As part of the BFI funded Spotlight Swindon project, Sofa Screenings continues to create
welcoming and imaginative film experiences for local audiences. Our Spotlight Lead, Louise Norbury reflects on some recent highlights and exciting new programme offers for Swindon audiences.
Before looking forward to all 2026 has to offer, it would be a shame to overlook a Christmas highlight; the screening of The Chronicles of Narnia, entirely programmed and delivered by Reel25, our young people’s film group. They crafted a magical experience, transforming the cinema entrance into a wardrobe that audiences walked through coats into a themed photo opportunity with swords and gowns! Wrap-around activities included a Christmas quiz and creative crafts for younger children, all planned and delivered by the group. We received great feedback, with audiences sharing “what a fun, nostalgic and immersive event” it was.
New for 2026
We’ve since introduced two new strands to attract new audiences to the Sofa Screenings
experience. Knitflix offers relaxed, craft-friendly screenings of retro favourites like The
Notebook and A Star Is Born, with brighter lighting and a sociable atmosphere. We achieved great feedback with one audience member sharing, “It felt like the cosiest night out, cinema and crafting together.”
We’ve also launched a popular second offer with the National Theatre, introducing high-quality, yet affordable, theatre to Swindon through live filmed performances. Our National Theatre Film offer launched with The Fifth Step, giving local audiences the chance to experience the powerful stage performance of Martin Freeman. We look forward to bringing more theatre to Create Studios, with the next offer of Hamlet scheduled for the end of February. Independent film screenings have grown in popularity, with the majority of recent screenings selling out, welcoming our regulars back every week, but still seeing brand new audiences that are only just discovering our cinema space. We continue to work closely with local communities to broaden access to screen culture, attract new audiences, and create meaningful, positive cinema experiences for Swindon, both from our base at Create, and in other locations with partner festivals and venues like Museum & Art Swindon, Lydiard House and more.
Sofa Screenings has become more than just a film programme, it’s a platform for creativity,
learning, and connection. Whether it’s young people transporting cinema into a parallel world, audiences crafting through a classic love story, or film lovers discovering a powerful piece of cinema at an affordable price, it continues to champion independent film and culture in ways that are accessible, inspiring, and rooted in community.