The Organisation

The Star And Shadow Cinema is a registered Community Interest Company. This puts us somewhere between a normal company (without the emphasis on profit) and a charity (without the restrictions on what we can do). The company is run entirely by volunteer members, with all members having a say in what we do and how we do it.

Our aim is to show a truly independent programme of inspirational and inspired films as cheaply as possible, as well as providing a venue for artists and musicians of all varieties. We are creating a cosy venue to provide a haven from the mundane mainstream of film and music, a nursery for independent creativity and thinking.

We do not exist to make a profit, our purpose is to provide a facility for programming the types of films and events that do not happen at other venues around Newcastle. These may be locally made or inspired films, art films, political films, international films, gay and lesbian films, classic films or independent cinema, local musicians, international musicians, or artists and storytellers of all kinds.

The cinema also has a social space which has a quiet bar and cafe. The aim for The Star And Shadow Cinema is to provide a venue that will let people become involved in the running of the cinema and for it to be a real co-operative place.

We have always worked as a volunteer group and this new cinema will run in the same way. We hope with this new cinema there will be even more scope for more people to be involved.

Volunteering

If you would like to contribute then please get in touch by calling 0191 261 0066 or emailing info@starandshadow.org.uk. For information on signing-up to our mailing lists please click on "Email Alerts" on the right.

We have various working groups and meetings to make things happen - e.g. programme group, bar group, finance group - see Get Involved for more info.

 

We would love for as many people to get involved as possible.

First thing to do if you want to get involved is come to an induction session - 2nd Saturday of the month at 11am.

Private Hire

The cinema and its social spaces are available to hire for cultural events - e.g. workshops and film screenings. Please email for details. Please note we don't do private parties, or hire the venue for club or gigs as some other venues - if you want to host an event come and get involved!

Submissions

We are keen to receive and show YOUR films or video. Please send film or video on any format to the address on the "The Venue" page for consideration.

History

To give you a bit more history on where we have come from, our old venue - the Side Cinema was first opened in the late 1970s by Amber Films to show radical and independent film, but closed in the 1980s. From October 2001 to December 2005, Cineside, Tyneside Radical Film Festival, A-Side and Other side programmed, ran and promoted it. In 2006 we moved to a new purpose built space on Stepney Bank.