We’ve officially entered the British Independent Film Awards’ (BIFA) Cinema of the Year award, supported by Kia - and we need your help to secure a nomination!
Cinemas across the country are competing for the title, but the result is now in the hands of cinemagoers. If you love Hebden Bridge Picture House and the work we do to champion film and bring people together, we’d be incredibly grateful for your vote.
The public vote closes on Monday 21 September. The longlist will be announced on 13 October, followed by five nominees on 3 November alongside the rest of BIFA’s 2026 Awards nominees.
A specially selected jury of cinema professionals will then decide the winner, which will be revealed live at the BIFA ceremony at London’s Roundhouse on Sunday 6 December.
Vote for Hebden Bridge Picture House:
https://www.bifa.film/coty-vote/hebden-bridge-picture-house
About the award
The big-screen experience is irreplaceable – and so are the cinemas that provide it. BIFA’s Cinema of the Year award celebrates venues that go beyond showing films, forming the centrepieces of their communities and bringing people together around the films that matter.
Since 2022, Kia has been a proud champion of independent cinema and the communities that surround it. Now in its second year, its partnership with BIFA on Cinema of the Year gives audiences across the UK the chance to get behind their local cinema and celebrate what makes it special.
Pete Berrisford, Cinema Manager at Hebden Bridge Picture House, said:
“We’re excited to be in the running for BIFA’s Cinema of the Year and hope our audiences will get behind us. For 105 years, the Picture House has brought people together through a shared love of film, championing independent cinema while remaining at the heart of our community. This award is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything that makes the Picture House special – from our beautiful historic building to our brilliant team and loyal audiences.”
BIFA directors Amy Gustin and Deena Wallace said:
“The response to our first Cinema of the Year award was incredible, and we are so excited to bring it back for a second year. Last year, amazing cinemas from all over the UK entered to show just how much they mean to their local areas, and we hope to see that same brilliant support this year. This award is our way of recognising the value of independent cinemas to people and the industry, whilst celebrating the hardworking teams behind the screens and the loyal audiences who support them.”
Steve Hicks, Marketing Director at Kia UK Limited, said:
“We are proud to once again support this award and uncover the best cinema in the UK. Film enthusiasts love celebrating their favourite movies during awards season, but now they can also celebrate the best venues for enjoying these films. Nothing compares to the ‘big screen’ experience for those eager to fully immerse themselves in the latest releases, especially when cinemas are so central to their local communities. We are excited to collaborate with the British Independent Film Awards to once again recognise the cinemas providing film fans with the most memorable and enjoyable experiences.”
