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| Author | Zoe Aresti |
Phoenix Cinema is one of the UK’s oldest purpose-built, continuously operating cinemas. Since 1985 it has been a cinema of the community, run by a charitable trust for the community. It is a wholly independent single screen cinema showing the latest independent and foreign films and reinvesting its profits in education work and maintaining this historic building.
This week, we spoke to Phoenix Cinema’s Jelena Milosavljevic about her career in cinema, the films she’s most looking forward to seeing in 2015 and what excites her most about the future of the cinema industry.
How and when did you start working in cinema and what do you love about it?
I was working in film education and I saw the opportunity to work in one of London’s last few remaining independent cinemas. I have been here for almost 18 months and what I love most about it is its independent spirit, increasingly rare in London’s corporate cinema landscape.
What’s unique about your cinema?
It is the oldest continuously running cinema in the UK, having been through a few name changes and re-builds. It is a survivor, having nearly been closed down on more than one occasion. Most recently, one of the last actions of the GLC before it was disbanded was to respond to a local community campaign to save the cinema from demolition by contributing the money needed to keep it open. The result of this was the formation of the Phoenix Cinema Trust as it exists today and the cinema’s charitable status.
Please tell us about any special events or screenings you run at your cinema.
We screen special events on Sunday afternoons aimed at reaching out to our local community and beyond, such as films by local filmmakers, films that haven’t got a distributor or films that may hold a special interest for a community group. In addition we also run regular screenings for children and young people, as well as working with schools to deliver an education programme tailored to their needs.
What films are you most looking forward to in 2015
Michael Haneke’s Flashmob, although it looks as though its release may be delayed now, Sunset Song by Terence Davies and Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight.
What excites you most about the future of the cinema industry?
The rise of community screens in rural parts if the UK as well as those in London such as Deptford Cinema that focuses on specialist and art cinema.
What is your favourite film of all-time?
Hidden by Michael Haneke, a masterful integration of big ideas and accomplished storytelling, by a director completely in control of what he is trying to do.
What do you foresee as being your biggest challenge in 2015?
The rise in popularity of alternate content such as opera and theatre is in some ways good for cinemas in that it keeps them busy but it also makes it harder to attract audiences to watch films in the cinema, particularly anything non-mainstream. Keeping audiences, especially younger ones, enthusiastic about cinema going as opposed to online streaming will be the biggest challenge to all exhibitors.
What do you think are the most iconic cinema ads and why?
The Guinness ‘surfer’ ad, its iconic imagery stays in your mind, and the Orange Gold Spots, they were consistently funny. My favourite was the one with Alan Cumming.
What three things do you most enjoy doing in your free time?
1) Going to the cinema
2) Having time to read
3) Walking
Copyright of Maurita Van Droogenbroeck
Copyright of Maurita Van Droogenbroeck
Copyright of Will Martin