A film season at Pictureville Cinema, curated for Bradford 2025 by Dominic Leclerc.
The Incredible Moving Cinema
The moving cinema truck that visited a location near you.
A Time and a Place
Look back on this season of coming of age films by women filmmakers, inspired by Bradford’s diasporic past. Curated by Invisible Women.
FILM4 Presents at Pictureville Cinema
This major partnership between Channel 4 and Bradford 2025 explored Film4's remarkable catalogue.
Halloween Cinema
We stepped into the shadows for Bradford’s Halloween Cinema season.
Film festivals
We teamed up with BFI, the National Science and Media Museum and Bradford International Film Festival in 2025 to celebrate film across the district.
BFI London Film Festival
The festival isn’t exclusive to London, and Pictureville Cinema at National Science and Media Museum was one of the partner cinemas for 2025 which will brought audiences around the UK a thrilling line-up of BFI London Film Festival films—including new films from Chloé Zhao, Kelly Reichardt and more.
BradIFF
The Festival takes place in October every year, with awards for short films including Best Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best of Bradford and Best International short film. There is also an award for Best Short Film from the current year’s focus group, which for 2025 was Global Majority filmmakers. The Festival also showcases feature films including classic, independent and children’s films.
A screen near you
There are independent cinemas in communities across Bradford bringing more movies to more people – from you-had-to-be-there special screenings, to the latest blockbusters.
We’ve celebrated cinema across the district in 2025. Explore our list of cinemas and film clubs across Bradford District below.
Discover a screen near you
Addingham Film Club
Enjoy a variety of films amongst friends.
Bingley Arts Centre
A home for cinema and the arts in the heart of Bingley
Bradford Movie Makers
A community of film enthusiasts – founded in 1932. Featured in the film A Bunch of Amateurs (2022).
Bradford Playhouse
Screening films in Little Germany.
Clayton Community Cinema
Monthly screenings at Clayton Village Hall, tickets just £3
Haworth Cinema
The best new movies and more at West Lane Baptist Church
The Hive, Silsden
Catch regular screenings at this charity-run community hub
Ilkley Cinema
Two screens, a bar, house-made pizza – and the movies!
Ilkley Film Society
Set up over 50 years ago to screen some of the best films that contemporary world cinema has to offer.
The Light, Bradford
The best new releases in the centre of Bradford
Picture House, Keighley
112 years old – and still going strong
Pictureville, Bradford
Yorkshire’s biggest independent cinema offers an outstanding programme across three screens
South Square, Thornton
Cinema, artists’ studios and more in these converted workers’ cottages
Stockroom Cinema, Keighley
Movies new and old in a converted stockroom
Thornton Community Cinema
Monthly Sunday screenings at this volunteer-run community centre
Cinema Creators
We’re working with the brilliant Cinema for All to provide a training programme for groups to start their own cinema in Bradford.
Cinema for All is the national charity for community cinema, and have a wealth of experience in supporting new community cinema groups. The Bradford groups have been learning about everything you need to start a cinema from scratch: licensing, marketing, ticketing, programming and even sustainability. And this year, you can see the fruits of their labours as these new community cinemas get off the ground!
If you’re interested in setting up your own community cinema, we’d love to hear from you. Email [email protected]
Discover community cinemas in Bradford:
Brontë Flicks, Thornton
A brand new community cinema in the historic village of Thornton
City of Film Echoes, Bradford
This community cinema celebrates Bradford’s legacy as the first UNESCO City of Film
Holme Wood Cinema
Look out, Holme Wood – the movies are coming to town…
Ponden Picture House, Keighley
A new community cinema for Keighley in a historic mill setting
Saltaire Community Cinema
New pop-up film nights for Saltaire, starting at the Caroline Street Social Club
CineSpotlights at Pictureville
Take a deep dive into cinema history with this new film education season at Pictureville.
Each month, a special guest (or guests!) guide us through a special film screening, with illustrated talks, panel discussions and Q&As offering fresh insights into familiar favourites and hidden gems. It’s a friendly and informal way to indulge your passion for the pictures – and expand your understanding of what cinema can be.
Bradford: UNESCO City of Film
Bradford became the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in 2009, bringing international recognition to the city.
The status pays homage to Bradford’s extraordinary movie heritage and contributions to the art of the moving image – which continues in 2025 with regular film and television shoots, a major film education programme and much more, aligned with Bradford’s place as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
