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The Big Picture

DOCUMENTARY / 60 MIN

The Big Picture uncovers the untold story of a state-of-the-art cinema quietly forgotten in the center of Bristol, a vibrant UK city known for its countercultural spirit. Once a cutting-edge IMAX theatre, the building was abandoned for over a decade—until a collective of cinephiles reclaimed it. Blending DIY ingenuity with punk ethos, they’ve transformed a forgotten relic into the beating heart of a grassroots cinema movement—reviving not just a building, but a shared vision of what cinema can be.

See some of our press coverage:

The Guardian BBC Variety City of Film Bristol Magazine D&C Film

Download the press kit here!

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

The moment I learned about the Bristol IMAX, I thought, “this would make a really interesting film.” A massive cinema, purpose-built to show the ultimate format of IMAX 70mm — sitting in the heart of a city with a thriving film culture — somehow totally forgotten, yet perfectly preserved and intact. That contradiction fascinated me. But what really pulled me in was the story of its revival: not by a corporation, but by ordinary people who brought it back to life as a community-run space. That felt rare, and urgent, and worth capturing.

I’d lived in Bristol for nearly a decade before I even heard there was an IMAX here. I knew the building — a big cylindrical red-brick structure by the harbourside — but as it was right next to the aquarium, I had just assumed it was a giant fish tank. That assumption, I later found out, was surprisingly common!

It had been over 12 years since a film was shown there, and for many people, it had simply vanished from memory. That act of cultural forgetting — and what it meant for a city that otherwise seems to champion cinema — fascinated me. To see it reopen — not as a profit-driven venture, but as a space reclaimed by the people — felt quietly revolutionary.

At a time when cinemas across the country are struggling to survive, and where cultural spaces are increasingly vulnerable to commercial interests, The Big Picture flips the narrative. This is a story about underdogs beating the odds — a reminder that sometimes, the little guy gets to win. That’s the kind of story I want to tell.

AWARDS / SCREENINGS
World Premiere, Bristol Megascreen 2025
Official Selection, St. Louis International Film Festival 2025
The Big Picture | Official Documentary Trailer | The Untold Story of Bristol's Forgotten IMAX Cinema
THE WORLD PREMIERE

The world premiere of The Big Picture took place on 28th May 2025 in the very building that inspired the film—former Bristol IMAX, now known as Bristol Megascreen, with a sold out crowd of 300 people in attendance.

 

Here's what those in attendance had to say...

"A love letter to Bristol’s film scene and its people. And, like any good 80s movie, the classic tale of a rag tag team with spirit and plucky optimism overcoming adversity" ☆☆☆☆☆

"I was blown away by this film, the time and dedication needed to get all these lovely moments over the course of years, is truly a labour of love" ☆☆☆☆☆

"Really delightful exploration of the IMAX in Bristol, and the city’s wider film culture" ☆☆☆☆☆

"A magnificent illustration of why Bristol is The Very Best Place" ☆☆☆☆☆

"It’s a brilliant documentary, with beautiful footage and so many interviews with people involved with the cinema in different ways. It was such a special evening for us all to watch it together and talk afterwards. It was an emotional experience that we’ll all remember forever" ☆☆☆☆☆

"See this if you love going to the cinema. Even if you’re not from Bristol in the UK, you’ll still find a lot of connection to it if you are a cinephile, a lover of physical media or both" ☆☆☆☆☆

See more reviews on Letterboxd

The Big Picture - Official Poster

Official poster by Thomas Walker

© 2025 Arthur Cauty  

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