Scotland's oldest surviving cinema shortlisted for best in UK award

It is Scotland’s oldest surviving cinema and has been used as a location for a number of film shoots including recent BAFTA winner I Swear, as well as hosting Scotland’s only festival dedicated to silent film

Now the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness has become the only Scottish cinema on the shortlist of five for the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Cinema of the Year award.

Over 70 cinemas entered and almost 50,000 votes were cast by cinemagoers up and down the UK. The public vote has determined the shortlist of the five nominees, with the jury then picking the winner based on how each venue uniquely supports its local community.

The Hippodrome joins Abbeygate Cinema in Bury St Edmunds, Kinema in the Woods in Lincolnshire, Campus West in Welwyn Garden City and The Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford in contention for the title, which will be announced on Sunday 6 December.

Opened in 1912, the single-screen venue is run by Falkirk Council and combines more than a century of cinema history with a programme of mainstream and independent films, special events and Scotland’s only festival of silent cinema with live music, HippFest.

Councillor Paul Garner, acting leader of Falkirk Council, said: “Reaching the final five for BIFA Cinema of the Year is an outstanding achievement for the Hippodrome and puts Bo’ness firmly in the national spotlight.

“This is a cinema that means a great deal to local people, while also attracting visitors from across the world. Its success shows the contribution a venue like the Hippodrome can make to the cultural life of a town.”

Fante-Anne screening at the opening night of Hippfest 2026 | Diana Dumi

The Hippodrome’s programme offers everything from big blockbusters and archive classics to chocolate taste-along screenings featuring bespoke creations from a local chocolatier.

Its annual HippFest sold almost 4,000 tickets at its 16th edition in March, welcoming audiences from across Scotland, the wider UK and overseas.

Screenings of historic Bo’ness Fair footage include films captured by its original proprietor, Louis Dickson, while its New Found Sound initiative gives young musicians the opportunity to create and perform live scores for archive silent films.

Alison Strauss, arts development officer at the venue, said: “Making the final five is a wonderful moment for everyone who cares about the Hippodrome. We are particularly grateful to the audiences who voted for us and helped us reach the longlist in the first place.

“Our programme is shaped by the people who come through the doors, whether they have been visiting for years or are discovering us for the first time. We want them to feel welcome, enjoy sharing a film with others and leave curious about what they might see next.

“To see that work recognised at this level is incredibly rewarding for our team. We’re looking forward to welcoming more people to experience the Hippodrome for themselves.”

UK Goernment creative industries minister Ian Murray said: “Film is not only a vital part of Britain's cultural identity, but a major economic contributor too - and independent cinemas, that are deeply embedded in communities, sit at the very heart of that success.

“Some of our earliest and most treasured memories are made in cinemas, often sparking a lifelong love of film. It's only right that we celebrate them, so congratulations to all the deserving venues on the shortlist.”