Bo'ness Hippodrome is only Scottish finalist in running for BIFA Cinema of the Year 2026

Over 70 cinemas hoped to be in with a chance to scoop the title and after almost 50,000 votes were cast by cinema goers up and down the UK, the public vote has determined a shortlist of five nominees.

The Hope Street venue is one of those five - and is the only Scottish cinema left in the running.

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.

Scotland’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema has progressed from the 15 strong longlist announced last month to the shortlist of five.

The final winner will be chosen by a BIFA jury based on how each venue uniquely supports its local community.

Opened in 1912, the much-loved single-screen Hippodrome 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.”

The Hippodrome’s distinctive 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 2026, welcoming audiences from across Scotland, the wider UK and overseas. More than a fifth of its audience stayed for multiple nights, drawn to Bo’ness by the Festival’s wide-ranging and accessible programme.

Alongside its international appeal, the cinema remains closely connected to its community. 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, 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.”

Congratulating the five shortlisted cinemas, 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.”

The shortlisting follows a period of continued success for the Hippodrome, which featured as a filming location in the BAFTA-winning film I Swear, based on the life of Scottish Tourette’s syndrome campaigner John Davidson.

The cinema was also named Scotland’s highest-rated cinema in 2025 in research assessing Tripadvisor reviews of 65 venues across the country, having previously won Best Cinema Experience at the Scottish Hospitality Awards in 2019.

The Hippodrome also takes part in Escapes, a nationwide initiative offering free cinema screenings to make film accessible to all, supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding.

The winner of BIFA Cinema of the Year 2026 will be announced at the British Independent Film Awards ceremony on Sunday, December 6.

For more information about the Hippodrome and its programme, visit www.hippodromecinema.co.uk.