Cinema
Image: Chichester Cinema at New Park
Cinemas
There are two cinemas in the city of Chichester - Cineworld showing all your new big-screen releases but also an independent cinema which is nationally renowned. From its humble beginnings in 1979 when films were shown on 16mm one evening a week, Chichester Cinema at New Park now has a cult following, and is a destination for film lovers. Proudly showing the best films from the UK & Overseas and screening live performance events, Chichester Cinema at New Park hosts an annual film festival which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022.
International Film Festival
Each summer, the 21-day Chichester International Film Festival is a vibrant and eclectic celebration of all things film known for known for its exciting programming.
Launched in 1992 as the representation of the art of film at the Festival of Chichester, a month-long festival of the arts in Chichester, the film festival now spans 150 films across seven locations including open-air and drive-in screenings, silent films with musical accompaniment and atmospheric venues including Chichester Cathedral. The festival has been graced by some of cinema's greatest names during it's 30 year history, from directors, actors and writers to composers and of course, critics; Sir Alec Guinness, Steven Poliakoff, Kathleen Turner, Ken Russell, Mike Leigh, Kerry Fox, Ronald Harwood, Daniel Brühl, Elaine Paige and Derek Jacobi, to name just a few.
30 years of fantastic film
2022's anniversary saw a host of highlights as 30 years of Chichester International Film Festival were celebrated over 22 days, including Charlotte Rampling in Juniper as the closing film, English, UK and even world premieres, as well as films so exclusive to the festival they may never be screening elsewhere. There were in-depth Q&As with filmmakers, live music including Stephen Horne playing piano to accompany Earth, and hugely popular open-air screenings of Elvis, West Side Story and Lightyear held in Chichester's Priory Park.