Projecting the Past: Engaging with Repertory Screenings
Programming’s a funny business. Competing for audiences in the increasingly digital age of Netflix and Prime means it can be tempting to simply programme the latest Cannes favourite, fresh from the festival circuit, or this year’s acclaimed Best Picture winner. While community cinemas can be a vital and accessible way for audiences to keep up with the latest releases from both the blockbuster and art-house worlds, they can also be a place to wind back the clock and discover. “The streaming platforms that most people use to watch films nowadays are very selective with the older films they have on there” notes Delphine Lievens from TAPE Collective. “Screening repertory titles is not only beneficial, but also important for the sake of preserving film history”.
Cinema For All were recently excited to welcome some of the titles from TAPE Collective’s brilliant Snapshot season, which explores Black girlhood, to the Booking Scheme. Amongst these titles are two underseen gems of ‘90s American cinema; Drylongso and Alma’s Rainbow: “it’s amazing to give audiences the chance to see the pioneering work that Black female directors were making in the ‘90s”. Repertory titles help audiences and exhibitors alike breathe life into the established canon of cinema, offering perspectives that have previously been ignored. That was one of the main aims of Snapshot says Lievens: “we've also done lots of research into how the films were initially received and looked to re-appraise them in a modern context. I think this offers a fascinating jumping off point for any post-film discussions.”
And there are some amazing community cinemas and film societies around the UK programming repertory titles all the way from the golden age of Hollywood to the cult classics of Hong Kong action cinema. High Contrast Cinema in Dorset screen a carefully curated selection of Noir classics. “The of history cinema should always be celebrated, and there's a joy in bringing classics to an audience that may be familiar with them in name only, or often not even that” says Jo from High Contrast Cinema. And celebrate they do, with previous screenings including Alexander Mackendrick’s darkly satirical The Sweet Smell of Success and the Fritz Lang masterpiece The Big Heat.
Widening the scope of your programming can feel like a risk but can be endlessly rewarding; “it's enormously pleasing to hear people enthuse about what they've just seen, especially as they may never have found the opportunity otherwise”. Nervous about programming rep cinema? High Contrast Cinema have some advice: “there's so much to choose from that it can be overwhelming if you don't have a strong idea of what you want to do. This way you can mix classics with lesser-known gems if your audience is confident with your approach. Be mindful of what's accessible to licence, what people may have easy access to view at home, and what fits with your vision”.
Knowing where to look for repertory titles can be overwhelming, but our Booking Scheme has you covered! From silver screen favourites like Steamboat Bill Jr and Metropolis to Jackie Chan’s Police Story trilogy, we have a range of classic rep titles waiting to be discovered. We’re also excited to be including Ayoka Chenzira’s Alma’s Rainbow in our latest Curated Menu, featuring ten exciting titles available to screen for just £90!
Want to learn more about rep cinema? Listen to our interview with Park Circus on the Cinema For All Podcast here!