Widescreen Weekend

What is widescreen cinema?

Technically, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 ‘Academy ratio’ of 35mm film. Widescreen Weekend celebrates the really wide formats developed in the 1950s and 1960s to create a whole new cinema experience.

The higher the first number in the aspect ratio, the more we love it! You won’t see a film at Widescreen Weekend narrower than 2.2:1, and you can luxuriate in the widest of vistas in both archive epics and modern classics.

What is 3-strip Cinerama?

Cinerama is a widescreen process that projects film simultaneously from three synchronized 35mm projectors onto a huge, deeply curved screen, creating one image. It was the first of a number of processes introduced during the ‘widescreen war’ of the 1950s, when the film industry had to compete against television.

Our Pictureville theatre is one of only three in the world that can still show Cinerama in the way it was originally presented to audiences. A 3-strip Cinerama film forms part of the programme at Widescreen Weekend each year.

About Pictureville Cinema

Pictureville is the home of cinema at the National Science and Media Museum. We have three fantastic screens, showing the latest IMAX 3D blockbusters and family favourites alongside independent films, arthouse cinema and cult classics.

Newsletter

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Contact details

Enquiries: Rebecca Hill, Festival Events Manager
01274 202 031 / rebecca.hill@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk

Festival Director: Kathryn Penny
01274 203 006 / kathryn.penny@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk

Press and PR Manager: Katie Canning
01274 203 027 / katie.canning@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk

Support us

Find out about corporate sponsorship opportunities at Widescreen Weekend.