On 18 and 19 March 2025, the UK Cinema Association hosted its annual conference on "Innovation and the Big Screen Experience," bringing together industry leaders from across the UK – and European - cinema sector for two days of insightful discussions at London's Picturehouse Central.
Day One: Audience Engagement & Innovation
The conference opened with a welcoming speech by Phil Clapp, Chief Executive of the UK Cinema Association. Jon Wardle (National Film and Television School) then conducted a keynote interview with filmmaker Edward Berger, offering unique perspectives on cinematic storytelling.
Lucy Jones (Comscore Movies) followed with a data-driven analysis of UK box office performance in late 2024/early 2025, highlighting emerging audience trends. This led naturally into the first panel, "Innovating to Maximise Box Office Impact," where moderator Damian Spandley (Curzon) guided distributors and exhibitors Zak Brilliant (Met Film Group), Scott Sargeant (Black Bear), Jonathan Foster (Prince Charles Cinema) and Carmen Slijpen (Depot Cinema) through strategies for diversifying film offerings and expanding audiences.
The focus then shifted to specialised distribution with Eve Gabereau's (Vue Lumière) spotlight on Vue’s arthouse-focused UK-Ireland distribution model. This segued into discussions about enhancing the cinema experience itself, as moderator Jess Carlin (Atomik) and panelists Sam Clements (Picturehouse), Dan Westgarth (Station Cinema), John Tate (Ilkley/Wetherby Cinemas) and Rob Younger (Parkway Cinema) explored creative ways to elevate screenings despite budget constraints.
Colin Lawrence (MediCinema) then detailedhow the charity brings cinematic magic to hospital patients. This was followed by Rhianna Dhillon's panel featuring young cinema-goers discussing their viewing habits and barriers to attendance.
The youth focus continued with Oskars Killo (Sauce) moderating a Gen Z/Alpha marketing deep dive featuring Casey Cohen (Cineworld), Mikkel Hagdorn (Cinematzic), Joshua Heaton-Armstrong (Sony Pictures) and Jade Spencer (Snapchat), analysing emerging trends and engagement strategies.
Day One culminated with two marketing-focused sessions: First, Erika Lewington (Universal Pictures) delved into the innovative Wicked campaign, followed by Michelle Stevens (Powster) leading a panel with Henry Foster-Reed (Warner Bros.), Milly Maloco (The Light Cinemas), Lee Shelton (Gruvi), Dan Green (Vue) and Emily Tantot (Meta) on combating low slate awareness through data-driven solutions.
The day concluded with a get together.
Day Two: Technology & Future Trends
The second morning began with Sharon Reid (Cinema First) moderating an executive roundtable featuring Serena Gill (Everyman), Crispin Lilly (Naft Amusements), Tony Mundin (Manero Cinemas), Matt Smith (Lionsgate UK) and Nick Rush (Disney), assessing whether 2024's optimism had carried into 2025.
Julia Brown and Damian Drabble (The Cinema Club) then spotlighted their new initiative, inspired by the Danish Cinema Club. . This was followed by Malcolm MacMillan (The Box Office Company) who led a cross-industry innovation panel with Nikita Gaur (Everyman), Elspitha Lyssary (Omniplex), Josie Reynolds (National Amusements) and Charlotte Ulathorne (Odeon), exploring adaptable strategies from hospitality and retail sectors.
Technological advancements took center stage with Alex Wills (Disguise) demonstrating immersive XR and 3D technologies, followed by Paul John Anderson (Omniplex) showcasing their eco-friendly reusable cup initiative reducing landfill waste.
The conference closed with Helen Budge (Celluloid Junkie) moderating a tech panel featuring Mike Bradbury (Odeon), Alain Chamaillard (Samsung), Mark Kendall (Christie Digital), Lorenzo Van Doorslaer (Barco) and Richard Parkes (Parkway Cinemas), debating how HDR, LED and other innovations will shape cinema's profitable future.
The UKCA Conference on Innovation and the Big Screen Experience delivered two days of inspiring discussions, showcasing the creativity and resilience of the cinema industry. We look forward to building on these insights at next year's edition—and invite everyone to join us at CineEurope in Barcelona for more exciting conversations about the future of film exhibition. Register today - See you there!