Cakes and Cinema with Minicine

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I’ve always found the concept of film as a social experience fascinating.

A group of people, all sitting in the dark, no one saying a word. It sounds like one of the most anti-social activities imaginable.

The act of a shared cinematic experience can transform complete strangers into friends or even more – there’s a reason it’s always a stalwart option for anyone looking for a solid first date idea.

While everyone at the screening has been presented with the same images and heard the same audio, their interpretations may differ wildly. It’s the discovery of these differences and similarities of opinion that make film such an exciting art form.

What if, however, you’re struggling to find someone who shares your passion for cinema, or maybe you’re looking to discover some new films? This is when film societies prove invaluable. Wonderful places to meet new people and engage in lively debate, they are a key part of any local film community.

It may surprise you to learn that one of the most popular and acclaimed film societies in Britain is Leeds’ own Minicine. To find out more I spoke to Minicine’s co-film programmer (and co-baker), Abi Standish, about her twin passions – film and cake.

What is Minicine?

Minicine is a community cinema screening independent, foreign language, cult and classic cinema that may not otherwise reach West Yorkshire audiences. We’re a not-for-profit organisation and our key focus is programming great and varied films to share with audiences. Oh and cake! We enjoy cake almost, if not just as much as we enjoy film, so we provide free homemade cake and treats, along with free refreshments at every screening.

How do you choose the screenings, what’s the ethos?

Since January we’ve been choosing the screenings to follow a structure of seasons. To start the year off we did a ‘Modern Monochrome’ season which consisted of screening black and white films of the last twenty years to take a look at how more contemporary films had used the black and white format. That began with me just really wanting to screen Frances Ha and then Woody and I built a season around it. We even made all our desserts black and white.

At the moment we only screen once a month so each season consists of three films, one per month. They’re designed to be a taster and perhaps an introduction for audiences to films they may not have seen or have not been screened in Leeds before, with a more well-known title in there too.

What makes Minicine different from other film societies?

Cake? Well, cake, but the free homemade cake is really just an extension of our enthusiasm to get people together to enjoy film and share the experience. I think our programming makes us quite different from some other film societies. We care about it a lot and I feel very proud of it as we try to make it eclectic, interesting and fun. We want to evoke excitement and intrigue about films, the way film and cinema often can. We always screen a few short films before our feature which have also been programmed to be in sync with the season/film. Our location too. We screen in a replica of a 1920s Picture Palace located in the basement of Armley Mills Industrial Museum. I love that twenty six people can be experiencing a film down there, the only light coming from the screen, whilst the rest of Leeds bustles away under street lights.

What’s it like watching a film in those surroundings?

Special. When we have somebody come to a Minicine screening for the first time the first think they will comment on is their surroundings. We screen films in a 1920s replica of a Picture Palace, complete with velvety red curtains, a box office window and faux gas lamps lighting up the room. You pass aparatus for manufacturing wool and other parts of the museum before you stumble upon the sign for the Picture Palace, which is not your usual encounter before going to watch a film. The cinema only seats twenty six people – hence the name Minicine – so it’s cosy.

What would you say to people who don’t believe watching a film is a social experience?

I would say why? I think watching a film, particularly at the cinema, is a very unique kind of social experience. You’re sat in silence, with barely any light, focusing on the screen yet surrounded by people. As an audience you experience a film together and to me that’s very special. I don’t think I’ll forget watching and hearing the entire theatre in Hyde Park Picture House sigh and relax their shoulders back into there seats after a particular chilling scene in Under The Skin. Nor will I forget the applause of warmth and joy after our screening of Benda Bilili. Watching a film is a social experience as it often engages discussion and prompts opinions and thinking. Film societies and community cinemas are a big part of keeping that social experience at the centre of watching films as now it’s so easy to pause a film you’re streaming, multitask with other activities and get a little distracted.

When you’re not watching films, what do you all get up to?

Roadtrips! Well, neither of us drive yet so more like walking to other community cinemas and enjoying what they have to offer. We realised that when you’re running your own community cinema, you’re in a bit of a bubble and forget that there’s loads out there to be enjoyed. We wanted to connect with others who were exhibiting film. When we’re not watching film, we’re eating cake and thinking about films and planning more Minicine events. There’s always something to be doing. Woody writes in his spare time and I like to bake and enjoy comics. However, much of our lives involves film one way or another.

I’m stricken with crippling social anxiety, should I be nervous about popping along?

Not at all! What we want most for our audiences that come to Minicine, is to enjoy themselves and feel comfortable and relaxed. You’ll always be greeted with a friendly hello and the invitation to chat with us is always there. However, we also like to let people just be. Some people come to screenings alone, grab a cuppa on entrance and settle into their seat and read until things get started. We’re very happy for people to do that, it makes us pleased that they can feel at ease at our events.

Minicine have two screenings taking place in August. Tonight, as part of ‘The Eden Diaries’ exhibition launch, they’ll be screening the cult sci-fi classic They Live (containing the greatest fight scene of all-time) at The Gallery at Munro House, starting at 7.30pm. Then, on Thursday 28 August, they’ll be returning home to Armley Mills for a showing of the wonderful, and heart-wrenching, Mary and Max. To find out, see future screenings and buy tickets visit: www.minicine.org.uk.