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A Curated Film Programme and Digital Toolkit for Community Cinemas
Smoovie is a community cinema project developed by Will Tremlett and Nadia Gillard, who are based in Machynlleth, Mid Wales.
Will’s background is in community cinema programming, filmmaking and coding. Nadia’s background is in art, marketing and hospitality. Together, they are making cinema more accessible, exciting and achievable for non-traditional venues that have always wanted to host film screenings but have not been sure how to do it.
Will leads on the technical side and film programme. Nadia leads on marketing, front of house support, and the visual side of the project helping promote the films and venues we work with.
Their previous projects include helping set up Sploj Machynlleth, an experimental community arts and youth space, and Stiwdio Dyfi, a local regeneration organisation. They also make films through Idris Films and love gardening together at their allotment.
Will - “I wanted to build something that makes the technical and practical side of community cinema much simpler, so more venues can host film nights without feeling overwhelmed by cost, admin or setup.”
At the centre of Smoovie is a curated weekly film programme that gives venues a different film to screen each week, making it easier to reach different people across the community over time. There is no such thing as one film that everyone likes, so screening regularly helps you build a more varied and engaged audience, with different titles appealing to different ages, interests and groups. This is paired with a practical tech solution that makes it easy and low cost for venues to start showing cinema using equipment they often already have.
- An easy to use website where venues can log in and book from a curated programme of films on door split terms, with no upfront licensing fees.
- A transparent ticketing and reporting system that cuts down admin and helps venues earn money from screenings.
- Simple playout software that allows venues to add their own pre-show slides for a more cinematic and locally connected experience.
- An opportunity for local filmmakers, artists and community voices to get involved through the Smoovie pre-show.
To get started, venues need a suitable space, a Windows PC laptop to run Smoovie Player, our own secure playout software, a projector, screen and sound system already installed, and an iPhone or iPad for ticket sales and scanning through the Smoovie Box Office app. We provide a card reader and welcome pack to help venues get up and running.
Nadia - “Cinema brings such a brilliant energy into community spaces. It creates atmosphere, brings people together and adds real vibrancy to a venue. I love helping make screenings feel welcoming, exciting and easy for audiences to be part of.”
Alongside the programming and technology, we help venues build confidence around front of house and audience development through in person and online training sessions, manuals, guides and practical resources, and marketing roadmaps and plans to help make sure people hear about your screenings.
Smoovie is currently run by Will and Nadia as a passion project along side our other work, so Smoovie is free for venues to use. We may introduce a small subscription fee in future, but venues signing up now will not need to pay that if we do.
We do charge a 10% transaction fee to help cover costs, the rest is split between the venue and filmmaker/ distributer.
Our service is currently only available only in Wales (Cymru), so we can properly support the venues that join.
So if you run a community venue, café, pub, arts space or youth space and want to show films, with no previous experience needed, or if you would simply like to find out more, get in touch.
Email: [email protected]
For Filmmakers and Distributors
Smoovie is helping create a new non-theatrical circuit here in Wales (Cymru), one of the most rural parts of the UK.
We are interested in working with filmmakers and distributors who want to reach audiences through community screenings in cafés, pubs, arts spaces, youth spaces and village venues.
If you would like to screen a film with us, or simply find out more about how we could work together, we would love to hear from you.
Email: [email protected]