By Hannah Claridge
The Hull Independent Cinema is back! Like a lot of small businesses, organisations, and charities the Hull Independent Cinema was forced to close its doors during Covid. However, they have now been able to return and are back for a November-December season of independent films that anyone can go and enjoy – you don’t have to be a member! The idea of the organisation is to bring less mainstream films to the citizens of Hull, so that you can enjoy them without having to travel outside the local area. I believe it is vital to support the arts [especially after the unsteady years of Covid – when the UK government brought those whose jobs were in the arts into question]. It is hardly a bad thing to expand cultural horizons, and cinema is a brilliant way to do this since it screens international films that aren’t found in the mainstream.
The organisation was set up in 2014 to show some of cinema’s more independent and art house films in the Hull area. Although they went through some turbulence, the naming of Hull as ‘City of Culture’ helped the organisation massively. As a result of funding the charity was able to establish themselves as a key aspect of Hull’s cultural outlets, and Hull is all the better for it. The Hull Independent Cinema hasn’t been able to run for twenty months which is one of the reasons that Hullfire has chosen to highlight this organisation. Many members of the newspaper as well as the wider university community are supporters of the organisation, with some of us volunteering on their screening nights.
Now they are officially back you too can support them! Standard tickets are £7.00, or if you are a student only £5.00, which is no more expensive than any other cinema ticket. Alternatively, if you enjoy films or consider yourself a cinephile, then you could always further support the organisation by becoming a member [with membership costing £15.00 for the year and tickets then priced at £6.00]. The films are screened in either Vue Cinema [screening at 7.30pm] at the top of Princes Quay or in the Hull Truck Theatre [screening at 7.00pm] beside St Stephens. With both of these being located in the city centre they can easily be accessed by university students. Although the first half of the mini-season is nearly over, it has been successful, and there is still the chance to view some of the films that will be screened throughout December to carry on this success.
On Wednesday 1st December ‘Pig’ is being screened at Vue Cinema. This film stars Nicholas Cage as an off-grid Oregon farmer, who is dedicated to his pig and the young girl he sells truffles to. However, things take a sudden change when his pig is stolen and Rob [Cage] has to face his past.
On Thursday 9th December ‘Robin Hood’ is to be screened at the Hull Truck Theatre. This is a silent film from 1922, and has been organised in partnership with ‘Yorkshire Silents’. This classic film tells the original story of Robin Hood and was influential in the establishment of the adventure film.
‘Never Gonna Snow Again’ is being screened on Tuesday 14th December at Vue Cinema. This is a Polish film and explores an immigrant who manages to become a guru in a wealthy gated community, and follows his experience of being both praised and shunned.
The final screening of the season is the documentary ‘Men Who Sing’, and is being shown on Tuesday 21st December at Vue Cinema. It follows a small choir in Wales as they struggle with keeping up their membership as well as the fact that their bass section is slowly decreasing. A great film that highlights both the joy and sadness of growing old and finding enjoyment in the small things.
