Sofa Screenings, based at Create Studios and led by Louise Norbury, has quickly become a regular fixture for film fans seeking an alternative to mainstream multiplexes.
The initiative was developed as part of the BFI Film Audience Network Spotlight programme. It aims to widen access to cultural cinema in areas where provision has traditionally been limited.
Swindon has a number of commercial cinema screens, but independent and community-focused film has had little consistent presence in recent years. Sofa Screenings is now testing whether that absence reflects a lack of demand, or simply a lack of opportunity.
Early indications point to the latter. A screening of All My Sons on Thursday 30 April has already sold out. The event marks the programme’s expansion into National Theatre Live, which brings professionally filmed West End productions to local audiences.
The move enables audiences to watch performances featuring major names, including Martin Freeman, without travelling to London.
Sofa Screenings now hosts events at least twice a week. The programme includes independent films, themed events and community-driven formats designed to make cinema more accessible.
One concept, known as Knitflix, allows audiences to watch films while crafting in a relaxed and social setting.
Alongside curated screenings, the initiative also provides a platform for emerging filmmakers. It regularly showcases debut work from local talent and pairs screenings with question and answer sessions, introductions and special events to encourage engagement.
Many screenings have sold out, suggesting a previously untapped appetite for independent cinema experiences in Swindon and the wider Wiltshire area.
The rapid growth of Sofa Screenings indicates that the town’s challenge may not have been a lack of interest in film culture, but a lack of consistent local provision.
For now, the sold-out launch of National Theatre Live sends a clear message that audiences are willing to attend when the offer changes.
