Advice & Support

We provide impartial, expert advice & information on a wide variety of topics.

Home Advice & Support

Looking for information on film licensing or the rights on a particular title? Hoping to get your film into UK distribution or to start your own cinema from scratch? Want to expand your programme or look into fundraising? We’ve a vast array of practical, in-depth resources to help.

Guide

How to start a cinema

How to start a cinema is a guide for anyone who is interested in starting a cinema or showing films in their village, town or city in the UK.

Guide

What licences do I need?

Want to screen a film outside the cinema, but unsure what licences you need?

Guide

Green cinema toolkit

Want to increase your cinema's environmental sustainability? Read our downloadable guide featuring case studies from leading UK venues.

Guide

Screening films in community cinemas

Want to screen a film in your community? Read our practical guide to this exciting and innovative area of film exhibition.

Guide

Developing Visually Impaired Audiences toolkit

Is there more you could be doing to develop your venue's visually impaired audiences? Read our downloadable guide.

Guide

How to plan an outdoor screening

Planning an outdoor screening, but not sure where to start? Download our practical guide to all aspects of outdoor screenings.

Guide

Cinemas in the UK & Ireland

Guide

List of distributors

Guide

Programming

Programming is about starting a conversation with your audience.

Guide

Marketing

Cinema marketing has changed a great deal in recent years, mainly due to the advent of social networking, which has made the current landscape an exciting place; as you can make an impact and attract new audiences whether or not you have a large budget to do so. 

Guide

How do I get my film distributed?

The ICO is frequently approached by filmmakers who wish to see their work screened in cinemas and in active distribution.

Guide

Audience development

The concept of audience development is broad in scope and encompasses a large number of activities, but can broadly be defined as an approach to extending the range, scale, nature and interests of audiences.

Guide

Developing Deaf audiences for film

How can your cinema or film festival improve the experience for Deaf attendees? This guide tells you everything you need to know.

Guide

Fundraising

This guide will help you be sustainable and successful by finding a mix of ways to fund your cinema.

Guide

How do I make my cinema inclusive and accessible?

Film and the cinema should be for everyone, but what adjustments can your cinema make to make that possible?

Guide

Film education in your cinema

Film is an amazing way to teach. This guide shows you how to bring younger people into your cinema.

Guide

Working in film exhibition

The essential guide to all roles in film exhibition and the wider sector.

Guide

Useful exhibitor resources

Looking for screening equipment? Want to source box office statistics, film classifications, or posters and trailers to advertise your screenings? Check out our helpful resources for independent exhibitors of all shapes and sizes.

Guide

FAQs

Subscribe to our mailing list

What would you like to receive emails about?
* indicates required
Join the mailing list

Be first to hear about jobs, opportunities, our training, films and much more
Get in touch

Got a question about independent cinema? Send us an email