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 new name for cinema at the National Science and Media Museum from 1 November 2019. We’re home to 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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Follow Widescreen Weekend on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
Contact details
For delegate enquiries: Rebecca Hill, Festival Coordinator
01274 202 031 / rebecca.hill@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
Festival Director: Kathryn Penny
01274 203 006 / kathryn.penny@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
Press and PR Manager: Phil Oates
01274 203 317 / phil.oates@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
Support us
Find out about corporate sponsorship opportunities at Widescreen Weekend.
