About Smoovie
Smoovie is a DIY cinema service based in Machynlleth, Mid Wales. It was built by Welsh filmmaker Will Tremlett after years of running pop-up screenings across rural Wales and seeing how hard it was for community venues to show great films without getting stuck in licensing admin and clunky tech.
Why it exists
Will started Smoovie the same way most community cinema projects begin: borrowing kit, testing spaces, and trying to build an audience one screening at a time. The films were the easy part. The hard part was everything around them.
- Licensing that felt confusing and inconsistent for mixed-use venues
- Playback that could look amateur if you were forced into DVD-style options
- Admin overhead that made screenings feel risky and time-consuming
Smoovie was built to remove those barriers and make community cinema feel professional, repeatable, and worth the effort. It keeps the good part in your hands: hosting a great film experience locally.
Smoovie is a service for venues. It is not a cinema chain and it does not run your event for you. You keep your identity and your audience. We handle the boring bits.
What it is now
Smoovie supports a growing network of venues, from volunteer-run village halls to theatres, arts centres, and community hubs. The platform brings together ticketing, venue pages, a reliable playout app, and a curated programme so you can screen independent films without taking on a full cinema operation.
Designed for mixed-use venues
Built for places that already host events and want cinema as part of a wider programme.
Reliable on the night
Download ahead of time, then run the screening offline on a Windows laptop connected to projector and sound.
Fair, practical model
We work with rights holders to secure strong terms for venues while ensuring filmmakers are properly paid.
Working with councils and local partners
We also work with councils and organisations that support community buildings and local cultural networks. If you are part of a venue network, get in touch and we will explore what is possible in your area.