Jaq Chell

One of my favourite community cinema experiences was a visit to Louth Film Club to see Jacques Demy’s Les Demoiselles de Rochefort. A glorious film, screened in a beautiful setting, with the added bonus of an ice-cream interval. We skipped all the way back to Sheffield with a tune in our hearts.

Jaq Chell has been with Cinema For All for over 15 years, having previously worked at the Showroom Cinema and Sensoria Film and Music Festival. Jaq is currently acting up as CEO, building partnerships, the Cinema For All membership offer and income generation to support the organisation's charitable activities.

Jaq was the recipient of the Roebuck Cup in 2012 for helping to shape a sustainable community cinema movement. A Clore Leader (2013), Jaq is also an Equality Champion (2017), a graduate of the Small Business Leadership Programme (2021) and has been the co-host of the Cinema For All Podcast  since 2018. Jaq was a co-producer of the short film Born a Rebel, a co-production between Cinema For All, the Yorkshire Film Archive and the North West Film Archive.

Outside of Cinema For All, Jaq is a writer, contributing to Sheffield cultural website Our Favourite Places and sings as part of a modern choir, Neighbourhood Voices.

Jaq regularly speaks at nation-wide events on the importance of community-led film, and is passionate about bringing inclusive cinema experiences to all corners of the UK.