Recognition for our Volunteers, community impact and contribution to community cinema.
“For me the cinema is a wonderful focal point for the community to come together. Everyone is welcome and it gives me such a warm feeling to see people enjoying themselves” (Steve, Volunteer)
Billericay Community Cinema has received national and local recognition for its programming, community impact, marketing and the contribution of its Volunteers.
These awards belong to anyone who has helped create and sustain our Community Cinema – our Volunteers, audiences, partners and supporters.
Community Award
Recognising community involvement and impact.
Outstanding Contribution Award
Recognising long-term personal leadership.
Community Building commendation
Recognising sustained work bringing people together.
Gateway Arts Award
Recognising local cultural contribution.
Best New Film Society
Recognising the success of the cinema’s first year.
National Community Award and Commendation (2025)
Billericay Community Cinema scooped its second national award as well as a commendation at the 2025 Film Society of the Year Awards, hosted by Cinema for All in Sheffield on Saturday 20th September. This gala also celebrated 100 years of community cinema in the UK.
These awards are widely regarded as the “Oscars” of the community cinema world, judged by people who truly understand what it takes to run and maintain volunteer-led, not-for-profit screenings.
At the Sheffield ceremony we won the 2025 Community Award which recognises outstanding community connection and involvement over the past year.
We also received a commendation in the MPLC Legacy Award for Community Building – shortlisted alongside three of the UK’s most established community cinemas: Leigh Film Society, Chorley Empire Community Cinema and the Manchester Salford Film Society.
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual (2025)
Also at the 2025 Film Society of the Year Awards the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual Award was presented jointly to BCC Chairman and founder Adam Adshead and Elizabeth Costello, founder of Leigh Film Society by Jac Chell, the CEO of Cinema for All and host Rhianna Dillon.
The Gateway 97.8 FM Arts Award (2022)
Presented in 2022 by Gateway Community Media directors Danny Lawrence and Ros Connors the award recognised Billericay Community Cinema’s contribution to film, the arts and community life in the local area.
National Best New Society (2016)
Just over a year after our first film, Billericay Community Cinema won the coveted “New Film Society of the Year Award” at the 2016 national Film Society of the Year awards in Sheffield. These are run by Cinema for All, the national support and development organisation for community-led cinema covering community cinema, film clubs and societies.
We had also been shortlisted for another award, gaining a Distinction in the “Best Marketing and Publicity” category.
The awards showcase the very best of Community Cinema, recognising the hard work of the volunteers who bring film to communities across the length and breadth of the UK.
