Launched on 26 September 2012, FILMBOX Community Cinema is a regular community cinema club. We increased from monthly to fortnightly operation from Sept. 2013 and since Sept. 2016 we typically show two films per FILMBOX night.
New 2018 FILMBOX logo design credit: By Amanda Layton at DesignPandR https://www.facebook.com/designpandr/
We are based at the amazing state-of-the art 2011 development, Langley Park Centre for the Performing Arts (LPCPA) created for Langley Park School for Boys, in Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BP (UK).
FILMBOX offers a friendly, great value, social cinema for grown-ups (and younger patrons, where appropriate). There is no independent cinema in the whole of the London Borough of Bromley, so we wanted to start a cinema that gave us a wider and more diverse range of films to enjoy on the big screen with a great audience, on our doorstep.
Too tired and busy to go up to London to see a wider range of films?
Spent all your money on the (grand-)children?
Annoyed at having missed what you really wanted to see at the local cinema – again?!
Slumped at home on the sofa in front of the TV?
Then FILMBOX Community Cinema is for YOU!
We welcome all local residents and visitors – you don’t have to be a member to come and watch films here.
We launched with a free screening of The Artist, kindly facilitated by a grant from Bromley Arts Council, on 26 September 2012. The main film was preceded by a Buster Keaton short film, Backstage, accompanied live by Laurence Panter on the grand piano. Over 330 people attended and we haven’t looked back since.
Status: FILMBOX Community Cinema is a fully-constituted members’ cinema club but most of our screenings are also open to the public. It is a ‘not-for-profit’ self-funded venture, independently co-run by staff, parent and 6th form student volunteers from Langley Park School for Boys, together with local residents in the London Borough of Bromley, Kent/SE London.
We are informally associated with, but not administered or funded by, Langley Park School for Boys and are very grateful for the support and encouragement provided by many members of the School community. We pay venue/ equipment/ duty manager hire to Langley Park Centre for the Performing Arts for all of our events.
Our surplus funds go to further FILMBOX’s aims as well as occasionally to national and local charities. We have a committee, a constitution, are registered with HMRC and our accounts are independently verified. We also pay licences to screen our films, to film distribution companies, such as Filmbank Distribution, Cinema for All and MPLC, and we abide by BBFC classification.
FILMBOX was a twinkle in the eye of Vivienne Clark (a Film Studies teacher at LPSB and writer on film/media) when the new school building programme was announced, which grew into a bright projector beam-sized ray of light when she first saw the little studio theatre in Studio 609 in March 2012. She was very fortunate to have had the help of Sarah Niblock (who stepped down from the committee in March 2019), in many essential roles, since the very start and they are both very grateful to all the teams who have helped to create and run FILMBOX, past and present. Our original logo was designed in 2012 by Sarah Wickings, an A-level Graphics student at Langley Park School for Boys.
FILMBOX is a member of Cinema for All (formerly the British Federation of Film Societies), Bromley Arts Council (BAC) as well as part of Film Hub London. It is held either in Studio 609, a dedicated studio theatre space with HD projection, stereo sound and comfortable tiered upholstered seating (max 90 sold seats) or in the Performance Hall (seats 418 for films, 500+ for theatre and concerts).
FILMBOX runs on a regular basis (except for in August when we are closed).
Our FILMBOX café/bar (fully licensed) and venue box office open at 7.00pm and the film programmes typically start at 7.30pm and 7.45pm. There are sometimes introductions and other features, such as live music, which precede the film, which starts later than the film programme start time. Free film notes on each film are often provided.
Tickets: Bookable in advance online and occasionally available on the door from 7pm on a film night, FILMBOX Community Cinema operates as a members’ club and runs a membership scheme for regular film-goers who’d like to save money BUT NON-MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!
Age: FILMBOX is principally for patrons aged 16+ but we are very pleased to welcome under 16s to appropriate screenings (as per BBFC certificate).
Parking: Ample FREE off-street parking is available on site in the Centre’s large well-lit car park, off Hawksbrook Lane.
Refreshments: Refreshments, snacks and local ice creams are available before the performance – we have a friendly and sociable bar area where people enjoy catching up with friends.
Access: full wheelchair access is available in the Performance Hall (in stalls) and please email us in advance so that we can ensure a reserved space for you and help with any access needs. There are dedicated wheelchair user parking spaces close to the venue.
Transport: Eden Park train station is 5 mins walk and plenty of buses are available from either end of Hawksbrook Lane.
Address: FILMBOX Community Cinema, c/o Langley Park Centre for the Performing Arts, Langley Park School for Boys, South Eden Park Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BP.
Contact us: For information please contact LangleyFilmbox@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter @LangleyFilmbox. We have no phone but please do not contact LPSB School Office for tickets or information about FILMBOX as we are an independent venture and they will be unable to help you.
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