A quick look at the Cinema’s legacy.

Sheffield has long been a patron of independent arts and cinema, with its bustling cultural scene. The city is filled with big and small venues that provide a space for independent music, films, and more.

Located in the Sheffield Cultural Industries quarter, Showroom Cinema is one such venue. On 15 March this year, it celebrated its 30th anniversary. This date not only marked 30 years of the Showroom but also celebrated 30 years of Sheffield’s love and support for independent and alternate cinema.

Connecting Audiences to the World

A city of sanctuary, that has always opened its doors to everyone, Sheffield has also not shied from accepting independent and world cinema. The showroom has played a crucial role in bringing that to the audiences.

From themed programming covering topical issues and niche film interests to neurodivergent-friendly screenings, and dedicated subtitled screenings, the Showroom has something for everyone. It also runs programs in conjunction with the British Film Institute like young programmers to get more and more people involved in cinema. 

“Showroom, compared to the bigger chains, show a lot more independent films, and if it’s an anniversary of a classic film, they’ll show that. It’s a good way to experience films for the first time.”

-Richard, Young Programmer

With many other independent venues struggling across the city, the Showroom has managed to maintain its identity over the years. It is the bold programming and emphasis on community engagement that has helped the Showroom to make a special place in the hearts of Sheffielders. 

Community Spirit & Belonging

The building itself, with the attached café, is always filled with people, some who just want to work and some who want to discuss a film they just finished watching with their friends. The Showroom provides all these people with a safe space to explore their interests that makes them keep on coming back. 

 Issac, a young programmer at the Showroom, said the showroom is his “third space.”

“There are not many places that people can go to that are not work, home or really like alcohol centric but the Showroom I think is so good for providing that kind of space for not as young people, but for everybody.”

Another young programmer Tigs, who has been a regular at the Showroom, also expressed her love for the cafe and how it enhances the cinema experience. 

“ They’ve got the cafe bar next door. It’s a lovely space. It’s friendly. I mean, I know some of the staff personally now, and all of them are lovely people.” 

“We do value the communal experience here, and that’s what we can offer. That’s different.”

– Ryan Finnigan, Head of Programming

Honouring History 

The passion for films is what guides the programming at the Showroom and also what keeps their audience hooked. 

For years, the Showroom has been providing a space to express different interests and also acting as a platform to highlight pertinent issues. The Showroom thus found a way to honour Sheffield’s culture while also celebrating its own legacy. 

In Sheffield, the month of March held significance because it is the anniversary of the 1984/85 miners’ strike – a prominent industrial dispute of the 20th century. This year the strike completed four decades and the showroom commemorated that through themed programming throughout the month. 

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the cinema did two screenings of the film Brassed Off, one with live music in the afternoon and another one followed by a live Q&A session with the film’s cast and crew. Shot and based in South Yorkshire, the film formed a part of the wider season marking 40 years since the end of the miner’s strike in Sheffield. 

Those in attendance expressed their appreciation for the special screenings. Young programmer Richard was there for the screening. 

“ Anyone passionate about film likes to generally support independent cinema as much as they can. I went to the Brassed Off screening, it was sold out. It shows  that people are passionate about the area that they’re from, and seeing that on the big screen is important.” 

Ryan Finnigan explained that it was important to choose a film that spoke to the audience and is about something local and important to the people for celebrating the Showroom’s milestone. 

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, the Showroom has plans to keep on serving all the cinephiles in the city for as long as possible. With the emerging challenges of streaming platforms and competition from bigger cinema chains, the Showroom is resolute in its goal to make all cinema accessible. 

Finnigan explained that streaming platforms and bringing audiences back post covid have been some of the challenges that the Showroom is facing. 

“Streaming platforms are something that we have to seriously consider, and how we respond to that as a cinema. It up to us to find ways to make cinema and those experiences unmissable.”