On Saturday 31st August 2024, The Ultimate Picture Palace cinema on Cowley Road, East Oxford, is celebrating National Cinema Day by offering audiences £4 tickets to all screenings that day.
The Ultimate Picture Palace, which is one of the UK’s oldest cinemas and is currently Oxford’s only independently-owned cinema, has scheduled four screenings this Saturday, including: animated adventure Kensuke’s Kingdom; Chinese crime-drama Only The River Flows; heart-warming American comedy Thelma; and John Sayles’ classic Western from 1996, Lone Star. Full listings underneath:
- 14:00 Kensuke’s Kingdom
- 16:00 Only The River Flows
- 18:15 Thelma
- 20:30 Lone Star
Tickets for all screenings are now on sale and can be purchased for just £4 each via the cinema’s website www.uppcinema.com
“We are delighted to be part of National Cinema Day for the third consecutive year. As a community-owned cinema, this event is a fantastic opportunity to bring our local community together to enjoy both classic and contemporary films on the big screen, all for the price of a cup of coffee. The buzz and excitement from previous years have been incredible, and we look forward to welcoming even more film lovers through our door this Saturday.”
Tom Jowett, Head of Programming and Marketing
Ultimate Picture Palace
The Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP) is Oxford’s only independent cinema, known for its eclectic programming and unique charm. Located on Cowley Road in East Oxford, this community-owned cinema showcases a wide range of films, including independent, mainstream, international, and classic movies. The cinema’s single-screen auditorium offers a cosy and intimate setting, making it a beloved venue for film enthusiasts in the city.
Founded in 1911 as the Oxford Picture Palace, it came shortly after the Elm Tree pub licensee Frank Stuart opened Oxford’s first cinema, the Electric Theatre, in Castle Street, in 1910.
It then closed in 1917 during World War I and was later used as a furniture warehouse. It reopened in 1976 by Bill Heine (of Headington Shark fame) and Pablo Butcher under the new name, Penultimate Picture Palace, with a focus on eclectic and provocative films. The cinema gained its current name, Ultimate Picture Palace, in 1996 after a renovation by new owners Saied and Zaid Marham. In 2022, the cinema transitioned to community ownership, securing its future as a cultural hub in Oxford.
UPP has a Grade II listed status, which helps preserve its historical and architectural significance. The cinema is known not only for its film screenings but also for its community events, including special film retrospectives, live Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and themed screenings.
What is National Cinema Day?
National Cinema Day 2024 in the UK is scheduled for Saturday, August 31. This event, now in its third year, aims to celebrate the joy of cinema and encourages people to visit cinemas across the country by offering significantly discounted tickets. On this day, tickets will be available for just £4 at over 630 participating venues, including major chains like Odeon, Cineworld, Vue, Picturehouse, Showcase, and Curzon, as well as many independent cinemas.
National Cinema Day was initiated by Cinema First, in collaboration with the Film Distributors’ Association and the UK Cinema Association, to promote cinema-going as a cultural activity. In addition to the £4 ticket price for standard screenings, the discounted rate also applies to 3D, IMAX, and 4DX screenings, providing a unique opportunity for audiences to experience a wide variety of films at a reduced cost
For more information on participating cinemas and to find out where you can enjoy National Cinema Day near you, visit the official website at nationalcinemaday.uk.
