Film fans in the New Forest are celebrating the opening of a new cinema that is set to screen the latest releases.
A 50-seat venue has been created at the Jubilee Hall in Fawley with the help of a £15,000 grant from ExxonMobil Fawley, which runs the neighbouring refinery.
ExxonMobil has funded a ceiling-mounted projector, a fixed screen, and an advanced audio system with an induction loop for people who are hard of hearing.
Its donation has also covered the cost of new curtains and posters promoting the venture.
ExxonMobil backed the cinema's official launch event, which featured two showings of The Great Escaper, a biographical drama starring Glenda Jackson and Sir Michael Caine.
The movie is based on the true story of 89-year-old Royal Navy veteran Bernard Jordan, who "broke out" of his nursing home to attend the 70th D-Day commemorations in France in 2014.
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The not-for-profit cinema will be run by Fawley Parish Council and a group of volunteers. Any surplus cash will be reinvested in the building and future events.
Council chairman Alan Alvey said: "The launch of the Fawley Community Cinema was a resounding success, truly embodying our vision of making culture accessible and affordable for the village.
“It's not just about entertainment; it's about enriching our community through shared experiences, made all the more possible by our exciting partnership with ExxonMobil Fawley who have been pivotal in this achievement.
"I would like to also thank our staff and volunteers who helped to make the event such a success.
"The support we had on our launch night was overwhelming, and we’ve received nothing but positive feedback from our guests.
"Looking ahead, we have plans to further diversify our offerings, introducing more opportunities for independent and family-friendly films. We are extremely excited for the cinema’s future."
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Following its successful launch the cinema will show films on the first Saturday of each month.
The next showing will be Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet and Hugh Grant on March 2. It will be followed on April 6 by One Life, the true story of how British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, played by Anthony Hopkins, helped Jewish children flee Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1938–39.
The cinema's refreshment area, run by Fawley Events Committee, sells tea, squash, and small tubs of New Forest Ice Cream.
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