Queen's Film Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Film Theatre or QFT is a small independent cinema
at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland
that was founded in 1968. The QFT focuses mainly on art house, indie
and world
cinema and plays an important role in the cultural life of Belfast
, in particular through contributions to events such as the Belfast Festival at Queen's
, the Belfast Film Festival
and the CineMagic Festival
aimed at children. It also runs a programme of learning events aimed at school and university students as well as the wider community and includes talks, lectures and workshops.
The QFT is located on University Square and was extensively refurbished in 2004, sharing the building it occupies with the Brian Friel Theatre
which is used for student drama teaching, rehearsals and performances and was opened in February 2009.
The cinema has two screens with 220 and 88 seats respectively and is also the only cinema in Northern Ireland to have a licensed bar.
The QFT is part of the Europa Cinemas network containing more than 1,000 cinemas in 60 countries.
, which used the University's lecture halls to show films that were not widely screened in commercial cinemas. This resulted in the establishment of the Queen's University Belfast Film Society in 1951, which used the Whitla Hall for its screenings and led to the QFT's foundation in 1968. The Queen's Film Theatre forms part of the Culture and Arts Unit at the University which also includes the Belfast Festival at Queen's
and the Naughton Gallery at Queen's
.
Since the QFT was launched it has, like most independent cinemas, faced financial difficulties and problems with attracting funding over the years, however it has remained in operation apart from a short closure in 1972. The cinema is currently funded through a number of sources, including ticket sales; grants from the University, Belfast City Council
and Northern Ireland Screen
; private donations; as well as a number of commercial sponsors, with the current lead sponsor being Jameson Whiskey. In 1996 it presented a season of classic cinema to celebrate the Centenary of Cinema.
Michael Open was the cinema's director from 1968 until 2004, except for a three-year period during the mid 1970s when it was run by Robert Caldicott. Susan Picken now directs.
Independent Cinema in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a well-established history of independent cinema exhibition dating back to the 1930s and the Film Society Movement, which still exists as the British Federation of Film Societies. Since the 1980s independent exhibition has thrived in a series of regional film theatres set up...
at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
that was founded in 1968. The QFT focuses mainly on art house, indie
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
and world
World cinema
World cinema is a term used primarily in English language speaking countries to refer to the films and film industries of non-English speaking countries. It is therefore often used interchangeably with the term foreign film...
cinema and plays an important role in the cultural life of Belfast
Culture of Belfast
The culture of Belfast, much like the city, is a microcosm of the culture of Northern Ireland. Hilary McGrady, Chief Executive of Imagine Belfast, claimed that "Belfast has begun a social, economic and cultural transformation that has the potential to reverberate across Europe." Belfast is evenly...
, in particular through contributions to events such as the Belfast Festival at Queen's
Belfast Festival at Queen's
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's is an annual arts festival held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 49th Festival will take place from 14 to 31 October 2011.-History:...
, the Belfast Film Festival
Belfast Film Festival
Founded in 1995 by author Laurence McKeown, in its early stages of development the West Belfast Film Festival was part of Féile an Phobail. In its third and fourth year, it was autonomous and under the stewardship of Michele Devlin and Laurence McKeown, the Film Festival ran as a citywide event...
and the CineMagic Festival
CineMagic (film festival)
Cinemagic is an international children's film festival in Belfast, UK, and in Dublin, Ireland, founded in 1988 that bills itself as the World Screen Festival for young people. The organisation is a company Limited By Guarantee and a registered charity....
aimed at children. It also runs a programme of learning events aimed at school and university students as well as the wider community and includes talks, lectures and workshops.
The QFT is located on University Square and was extensively refurbished in 2004, sharing the building it occupies with the Brian Friel Theatre
Brian Friel Theatre
The Brian Friel Theatre is a studio theatre located at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was opened in February 2009 and is named after the Irish dramatist, theatre director and author, Brian Friel....
which is used for student drama teaching, rehearsals and performances and was opened in February 2009.
The cinema has two screens with 220 and 88 seats respectively and is also the only cinema in Northern Ireland to have a licensed bar.
The QFT is part of the Europa Cinemas network containing more than 1,000 cinemas in 60 countries.
History
The QFT's origins date back to the 1930s when staff and students founded a number of societies linked to what is now the British Federation of Film SocietiesBritish Federation of Film Societies
The British Federation of Film Societies is the national agency for the development and support of the film society and community cinema movement in the UK....
, which used the University's lecture halls to show films that were not widely screened in commercial cinemas. This resulted in the establishment of the Queen's University Belfast Film Society in 1951, which used the Whitla Hall for its screenings and led to the QFT's foundation in 1968. The Queen's Film Theatre forms part of the Culture and Arts Unit at the University which also includes the Belfast Festival at Queen's
Belfast Festival at Queen's
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's is an annual arts festival held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 49th Festival will take place from 14 to 31 October 2011.-History:...
and the Naughton Gallery at Queen's
Naughton Gallery at Queen's
The Naughton Gallery at Queen's is an art gallery and museum at Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Opened in 2001, the gallery is named after its benefactors Martin and Carmel Naughton, who donated £500,000 to the university in 2002. Along with the Queen's Film Theatre and the annual...
.
Since the QFT was launched it has, like most independent cinemas, faced financial difficulties and problems with attracting funding over the years, however it has remained in operation apart from a short closure in 1972. The cinema is currently funded through a number of sources, including ticket sales; grants from the University, Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
and Northern Ireland Screen
Northern Ireland Screen
Northern Ireland Screen is the national screen agency for Northern Ireland. The agency's purpose is to promote the development of a sustainable film, animation and television production industry.- History :...
; private donations; as well as a number of commercial sponsors, with the current lead sponsor being Jameson Whiskey. In 1996 it presented a season of classic cinema to celebrate the Centenary of Cinema.
Michael Open was the cinema's director from 1968 until 2004, except for a three-year period during the mid 1970s when it was run by Robert Caldicott. Susan Picken now directs.