The response from Scala Forever, a one-off tribute to the Scala Cinema in London, and the sense of community it created was overwhelming and demand was high to repeat it again. So the organisers, Phil, Michael, Justin and many of the film clubs involved, decided to do it all again, but this time they wanted to go beyond the memory of just one cinema and in London, instead focusing on the now – the people across the UK who dedicate their time to keeping cinema alive for the future.

Thus in 2012, Scala Beyond was born, with a manifesto and a nationwide call-to-arms for people to rally behind: to Fill the Land with Cinemas! Some of the participating exhibitors even produced their own ‘declarations’, symbols of their passion for cinema, which you can check out here. Organisers also wanted to focus on the next generation, teaming up with the charity FILMCLUB and inspiring the film programmers of the future to put on interactive screenings in schools.

Adventuring outside of the capital, events took place in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Birmingham Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Derby, Edinburgh, Forest Row, Glasgow, Gloucester, Hull, Hurstpierpoint, Leeds, Lingfield, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Manchester, Mildenhall, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Oswestry, Oxford, Penrith, Plymouth, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Southampton, Southend and Whitley Bay.

Scala Beyond was supported by Film London and Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Check out the Scala Beyond manifesto video: