Birmingham's 72ft Giant Screen cinema is to close as a commercial cinema in January but it's hoped that the venue, which opened in 2001, will continue to be used for screening educational documentaries, as well as for conferences and major events.
Situated in Millennium Point, the Giant Screen has presented contemporary 3D technology, digital projection and big screen action to people in the city and region for the past thirteen years but the venue has endured numerous challenges of late and it's these that have forced the venue's management to make such a radical decision.
Commenting on the announcement, Philip Singleton, chief executive officer, said "over the past two and a half years The Giant Screen had not been anywhere near break-even', adding: 'It is our intention to continue to screen large documentary films to school audiences to assist their learning and understanding of the world around them. We have enjoyed success in using our 370 seat auditorium with state-of-the-art presentation technology for seminars and conferences as well as increasing popularity amongst independent filmmakers seeking to premier their latest projects and those seeking to reconnect with events based cinema. If our current proposals proceed, however, our plans would mean that from January 2015, the Giant Screen would cease to be a permanent, seven day, twelve months a year cinema operation competing with a proliferation of commercially-run cinemas. From February 2015, Millennium Point would continue to engage and thrill visitors with the former Giant Screen evolving into a more flexible space with a wider range of uses, reflective of our future plans for development.'
Birmingham's 72ft Giant Screen cinema is to close as a commercial cinema in January but it's hoped that the venue, which opened in 2001, will continue to be used for screening educational documentaries, as well as for conferences and major events.
Situated in Millennium Point, the Giant Screen has presented contemporary 3D technology, digital projection and big screen action to people in the city and region for the past thirteen years but the venue has endured numerous challenges of late and it's these that have forced the venue's management to make such a radical decision.
Commenting on the announcement, Philip Singleton, chief executive officer, said "over the past two and a half years The Giant Screen had not been anywhere near break-even', adding: 'It is our intention to continue to screen large documentary films to school audiences to assist their learning and understanding of the world around them. We have enjoyed success in using our 370 seat auditorium with state-of-the-art presentation technology for seminars and conferences as well as increasing popularity amongst independent filmmakers seeking to premier their latest projects and those seeking to reconnect with events based cinema. If our current proposals proceed, however, our plans would mean that from January 2015, the Giant Screen would cease to be a permanent, seven day, twelve months a year cinema operation competing with a proliferation of commercially-run cinemas. From February 2015, Millennium Point would continue to engage and thrill visitors with the former Giant Screen evolving into a more flexible space with a wider range of uses, reflective of our future plans for development.'