About

Southsea Cinema & Arts Centre - home to Portsmouth Film Society - is where you can see great films in a social environment. Meet like-minded film fans, chat about the latest releases and watch great movies that you might not otherwise get a chance to see.

Southsea Cinema Café is open from 12pm to 7pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Annual membership rates are available, allowing you to see films at a great price-per-film, and gives members the chance to suggest the films that will be shown in the future.

Southsea Cinema and Portsmouth Film Society are not-for-profit, and all money from membership fees goes towards promoting the society and booking films and events for members to enjoy.

For a full programme of Southsea Cinema's events and upcoming screenings see the what's on guide.

You can also find out how to become a member on the Southsea Cinema website.

As well as its cinema in Southsea, Portsmouth Film Society also brings the best in brand new cinema, cult movies, and classic films to venues across the city. Don't miss the Outdoor Screenings, held at amazing venues throughout Portsmouth. Previous Outdoor Screening venues have included Victoria Park, Southsea Castle and the gardens of Cumberland House Natural History Museum.

The cinema also hosts regular exhibitions from local and national artists. The programme is ever-changing so be sure to keep an eye on the Southsea Cinema website to see what's on display now and what is coming up soon.

Feathers
An exhibition of original oil and pastel paintings by Ged Kearney
1 October – 3 November

Southsea Community Cinema & Art Centre presents Feathers, an exhibition showcasing the original works of local Portsmouth artist, Ged Kearney. Running from 1 October to 3 November 2024, this exhibition offers a unique exploration of the natural world through the lens of light, movement, and the exquisite beauty of birds.

Ged Kearney, who relocated to Portsmouth from Lancashire in 1981 to pursue a BA (Hons.) in Fine Art, has spent decades refining his craft. His career has spanned nearly 40 years, during which he balanced his artistic endeavors with a career in the NHS. Now, he dedicates his time fully to his art, with a particular focus on the natural world.

Feathers centers on birds, with much of the collection inspired by Ged’s support for Songbird Survival, an independent UK charity dedicated to solving the ecological crisis facing the country’s songbirds through scientific research. While many of the featured birds are UK songbirds, the collection also includes species like corvids (rook, raven, jackdaw, and chough), often overlooked as songbirds.

The exhibition also includes captivating depictions of birds of prey and other non-songbirds. One striking piece, Angola’s Strike, is a metre-high oil painting that captures a Secretary Bird’s response to the threat of a snake, inspired by Ged’s visit to the Hampshire Hawk Conservancy. Another standout work, Osprey Strike, presents a dramatic scene from the viewpoint of a fish caught in the talons of an bird of prey.

In addition to these powerful oil paintings, the exhibition features vibrant soft pastel works that celebrate the delicate beauty of some of our most vulnerable feathered friends. Each piece is accompanied by informative text, reflecting Ged’s belief that “in the production and observation of any art, my personal awareness is raised, and I learn so much about the subject. If I can pass some of that on to the viewer, I am happy, and if a viewer is simply pleased to have had the experience, then that is success.”

Feathers is open to the public throughout October, from Tuesday to Sunday, between 12pm and 7pm.

The Man Mead Assembly
A photography exhibition by Steve Mead
6 November – 3 December

Southsea Cinema and Art Centre presents a new photography exhibition by Steve Mead, running from 6 November to 3 December 2024, as part of its Recovery Festival. The exhibition opens with a Preview on Tuesday 5 November at 5pm, and all are welcome to attend.

Steve’s exhibition, 'The Man Mead Assembly', offers a powerful and deeply personal glimpse into the artist's journey. His photographs, created through a visceral and intuitive process, reflect a life lived on the margins of society, battling addiction and illness. As Steve shares: "The pictures speak for themselves. I don’t know where they come from, and I don’t know what they mean."

The title reflects his ongoing assembly of self, a search for acceptance and peace after a lifetime of challenges.

A recovering addict and artist with a history of over 40 years of substance use, Steve is now 64 years old and living with severe lung and heart disease. His work in 'The Man Mead Assembly' mirrors his path of recovery, connection, and survival. Through photography, Steve finds beauty even in the darkest places, using the medium to express what words cannot.

This exhibition is a significant part of the ‘Recovery Festival’, celebrating the journeys of those in recovery. Steve’s work stands as a testament to resilience and transformation, offering a moving experience for all who attend.

Join the Southsea Cinema and Art Centre to celebrate the work of a remarkable artist who comes from Recovery, and whose story will inspire and move audiences.

PFS Recovery Festival
Mixed festival of films, workshops and events
13 – 17 November

Portsmouth Film Society's Recovery Festival returns from Wednesday 13 to Sunday 17 November. Now in its 6th year, the event is back with a bang - featuring expanded programming for 2024.

Taking place at various locations throughout Portsmouth, the festival will feature an expanded program of film screenings, workshops, a Recovery Party, and the premiere of short films created by participants in the 'I Am Only Human' filmmaking course.

A highlight of this year's festival is the 'I Am Only Human' course, where individuals in recovery learn the art of filmmaking to share their stories. It culminates in a trip to the renowned Pinewood Studios in London, offering participants a unique opportunity to connect with the film industry.

The much-anticipated course begins on 27 August at Southsea Cinema. This free course will span 10 weeks, culminating in a public premiere of the participants' short films on 13 November at The Lens Studio, Portsmouth Guildhall.