Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas

The Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas in England was administered by the BFI on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas in England

The fund was part of the UK government’s cultural recovery package providing £1.57 billion, the biggest ever single investment in this country’s cultural and heritage sectors. Over £1.2 billion has been allocated from the Culture Recovery Fund, reaching over 5,000 individual organisations and sites.

As part of this package, the Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas awarded a total of £34 million to 209 independent cinemas across England, from Penrith to Penzance. This means that 78% of eligible cinemas that were eligible for the fund were awarded grants. 89% of cinema sites that received an award were outside London.

#HereForCulture

The experience of sharing a film with others, hearing their gasps, laughter, upset – even their awed silence – is special. We come together in these special buildings, we see ourselves reflected, we learn from each other’s stories, we escape, we belong. Cinema is important. Independent cinemas need our support.Olivia Colman, The Favourite

Details of the awards

Evaluation of the fund