University of Sunderland new £1.3m cinema officially opens

The University of Sunderland's venue on St Peter’s Campus was damaged beyond use by Storm Arwen in 2021.

However, a £1.3 million investment has brought it back to life.

The cinema, which has been completely refurbished and upgraded, boasts 120 seats, a top-of-the-range laser projector, and a Dolby Atmos sound system and comes as the city gears up for the opening of a major studio, Crown Work.

Lee Hall, head of the School of Media and Creative Industries at the university, said: "The Media Centre cinema is an amazing resource for our students, who can experience film and their own content in a stunning environment.

"We’re extremely grateful to Film Hub North for supporting our ambition for the cinema to also become a community space."

To mark the occasion, Sir David Bell, the university’s vice-chancellor and chief executive, was joined by Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson, alongside guests from across the region and the creative sector.

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Sir David Bell said: "We are delighted to celebrate the official reopening of our newly refurbished campus cinema.

"The significant upgrading of our cinema represents a vital investment in our industry-leading facilities and students will benefit immensely from working in such a place.

"It also demonstrates our commitment to a professions-facing curriculum which is an excellent preparation for graduate life beyond university.

"In time, our cinema will also become a great resource for local businesses, community organisations, and residents."

(Image: University of Sunderland) The university has received funding from Film Hub North as part of its Spotlight Sunderland campaign.

This will support a series of public screenings at the relaunched venue to celebrate independent cinema, North East filmmakers, and the wider region.

Lewis Atkinson MP said: "The screen industry in the region is going from strength to strength and I am very optimistic about the increasingly important part that Sunderland is set to play in the future.

"Through the work happening here, the university will garner a worldwide reputation for excellence in all aspects of media, TV, and film production – in teaching, in research, and in knowledge exchange."