Join us for Archive Screening Days 2025 – a hybrid event exploring our shared history on film and how to use film heritage and archive film to better connect with audiences.
Taking place online on Tuesday 28 January and in-person at Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds on Thursday 30 January, Archive Screening Days gives you the chance to watch carefully curated material from national, international and alternative archives and exciting repertory cinema, as well as take part in sessions giving you the skills you need to share archive film with your audiences.
We’re thrilled to be taking Screening Days to Leeds and the historic Hyde Park Picture House – one of the UK’s oldest cinemas (and ‘the cosiest cinema in Leeds’) – for the first time! Read about the venue.
Got any questions? See our FAQ or drop us a line at info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.
New to Screening Days? Check out our trailer to get a sense of what it’s like.
Not sure if Screening Days is for you? See our eligibility section.
For all other details, scroll down or see our FAQ.
Registration
Which pass should I buy?
- £35 – Organisational pass (Select this rate if you are attending on behalf of an organisation or film society)
- £25 – Freelance pass (Select this rate if you are a freelance worker)
- £10 – Young Person (18-30) pass (Select this rate if you are aged 18-30)
- £10 – Supported pass (Select this rate if you are currently unwaged – which here means if you have applied for or receive Universal Credit, Job Seeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Carer’s Allowance or are a student in higher education)
Please note that:
- All passes give you both in-person and online access, but please indicate how you will attend in your registration form.
- The deadline for registrations is Friday 17 January.
- Lunch and all refreshments will be provided free to those attending at Hyde Park Picture House.
- Passes are not transferable.
- Films in the online programme will be available to stream from Tuesday 28 January to Tuesday 4 February.
- Streaming is only available within the UK and Republic of Ireland and our online platform Eventive restricts concurrent streams, so every viewer must have their own pass. See our FAQ for information on device compatibility.
“The talks were excellent”
“Really interesting selection of films and sessions”
“Generous sharing of practical knowledge by programmers & curators more advanced in their careers”
Archive Screening Days 2022 attendees
Sessions
Horror, Hormones and Venue Hire: Exhibiting Trans Film in Dublin from Film Club to Festival
The Small Trans Film Club was founded in 2022 by the Small Trans Library Dublin, a community group organising arts and culture events for Dublin’s trans community. In the past two years, with zero budget, the STFC has held 24 screenings of short programmes and feature films dated 1937 to present day. In this session, we’ll look at how a DIY group worked with traditional venues, building a fun, sexy, dynamic community space to explore marginalised histories, ahead of their new iteration as an annual festival.
Telling Authentic Disabled Histories On-screen
Should we shun or showcase archive films that portray inauthentic, or even offensive, representations of disability? How can we build a canon of historical films about and by disabled people? How can curators and cinemas access the films and show them to audiences with appropriate accessibility materials? In this session, led by Film Programmer and Accessibility Advocate Florence Grieve, we will hear from speakers who have brought disabled stories from the past to contemporary audiences, offering insight and context in support of a future where disabled people’s stories are valued by all.
Film is the New Vinyl
First there was the vinyl revival. Now it’s the turn of film – real film with sprocket holes. Audiences love it, with venues reporting a c25% uplift to box office when they project film on film. Robin Baker, programme director of the 2023 BFI Film on Film Festival, will discuss the opportunities and challenges of screening film on film whether in a cinema or a community venue. He will also offer insights into how you can engage audiences – from creating ‘event’ cinema to maximising engagement through social media – by exploring successful examples from across the UK.
100 Years of 16mm – Still the Most Accessible Film Format?
2025 marks the start of the second century of 16mm in the UK. Designed to be accessible (“you press the button, we do the rest”) it is still in use today, both by filmmakers and by exhibitors as a pull for audiences wanting to experience the joys of analogue film projection. Looking at case studies, facilitator Louise Conway will explore how 16mm and its ethos has survived 100 years of developments, and continues to democratise who can make, project, and exhibit film on film.
How to Frame Archival Genre and Exploitation Films
When we show archival and repertory films, we provide context for audiences. But when it comes to genre and exploitation films – including horror, science fiction, action, and low-budget ‘trash’ – it can be especially difficult to figure out how to position them in a way that is both enticing and ethical. Are they just amusingly ‘bad’ movies, or is there something more to them that we can bring out through the curatorial process? How do we address problematic aspects of representation that may be present, such as racial stereotypes, homophobia, and sexism? Moreover, accessing and screening archival exploitation films may pose particular problems due to unavailability or poor print or scan quality – given that they have historically not been thought valuable enough to preserve in national film archives – as well as tricky issues around certification and the absence of theatrical rights holders. In this session, film programmer Erin Wiegand will be in discussion with independent curators who are grappling with these issues and providing incredible experiences for audiences.
How to Screen from the UK’s Hidden Moving Image Archives
Our histories are held in film archives and it only takes us to go digging and share them with audiences. But if you want to tell a broader range of stories, you may need to access archives off the beaten path. To highlight a brand new resource produced by Film Hub Northern Ireland and BFI FAN Screen Heritage Champion Andy Robson, we offer case studies of exhibitors who have worked with some of the UK’s best non-traditional archives and reached local audiences with stories that speak to their lives and histories.
Am I eligible?
We want to welcome as many people as possible to our events while still protecting the work of filmmakers and distributors. Screening Days is for anyone who works or volunteers in a space that shows films and makes a direct contribution to selecting films or attracting audiences for them, including young film programmers (aged over 18) and front of house staff. If you’re in any doubt about your eligibility, just email us.
