Portsmouth Film Society is proud to announce the third anniversary of Southsea Cinema & Arts Centre, celebrated with a packed weekend of live music and special events from 17–19 May 2025:
Saturday 17 May
- Hidden Talent Music Nights 3
https://southseacinema.co.uk/southsea-arts-hidden-talent-live-music-nights/
Sunday 18 May (Free events)
- 2:00 PM: Cinema Birthday Party with DrumNation Friends
- 4:00 PM: Dead Calm & Billy the Kid — Cowboy costumes welcome!
Monday 19 May (Free Live music Night)
- 6:00 PM: Dodge the Dodo
- 8:30 PM: Vanchango Live Music
Over the past three years, Portsmouth Film Society’s journey running Southsea Cinema & Arts Centre has been nothing short of extraordinary. Our team of 50 dedicated volunteers is proud of everything we have achieved — and deeply grateful to all the volunteers, supporters, and audiences who have made it possible.
Thanks to the invaluable support of National Lottery, Southern Co-op, BFI FAN Film Hub South West, Portsmouth City Council, and University of Portsmouth, we have overcome challenges and grown stronger each year.
We would also like to thank the many organisations and groups who have shared our venue and supported our mission, including:
- Portsmouth Hive
- Priory School
- Gig Buddies Portsmouth
- Queer Secret Film Club
- Portsmouth Greenpeace
- Shaping Portsmouth
- Portsmouth Underground Radio
- Portsmouth Bookfest
- The Portsmouth Society
- Portsmouth City Council – Public Health
- The Society of St James
- Portsmouth Guildhall
- Portsmouth Climate Action Group
- Portsmouth Holmes Fest
- Portsmouth College
- Goldsmith Productions
- Therapy Local DnB DJs
- Local Artists
- Staggeringly Good Brewery
- Portsmouth Cricket Club
In our third year, we have expanded our live music programme for young people, hosted numerous art exhibitions and markets, organised private parties and functions, and staged four local plays — all to full houses!
We’ve welcomed many work experience students, held filmmaking workshops for adults, and launched new projects such as “Reel Memories,” bringing free classic film screenings to older members of our community.
Rabia Ronald-Harper, Portsmouth Film Society Director, said:
“Thank you so much to the National Lottery for their ongoing support. Thanks to their recent backing of our ‘Reel Memories’ project, we can now offer fortnightly free screenings for older audiences at Southsea Cinema & Arts Centre — creating vital opportunities for connection and joy. We’re also excited to host two free outdoor screenings this year, which we promise will be unforgettable!”
Aysegul Epengin, Portsmouth Film Society Director and Southsea Cinema & Arts Centre Manager, added:
“These last three years have been an incredible journey of transformation and growth. Our volunteers — our ‘JEDIs’ (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) — have grown with us, becoming powerful assets to our community. With each year, we gain deeper insight into how we can keep our centre thriving, welcoming and connected across many art forms. We are proud to provide young people with a safe and creative space. Thank you to our patrons, magnificent committee, and all the PFS Volunteer JEDIs for your hard work and dedication.”
View our three-year journey in photos:
Southsea Cinema & Arts Centre Photo Album
Since 2016, Portsmouth Film Society has also been a proud organiser of outdoor cinema events. This year, we are delighted to announce screenings at four exciting locations:
- Portsmouth Cricket Club
- Cumberland House Natural History Museum Garden (Butterfly Garden Museum, PO4 9RF)
- Southsea Skatepark Field (PO5 3NZ)
- Staggeringly Good Brewery
For more information, visit:
portsmouthfilmsociety.org.uk
southseacinema.co.uk
Follow us: Facebook: @pompeyfilms @Southseacinema