Station Cinema to celebrate reopening with Unlocked film festival

The acclaimed Nomadland will be one of the films screened during the Unlocked Festival.

Richmond’s Station Cinema will celebrate the easing of lockdown restrictions and the venue’s reopening with a “scintillating” selection of films as part of the Unlocked Festival.

The event runs from May 17 — when cinemas are allowed to reopen — until May 30.

A dozen acclaimed films from around the world will be screened during Unlocked.

Cinema owner Rob Younger said the venue’s reopening and the launch of the festival “signified a very bright light at the end of what has seemed like an interminably long tunnel”.

He added: “What better way to celebrate this auspicious occasion than with a scintillating selection of films from around the world, many that we are proud to be able to show prior to their general cinematic release dates.

“We have carefully selected 12 films that represent a broad cross-section of drama, comedy, thrillers and documentaries. Many of the films in our programme have won international awards and bucketloads of praise from audiences and critics.”

Besides government recognised safe-seating arrangements and thorough cleaning and sanitising measures, the cinema has modern fresh air ventilation equipment which means that there is a constant input of fresh air from outside and extraction of stale air.

Rob said: “It won’t feel like a wind-tunnel, but be assured that we do comply with what the scientific community recommends for fresh airflow in all indoor spaces.”

The cinema is running a ‘buy 4 get 1 free’ ticket offer on all festival screenings.

People just need to purchase their tickets before May 17 to take advantage of the offer.

The venue is also offering two free tickets to any festival showing to its cinema club members as a thanks for their support during the pandemic.

For more details and to book tickets, visit www.stationcinema.com or call the box office on 01738 823062.

The box office will be open from noon to 5pm, from Friday, May 14 to Sunday, May 16.

The Station Café Bar is offering 20 per cent off the bill after 4pm if filmgoers show their cinema ticket.