The Innovation Diaries

Paying to see a film without any knowledge of what it is you’ll be seeing and where may be a gamble to some, but for many film enthusiasts this is the kind of thrills that gives them the kicks.

In fact if you are a thrill seeker like me you’ve probably know what I’m talking about from your experience at the London Film Festival’s annual Surprise Screening. Well Mr Fabien Riggall, the brainchild behind Future Shorts and Future Cinema has capitalised on this trend by launching Secret Cinema, a monthly screening of films shown at various locations which incorporate live installations, special guests and even surprise rescores, all this to give you a live cinematic experience like no other.

Being a member of the Secret Cinema group is like being in a secret club. Once you add your details to the site’s mailing list you wait patiently unbeknown what will happen next. And then you receive an email, containing not much content other than a couple of lines and a link to purchase your tickets 9am the following day. You better be quick or you’ll miss out! Once tickets are bought another email pops up in your inbox with, at last the location details. Oooh the sheer excitement!

The location is what gets me and it ranges from derelict theatres to rooftops to children’s playgrounds to 5 star hotel car parks. The films, too, cover the entire spectrum, with cult flicks and classics.

So how well is Secret Cinema doing? Since its launch a couple of months ago it has nearly 7000 Facebook members and a further 5000 people signed up to their mailing list when it was mentioned in BBC Radio 1. Is Secret Cinema the shape of film to come? Perhaps, but I suggest you experience it to believe it and please, please, keep it a secret.