Support to join Archive Screening Days
Your regional Film Hub may be able to offer bursaries to support your attendance (see links below). If your organisation is not yet a Hub member, it is usually easy to register quickly (and it’s free).
FAQ
Is this a hybrid event?
Yes. The first day (Tuesday 28 January) will be delivered entirely online. The second day (Thursday 30 January) will be delivered in-person at Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds. Films in our online programme will be available to stream from Tuesday 28 January to Tuesday 4 February.
Where possible, sessions will either be recorded / filmed or have notes taken at them, with videos and notes made available to delegates after the event.
How do I join online / at Hyde Park Picture House?
You’ll be sent all details of how to access films (via Eventive) and sessions (via Zoom) online ahead of time.
If you’re attending at Hyde Park Picture House on Thursday 30 January, you can register at our desk in the foyer on the day. You will be issued with a badge which is your entry pass into all screenings and sessions.
What's the schedule?
We’re currently programming first films and sessions and will make the schedule available to you as soon as possible. However, for the online day on Tuesday 28 January we expect to hold three or four sessions spaced throughout the day starting at 9:30-10am and ending (latest) at 5-5:30pm.
Rough timings for the in-person day on Thursday 30 January are registration from 10am, with first films and sessions from 10:30-11am and final films and sessions ending 5-5:30pm before an evening drinks reception until 6:30-7pm.
Films watched online can be streamed anytime between midnight (start) of Tuesday 28 January and midnight (end) of Tuesday 4 February.
How do I get to Hyde Park Picture House?
Hyde Park Picture House is located at 73 Brudenell Road, Leeds, LS6 1JD.
It’s a 30-40 minute walk from Leeds city centre, so if you’re travelling by train, we advise you to book your tickets to Burley Park train station which is much closer to the cinema (an 8-10 minute walk) and change at Leeds train station.
Trains run every 30 mins to Burley Park from Leeds train station via a Northern Rail service towards Harrogate. The train journey between Leeds and Burley Park takes 4-9mins.
Visit National Rail for train times or Hyde Park Picture House’s website for more travel advice.
Are food and drinks provided?
Yes, all refreshments, lunch and evening drinks are provided on the day. You can also purchase additional food and drinks from Hyde Park Picture House’s Café Bar.
How accessible is the event?
See our full page on accessibility support at ICO events.
Please state any access needs you have in your online registration. We will do our very best to support you and welcome you to the event.
We aim to provide descriptive subtitles on all films available online and as many as possible screened at Hyde Park Picture House. We will confirm which films will be available with descriptive subtitles as soon as possible before the event.
Online sessions will be live-captioned. Where possible, sessions will either be recorded / filmed or have notes taken at them, with videos and notes made available to delegates after the event.
For full details of venue accessibility at Hyde Park Picture House, see their website.
There will be a quiet space available at Hyde Park Picture House for anyone who needs it.
For any other queries about accessibility not answered here, please email us.
How do you curate Archive Screening Days?
We curate the majority of the programme, but also hold a paid open call for guest curators for sessions and film programmes for all specialised Screening Days events (Inclusion and Diversity, Young Audiences and Archive Screening Days).
We do this to open up the events and to connect with practitioners we haven’t worked with before, inside and outside the film exhibition sector, who are doing important work.
Our open call for this event has now closed. To learn about future open calls as they’re launched, sign up to our mailing list.
If you have other ideas or suggestions about Screening Days, you can email them to us or if you prefer to submit anonymously, can do so to our Screening Days Advisory Group.
What devices can I watch films on online?
We use Eventive for online streaming. You can watch films on Eventive on a laptop, tablet (e.g. iPad), phone, Chromecast and Airplay from your device, and via HDMI connector to your laptop.
However, please note that you can’t currently watch on devices with a Linux or Chrome based operating system (e.g., Chromebooks). In general, it’s a good idea to test your set up before streaming the films – you can do that on Eventive’s compatibility page.
We offer a support email service throughout the event.
Code of conduct
Whether on or offline, we want our events to be fun, inclusive spaces for film professionals. We expect people attending and working at them to maintain this code of conduct so that they stay that way. Harassment and bullying have no place at ICO events.
Examples of inappropriate behaviours that contravene our code of conduct include offensive comments, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, aggressive behaviour, inappropriate physical contact and unwelcome sexual attention.
If someone behaves inappropriately towards you or you witness something inappropriate, please report it to a member of ICO staff or email us. Your complaint will be treated with discretion. We are happy to help and can help report inappropriate behaviour to the authorities where necessary or address the problem ourselves where more appropriate. We reserve the right to refuse in-person entry and/or online access to anyone who does not comply with our code of conduct.
If you would like to speak to an independent organisation about an issue, the Film and TV Charity have a free and confidential 24-hour helpline available on 0800 054 00 00.
Supported by
The event is delivered with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery.
With thanks to our sponsor
How to apply
To register for Screening Days, type in the number of the appropriate pass type(s) you would like to order below and click ‘Continue’. You can also make a donation to the ICO.
Criteria
- ICO Screening Days events are open to everyone who works or volunteers in film exhibition, including young film programmers (aged over 18).
- If you’re in any doubt about your eligibility, see Am I eligible? or email us at: info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.
- Passes are strictly non-transferable.
- The deadline for in-person registration is Friday 17 January.
If you have any queries about your eligibility or booking online, read our FAQ or email us at info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.