The heart of independent and local film, Sheffield’s very own Showroom Cinema has been entered in the British Independent Film Award’s (BIFA) inaugural Cinema of the Year award.
Now, it’s time to show our love for our only independently curated cinema and vote for it to be celebrated at BIFA’s annual ceremony on Sunday 30 November. Voting closes on Monday 22 September 2025 and takes place on the BIFA website. After that, a final five cinemas will be shortlisted, with one crowned Cinema of the Year.
Victoria Firth, Chief Executive of Showroom said: “This award is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate independent cinema. We are delighted to enter, especially as this year also marks 30 years of us providing independent film programming and education for Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Since I started in post I’ve heard so many wonderful stories from people about what Showroom means to them and I hope people will show their love and support by voting for us.”
Home to annual festivals like Celluloid Screams, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival and DocFest, Showroom excels in bringing the best, emerging cinema across genres and boarders to Sheffield audiences. The cinema helps to uphold the independent cultural scene and celebrates local film culture through hosting the Sheffield Film Festival.
And that’s not all: Showroom proves its status as a worthy nominee through its commitment to film education; providing BFI and self-funded Young Programmer courses as well as being one of seven BFI Film Academy Centres for Specialist education.
BIFA directors Amy Gustin and Deena Wallace said: “We’re so excited to announce our first ever audience award with this campaign which champions the role of cinema in independent film, not just what we watch but how and where we experience it. Cinemas are vital spaces for film discovery, access and community and we’re delighted to be able to celebrate them with this new award.”
Get your votes in here!
