HOW DID OPEN CINEMA BEGIN?

Open Cinema commenced operations in 2005, when filmmaker Christoph Warrack was coordinating a weekly soup kitchen in central London. A request came from guests asking for some kind of entertainment.

Having worked in film production since 1998, and volunteered in the homelessness sector since 2002, Christoph couldn't help noticing the coincidence of London’s West End being a centre of the film industry as well as homelessness in the capital. He used his contacts to bring the best classic and contemporary films, together with their makers, into an environment of social outreach. The film screenings were immediately popular with the guests, as well as with volunteers, visiting filmmakers, and the host charity, St Patrick's Church in Soho Square.

Word on the street spreads fast about this kind of service. And interest was soon being expressed by other support services, and charities in a range of sectors. In December 2008, Christoph was introduced to Homeless Link by Marie Benton, a friend who had recently founded The Choir with No Name, another cultural service for people experiencing homelessness. Homeless Link, the national umbrella organisation for homelessness services, were keen to see the model replicated, and made introductions to member agencies across the country.

In 2009, Open Cinema commenced a year-long national pilot, funded by grants from charities, friends and family. This pilot has now concluded, and is being evaluated in consultation with New Philanthropy Capital and peer organisations in the sector, notably including Streetwise Opera.

The work of building and sustaining participatory community cinemas, in the context of challenging and transformative support work for vulnerable people, continues.