Cinema Now
A fragmented collection of closed cinemas in London during lockdown, captured on Super 8mm film.
Cinema Now is a short, observational documentary film (presented in the contemporary 'Direct Cinema' style) and shot entirely on KODAK Vision3 Super 8mm Film. The film depicts closed cinemas from the point of view of passers-by, taking a moments pause and looking patiently at building exteriors and facades.
A range of cinema sites are included, though they all have one thing in common - they are all 'independent' in some way, shape or form, be that their structural/operational model and/or by virtue of their programming. There are many different types of cinemas presented in the documentary - from repurposed former industrial and historic sites to hidden gems and underground meccas. There is no limit to where cinema is found, and this is certainly true of London's thriving film scene which is currently under threat. The documentary also serves to document our cinemas through a historic moment in time, creating a capsule of a turbulent period in all our lives - the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Specifications
If the FilmFreeway Native Player does not work (or if you'd like to see a full DCI 4K secure online version of the film) - there is a private Vimeo Screener available:
Link: https://vimeo.com/675247242
Password: CNFestivals2022
The film is available to screen from a 4K or 2K DCP, 4K or 2K ProRes and 35mm* (*at select screenings)
'Cinema Now' is presented in 4:3 in a DCI 'Flat' / 1.85:1 [aspect ratio] container, at 24fps, and in either a 5.1 Surround Sound Theatrical Mix or 2.0 Stereo Theatrical or Web Mix.
For screenings, there is a choice of Open Subtitles (burnt into the image) and Closed Subtitles (can be toggled on/off), or no subtitles at all.
To view the final version of the film with Closed Subtitles [english] embedded: click below -
https://youtu.be/pcWnlIq5YZE
For additional marketing & distribution assets including documentation, screening notes, artwork, teaser spots/trailers and specifications: go to https://www.louisholder.com/cinema-now.html
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Louis HolderDirectorOld Suffolk Boys, Black Lake, One Night More, Palm Dreams, John Holder: Illustrator, Schneejungen
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Louis HolderProducer
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Sandra TomalkaProducerAngelus, Son of Satan, Politica Interna, Pas De Deux, Salt, Lactasia
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Gaye LockwoodExecutive Producers
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John HolderExecutive Producers
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Hannah HolderExecutive Producers
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Caroline ChuAssociate Producers
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Zak Reay-BarryAssociate Producers
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Adriana KytkovaProduction AssistantBreak, The Pale Horse, The Change, These Broken Wings, City of Tiny Lights, Flying/Falling: Random Acts - Big Dance
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Rob SzeligaSound Design & MusicThe Winter Lake, The Uncertain Kingdom: Sauna, Layla, Granbad, Hydebank, The Element, Bitter Sea, Oksijan, Isha, The Sermon, Arnilia Grove, Chhaya
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Vinzenz SterginGuitar Performed by
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Mario Antonio LiptajTechnical AdvisorAn Ugly Duckling Dreams of Flight, A Live Broadcast, Wolf Among Sheep, Terra Firma, Audrey and the Rocket
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Kevin Timmins c/o Gauge FilmDigital Intermediate (DI)
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Gauge Film Ltd.Film Lab / Processing & 4K Scan Services
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Project Type:Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student
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Genres:Observational, Super 8mm, Kodak, Motion Picture Film, Spoken Word, Political
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Runtime:14 minutes
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Completion Date:February 1, 2022
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Production Budget:2,300 GBP
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Super 8mm
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - London South Bank University
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Screen Power Film FestivalLondon, UK
United Kingdom
February 28, 2022
Award Winner: Best Documentary Short -
La Brady CinemaParis
France
March 1, 2022
European Premiere + Q&A -
Cotswold International Film FestivalCotswolds Region
United Kingdom
March 1, 2022
Unofficial UK Premiere
Award Winner: Best Documentary Short -
CU Documentary Society (University of Cambridge Documentary Society)Cambridge
United Kingdom
March 2, 2022 -
Westminster Film Society (University of Westminster Film Society)Harrow, North West London
United Kingdom
March 8, 2022 -
Clapperboard Golden FestivalSão Paulo
Brazil
March 9, 2022
South America Premiere -
Kings Cross Film AwardsLondon
United Kingdom
March 10, 2022
Finalist: Best Documentary Short -
Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions @ Pinewood StudiosIver Heath, North West London
United Kingdom
March 21, 2022 -
Screener Short FilmsStoke Newington, North London
United Kingdom
March 22, 2022
