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Advice & Support

We provide impartial, expert advice & information on a wide variety of topics.

Home Advice & Support

Looking for information on film licensing or on how to plan an outdoor screening? Hoping to get your film into UK distribution or to start your own cinema from scratch? Want to expand your programme or look into fundraising? We’ve a vast array of practical, in-depth resources to help. Scroll down the page to view them all.

Guide

Local Licensing and Certification

A simple how-to guide to film classification by local authorities and how exhibitors can screen films which haven't been certified by the BBFC.

Guide

How to start a cinema

How to start a cinema is a guide for anyone who is interested in starting a cinema or showing films in their village, town or city in the UK.

Guide

What licences do I need?

Want to screen a film outside the cinema, but unsure what licences you need? Read our essential guide to non-theatrical exhibition.

Guide

Film Tours

A comprehensive guide to the process of putting on a successful film tour.

Guide

Screening films in community cinemas

Want to screen a film in your community?

Guide

An Introductory Guide to Programming

Programming is about starting a conversation with your audience.

Guide

How to develop audiences for independent cinemas

Want to expand your audience and bring new members of your community into your venue? Read our downloadable guide.

Report

The financial health of the independent cinema sector

The results of our independent cinema sector survey

Guide

Marketing for Independent Cinemas

Want to start thinking more strategically about your marketing and communications? Read our downloadable guide.

Resource

Sight and Sound 2022 Poll
- Booking Information

A list of rightsholders for the top 100 films in the Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time Critics' Poll.

Report

UK Film Exhibition Workforce Survey 2022

A snapshot of the UK film exhibition workforce.

Resource

The Culture Restart Cinema Tracker

How do your audiences feel about returning to the cinema?

Guide

Fundraising for Independent Cinemas

Want to make your organisation sustainable and achieve ambitious goals? Read our downloadable guide.

Guide

Good governance guide for exhibitors

How to ensure your governance is working for you.

Guide

Film education in your cinema

Film is an amazing way to teach. This guide shows you how to bring younger people into your cinema.

Guide

Green cinema toolkit

Want to increase your cinema's environmental sustainability? Read our downloadable guide featuring case studies from leading UK venues.

Guide

Developing Visually Impaired Audiences toolkit

Is there more you could be doing to develop your venue's visually impaired audiences? Read our downloadable guide.

Guide

Developing Deaf audiences for film

How can your cinema or film festival improve the experience for Deaf attendees? This guide tells you everything you need to know.

Guide

How do I make my cinema inclusive and accessible?

Film and the cinema should be for everyone, but what adjustments can your cinema make to make that possible?

Guide

An introductory guide to cinema audio

Not sure how to set up your cinema sound system? Read our downloadable guide.

Guide

An introductory guide to film projection

Looking to start projecting film or revitalise old equipment? Read our downloadable guide.

Guide

How to plan an outdoor screening

Planning an outdoor screening, but not sure where to start? Download our practical guide to all aspects of outdoor screenings.

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List of distributors

Guide

Useful exhibitor resources

Looking for screening equipment? Want to source box office statistics, film classifications, or posters and trailers to advertise your screenings? Check out our helpful resources for independent exhibitors of all shapes and sizes.

Guide

Working in film exhibition

The essential guide to all roles in film exhibition and the wider sector.

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Cinemas in the UK & Ireland

Guide

How do I get my film distributed?

The ICO is frequently approached by filmmakers who wish to see their work screened in cinemas and in active distribution.

Reports

The impact of COVID-19 on UK film exhibition

The results of our exhibition sector surveys during COVID-19.

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