Vote for Watershed to win BIFA’s Inaugural Cinema of the Year Award

We’re super excited that Watershed has been selected as one of five nominees for the British Independent Film Award’s (BIFA) very first Cinema of the Year award, supported by Kia and voted for by cinemagoers. 

We now need your help to be in with a chance of winning. 

Over 130 cinemas entered and over 100,000 votes were cast by cinemagoers up and down the UK. The final five nominees were selected by a specially appointed jury, taking into account not only the public vote and the cinemas’ contributions to their communities, but also their approach to environmental sustainability and to making cinema accessible for all. 

The shortlisted cinemas are: Depot Cinema (Lewes), The Magic Lantern Cinema (Tywyn), Montrose Playhouse (Montrose), Queen’s Film Theatre (Belfast) and Watershed (Bristol).

We now need votes lots of votes – the voting opens today and closes on Tue 25 Nov to help decide the winner.  

The winner will be announced on Sun 30 Nov at a special BIFA awards ceremony. 

We know that so many of you voted to get us on the shortlist and we are so grateful but we now need you all to VOTE AGAIN.

Please vote for us now – we would absolutely love to bring the trophy home to Bristol 

Clare Reddington, Watershed CEO, said: 

“Being shortlisted for the BIFA Cinema of the Year award has absolutely made our year. I am so proud of Watershed’s thriving programme, loyal audiences, and values-first approach. But it is not easy! If you love what we do and want to help celebrate the amazing team who make it happen, PLEASE join me in casting your vote for Watershed as Cinema of the Year… and if we win. I promise there will be free nachos for all…” 

(No seriously – if we win, we will serve celebratory nachos on a specific day/time which we will announce on our socials) 

Here’s why we think Watershed should win BIFA Cinema of the Year: 

• We are regularly one of the top performing cinemas in the country for new independent and international films (thanks to our brilliant audiences) 
  

• We care about making Watershed as welcoming, inclusive and accessible as we can. Our building is accessible, our staff are BSL trained, we have award-winning public toilets for everyone, and we present a consistent accessible programme of screenings, events and exhibitions 
  

• Cinema Rediscovered, the UK’s leading festival of newly restored, rarely screened or recently re-found cinematic gems has recently been hailed as “the finest repertory festival in the UK” 
  

• We profile and nurture filmmaking talent at all stages in their career 
  

• We collaborate with partners in the local community and provide space for grassroots and community groups to meet 
  

• We keep our prices low – anyone under 25 can get a ticket at any time for just £6 
  

• In 2019 we declared a climate emergency and are committed to reducing our carbon emissions 
  

• The food and drink in our Café & Bar celebrates great local suppliers 
  

• We support over 200 creatives to make work in the Pervasive Media Studio 
  

Simply vote online here before Tue 25 Nov – it’s super easy and quick, and the promise of a feast of our iconic nachos for all could be made a reality. 

BIFA directors Amy Gustin and Deena Wallace said:  

“The outpouring of affection and passion from cinemagoers for their local cinema has been wonderful to see. Almost all of the over 100,000 people who voted took the time to tell us why their favourite cinema meant so much to them. These are cherished places of community, discovery and connection, exemplified by the five nominees for this inaugural award.” 

VOTE NOW

Watershed's cinema programme and activity is supported by the BFI, awarding funds from The National Lottery

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