Ciné-RealCiné-Real

Ciné-Real is the UK's only film club dedicated exclusively to screening films on 16mm, founded in 2011 by Oscar-longlisted director Liam Saint-Pierre and projectionist Ümit Mesut of the legendary Ümit & Son film emporium in Clapton. The pair search the planet for rare 16mm prints, bringing audiences everything from classic Hollywood (Casablanca, When Harry Met Sally) to arthouse gems (Alphaville), all projected on original celluloid with the projector visible in the cinema so audiences can experience the magic of analogue film firsthand. With intermissions for reel changes and Ümit's famous on-the-spot repairs (timed by the audience), each screening is a unique, unpredictable event.

Now in permanent residency at The Castle Cinema in Homerton, Ciné-Real has been selling out monthly screenings for years, building a passionate community of film lovers and filmmakers united by their appreciation for the warmth and colour reproduction that only 16mm can deliver. Before each screening, Liam and Ümit introduce the film and share insights, creating an intimate, conversational atmosphere that feels like stepping into Cinema Paradiso. There's even a raffle at the end with prizes like Ciné-Real tote bags and super 8mm prints. It's not resistance against digital—just an elegant case for why celluloid and digital should coexist.