| Date | |
|---|---|
| Author | Mia Blakeney |
Voting is now open for the 2026 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Cinema of the Year award, supported by Kia UK.
This award celebrates the venues that go beyond showing films – the ones that form the centrepieces of their communities and bring people together around the films that matter. Cinemas from across the country have put themselves forward, and now it's over to the public!
Voting is open until Monday 21 September, giving audiences across the UK the chance to get behind their local cinema and celebrate what makes it special.
There are also a number of prizes up for grabs for everyone who casts a vote. Make sure to cast yours here.
The longlist will be announced on Tuesday 13 October, with five nominees revealed on Tuesday 3 November. The winner will be crowned at the BIFA ceremony on Sunday 6 December.
Last year, The Magic Lantern Cinema in Tywyn, Wales was crowned the very first BIFA Cinema of the Year, out of over 130 cinemas entered, and 130,000 public votes cast.
Kia UK are proud to support the BIFA Cinema of the Year award, as part of their continued independent cinema partnership with Digital Cinema Media (DCM). Now in it's fifth year, the brand also continue to run bespoke content in cinemas nationwide, securing DCM's coveted 60-second Gold Spot, airing ahead of every feature film in participating independent cinemas including Picturehouse, The Light, Reel, Savoy, and over 170 other venues.