Widescreen Westerns
This year’s Widescreen Weekend features a strand dedicated to the essence of the American Old West, curated by Professor Sir Christopher Frayling. Classic, contemporary and black and white—westerns will screen on a range of formats. Join us as we celebrate this much-loved genre in all its gun-slingin’ glory!
Women in Widescreen
Widescreen Weekend 2018 is celebrating women in widescreen by showcasing films featuring strong characters, female-led narratives and themes, and women behind the camera—from writers and editors to VFX. Read more about Women in Widescreen.
Celluloid Saturday
Celluloid Saturday returns to the festival, once again bringing you a fantastic selection of film on film. With everything from martial arts to sci-fi in 3-strip Cinerama, 35mm and 70mm, Celluloid Saturday is an exciting way to experience what Widescreen Weekend is all about.
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 in this year’s festival 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 Cinema is one of only three in the world that can still show Cinerama in the way it was originally presented to audiences. 3-strip Cinerama films are screened at Widescreen Weekend, and you can also enjoy digital Cinerama screenings throughout the year.
About Pictureville Cinema
Pictureville—the spiritual home of Widescreen Weekend—was described by Lord Puttnam as ‘the best cinema in the world’. Its deeply curved, louvred screen makes us one of only three public venues in the world that can still show Cinerama, in both 35mm and digital formats. Today, Pictureville also has the latest 4K digital projection system and fabulous 7.1 surround sound.
Widescreen Weekend is proud to have the Midland Hotel as our hotel partner. As part of this partnership, festival delegates can benefit from special discounted rates when staying between 11–14 October 2018.
To take advantage of these rates, simply quote ‘Widescreen Weekend’ when making your booking. Call +44 (0)1274 735 735 or email rooms@midland-hotel-bradford.com.
Delegate rates
- 1 night B&B: Single £75, Double £80
- 2 nights B&B: Single £70, Double £75 (per night)
- 3 nights B&B: Single £65, Double £70 (per night)
- Executive upgrade: £20 per night
Newsletter
To keep up to date with Widescreen Weekend programme announcements and other festival news, please subscribe to our Film and Festivals newsletter.
Social media
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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.