Honorable Mention: Best Documentary -
Filmmaker Sessions @ Pinewood StudiosIver Heath, North West London
United Kingdom
March 28, 2022 -
One Earth AwardsBangalore
India
March 31, 2022 -
APEX Film AwardsBrighton
United Kingdom
April 8, 2022 -
Close-Up Film CentreShoreditch, London
United Kingdom
April 8, 2022
Official London Premiere -
Coventry Phoenix Film FestivalCoventry
United Kingdom
April 22, 2022 -
New Cross & Deptford Free Film FestivalDeptford, South East London
United Kingdom
April 24, 2022 -
Student Cuts Film FestivalLjutomer
Slovenia
May 12, 2022 -
Carmarthen Bay Film FestivalCarmarthen Bay, Carmarthenshire, Wales
United Kingdom
May 16, 2022
Regional BAFTA-Qualifying Festival -
The Romford Film FestivalRomford
United Kingdom
May 24, 2022 -
UAL Film Files Society (Chelsea College of Arts & Design, University of the Arts London)London
United Kingdom
May 25, 2022 -
Deptford Cinema x Hither Green: Community Cinema ScreeningHither Green, South East London
United Kingdom
June 11, 2022 -
Barnes Film FestivalBarnes, South West London
United Kingdom
June 16, 2022
Regional BIFA-Qualifying Festival -
Kingston International Film Festival (KIFF)Kingston, South West London
United Kingdom
June 24, 2022 -
St. Albans Film FestivalSt. Albans, Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
July 7, 2022 -
Brighton Rocks Film FestivalBrighton
United Kingdom
July 22, 2022
Honorable Mention: Best Student Film -
Freewheeling Film AwardsLondon
United Kingdom
July 30, 2022
Nominee: Best Documentary Short -
Festival del Cinema di CefalùPalermo
Italy
August 1, 2022 -
Thurrock Film FestivalGrays, Essex
United Kingdom
August 26, 2022 -
Liverpool Underground Film FestivalLiverpool, Merseyside
United Kingdom
August 30, 2022 -
Encounters Film Festival (28th Edition)Bristol
United Kingdom
September 28, 2022
Academy Award Qualifying / BAFTA-Qualifying / European Film Award Qualifying -
Independent Festival Art Club at Cine AlekaAthens
United Kingdom
October 3, 2022
Semi Finalist: Audience Award -
London International Monthly Film FestivalHomerton, North London
United Kingdom
January 2, 2023
Honorable Mention: Best Documentary
Distribution Information
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Studio HolderDistributorCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
A graduate from the world-renowned Film BA (Hons) course at University of Westminster, Louis is an RTS Award-Winning Filmmaker, whose work has featured at numerous film festivals including BFI Future Film Festival, London Short Film Festival (LSFF), Raindance and UCL Festival of the Moving Image (FoMI). In 2021, he graduated from the MA Editing & Post-Production Course at London South Bank University and is an upcoming Assistant Editor entrant within Film. He has also volunteered for a wide-range of youth screening collectives and community cinemas including award-winning organisations - Westminster Film Society, which he was president of, and Deptford Cinema. Louis is also the Creative Director of Studio Holder, an independent film company integrating post-production, independent film distribution and media education with a focus on contemporary & emergent media. He is a DaVinci Resolve 17 Certified User and is currently taking the Avid Media Composer Certified User (101 & 110) qualifications. Alongside work and many hobbies - he is working towards realising his feature-length documentary debut; Old Suffolk Boy and is directing a spiritual follow-up to the Cinema Now project - 'centred around theatres, their individual and collective interiority and the horror that lies beneath'.
Recent Editorial / Film Credits include: 'Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love' (for BBC) (2019), Three (2022), Hunger (2022), Isabelle(s) (2022), The Long Sleep of Men (2021), Gabriela (2020), Chook Awook (2020), Voyager (2020), Oh Me Lads (2019), Old Suffolk Boys (2018).
What does it feel like to yearn for (the) cinema?
There are a lot of things I want to say with and to (the) State of Cinema. One of the quietly recurring thoughts I’ve had over the course of the pandemic so far has been how to find a way to convey my feelings towards the way that ‘cinema’, both in the literal and macrocosmic senses, have been treated this entire time. The scattering of these filmic meccas which embody and empower so many in their respective communities throughout London are at real risk of long-term or even permanent closure with unknown consequences as to who or what will pick up the pieces - if anything.
These buildings (once home to many a datenight, mates-night and party pre-covid) now take the form of towering, lumbering monoliths nested amongst houses, flats, shops and restaurants - many of which have also faced terrible hardship. What more is there to say about the state of cinema as it is now than by looking (and listening to) these places of film worship. Notice the stillness, silence and deafness of it all. How deaf has society and the government (of course) been to allow the prolonged crippling of the Arts in this way, without providing a substantial and compassionate lifeline to them. We’re not speaking in purely monetary terms here either. No plausible or even sustainable roadmap has ever been issued this entire pandemic by the government to either theatres, music venues or cinemas - and this pain is felt every day by those who are responsible for maintaining the nuts-and-bolts existence of these precious social outlets that we civilians have also somehow become numbed to.
So let us remind people of that.