Bradford: A City of Film
Cinema for everyone, everywhere.
We’re teaming up with the National Science & Media Museum to bring the joy of cinema to people across the district for Bradford 2025.
Bradford: A City of Film is our celebration of cinema in Bradford in 2025. With the support of the BFI, we’re taking 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.
You can catch 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.
But Bradford: A City of Film is about much more than movie screenings. We’re also celebrating community cinemas across Bradford. We’re connecting different parts of the district’s cinematic ecosystem. And we’re even helping groups across Bradford to set up their own community cinemas where they are – which may be where you are, too.
This page is your one-stop shop for Bradford cinema in 2025. Scroll down to read about how we’re supporting and promoting cinema in our year as UK City of Culture, see what’s on, book tickets – and then roll camera!
In partnership with
Open-Air Cinema
We’re bringing the magic of cinema to big screens around Bradford – including some truly iconic locations.
Our Open-Air Cinema is heading to the iconic Thornton Viaduct, where Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel gets the Wild Rumpus treatment under the stars.
Film seasons
Specially curated film seasons will be taking place across the district – so look out for special events, Q&As, gala screenings, and more taking place throughout the year.
Past seasons include Epic Yorkshire – a city-wide film season and screen celebration of Yorkshire, plus 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.
Widescreen Weekend
25-29 Sep 2025Widescreen Weekend is a unique festival of large-screen formats and cinema technologies celebrating the past, present and future of film at the National Science and Media Museum. Enjoy a long weekend of big, bold and wide cinema experiences which showcase the museum’s fantastic projection facilities.
Glorious 70mm screenings, new Cinerama restorations and great guests will remind you why going to the movies is so magical.
Book tickets
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Widescreen Weekend is a unique festival of large-screen formats and cinema technologies celebrating the past, present and future of film at the National Science and Media Museum. Enjoy a long weekend of big, bold and wide cinema experiences which showcase the museum’s fantastic projection facilities.
Glorious 70mm screenings, new Cinerama restorations and great guests will remind you why going to the movies is so magical.
BradIFF
Bradford International Film Festival (BradIFF) celebrates the work of Bradford filmmakers alongside films by their national and international counterparts. 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 is Global Majority filmmakers. The Festival also showcases feature films including classic, independent and children’s films.
More film events
Discover more film screenings from Bradford 2025
13 Sep 2025
The Grand Budapest Hotel (15)
Wes Anderson's madcap caper. Part of Open-Air Cinema at Thornton Viaduct with Wild Rumpus.
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’re celebrating 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!
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.
