2025 EMEA Award Winner for Best Arthouse Cinema of the Year: The Prince Charles Cinema, London (UK)

Cologne / Knoxville – 7 May 2025 – The International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) is proud to announce the third winner of its 2025 ICTA EMEA Awards: The Prince Charles Cinema, London, UK, has been named Best Arthouse Cinema of the Year.

This prestigious award recognises excellence in arthouse cinema programming, technological innovation, and community engagement. The Prince Charles Cinema stood out for its bold, diverse programming slate, fiercely independent spirit, and exceptional ability to thrive in the challenging trading environment of London’s West End.

The award will be presented on 15th June 2025 during ICTA’s annual EMEA Awards Reception in Barcelona, just before the start of CineEurope.

Mark Mayfield, ICTA President, congratulates the winners:

“The Prince Charles Cinema is more than a cinema — it’s a cultural landmark. Its commitment to repertory programming, presentation excellence, and passionate audience engagement sets a benchmark for arthouse cinemas across Europe. In a time of industry challenges, The Prince Charles continues to thrive through creativity, diversity, and community focus. Congratulations to Gregory Lynn and the entire team for this outstanding achievement.”

A Legendary Independent Cinema in London’s West End

Originally opened as a live theatre in 1962 and converted into a cinema in the mid-1960s, The Prince Charles Cinema has operated as an independent venue since 1991. It remains the last truly independent cinema in London’s historic cinema district.

The cinema has become internationally renowned for its eclectic programming, combining repertory classics, cult favourites, Hollywood blockbusters, European cinema, and unique events like sing-alongs, film marathons, and 70mm/35mm screenings.

In 2024, The Prince Charles Cinema sold over 250,000 tickets across its two auditoriums, screening more than 850 films and offering an average of 40 different titles per week — an extraordinary record that reflects its vibrant, loyal audience and innovative approach.

 Gregory Lynn, Co-owner, commented:

“We are beyond ecstatic to be receiving the EMEA award for Arthouse Cinema of the Year from the ICTA in 2025. Any cinema is only as good as the staff that work for it. I have truly believed this for the last thirty years, and winning this award confirms to me we have the best team in Europe. I will accept this on their behalf.

The Prince Charles Cinema was opened in 1962 as a live theatre before becoming a cinema in the mid-sixties. Under our stewardship, and without any public subsidy, it has become known for its unique range of programming spanning the entire history of cinema and serving as a home for anyone who loves experiencing films the best way possible.

In 2024, we sold over 250,000 tickets, showing over 850 films at an average of 40 different titles a week. At a time when cinemas continue to close around the world, we are proud to buck the trend with a thriving and fiercely independent offer.

We continue to operate in an incredibly competitive and challenging trading environment, with a struggling release slate and a high density of screens around Leicester Square. That makes this recognition from ICTA all the more meaningful. We are honoured to accept this award on behalf of our entire team and our loyal audience who make everything we do possible.”

Join Us in Barcelona

The 2025 ICTA EMEA Awards will be presented during ICTA’s Awards Reception on 15 June 2025 at 7:00 PM in Barcelona, on the eve of CineEurope.

Professionals attending CineEurope can register for the reception and ICTA’s seminar via www.icta-web.com under the Events section. Cinema operators are invited to attend free of charge and should email jr@janrunge.com to register and celebrate their peers.

A media kit featuring images of The Prince Charles Cinema is available [here].

About ICTA

The International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) is a global network of professionals dedicated to advancing cinema technology and innovation. With over 220 member companies worldwide — including cinema operators, technology manufacturers and integrators — ICTA supports excellence in theatrical exhibition through education, networking, and recognition of industry achievements. Its annual EMEA Awards honour cinemas and individuals that lead the way in creating exceptional moviegoing experiences. www.icta-web.com. 

Media Contact:

 Jan Runge
 International Representative
 International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA)
 jr@janrunge.com
 Genter Str. 25, 50672 Cologne, Germany

Previous Winners of the ICTA EMEA Awards include

New Build Screen of the Year – EMEA

2015: CinemaPink Akmerkez, TK (Serdar Sener, Selim Yavuzoglu)

2016: Vue Cinema Alkmaar, NL (Ron Sterk)

2017: Hollywood Megaplex Pluscity + Imax Pasching, Austria

2018: Cinestar 4DX, Mall of Split, Croatia (Hrvoje Krstulovic)

2019: CGV Mars, Ankara Atakule, TK (Hakan Asker)

2020: Muvi Cinemas, u-Walk site, Riyadh (Adon Quinn)

2021: Kinepolis Leidschendam (Eddy Duquenne)

2022: UGC Ciné Cité Part-Dieu, Lyon (Hugues Borgia)

2023: Cineplexx Ljubljana, Slovenia (Christof Papousek)

2024: The Light Redhill (James Morris and Jo Lee)

Best Cinema Refurbishment of the Year – EMEA

2018: Cineplexx Millenium City, Vienna (Christof Papousek)

2019: Odeon Leicester Square, UK (Carol Welch)

2021: Filmpalast Kassel (Juliane de Boer)

2022: Cineworld, Belfast (Shaun Jones)

2023: Cineplex Münster, Germany (Ansgar and Anselm Esch)

2024: CinemaxX Berlin (Frank Thomsen and Geoff Moore)

Classic Screen of the Year – EMEA / Arthouse Cinema of the Year (as of 2023)

2015: Imperial Copenhagen, DK (Jan Petersen, Jan Rasmussen)

2016: Odeon Leicester Square, UK (Mike Bradbury)

2017: Tennispalatsi, Helsinki, Finland (Veronica Lindholm, Janne Uusi-Kölli)

2018: Zoo Palast Berlin, Germany (Joachim Flebbe, Sascha Rybnicki)

2019: Bio Capitol, Stockholm, Sweden

2020: Pathe Tuschinksi, Amsterdam (Jacques Hoendervangers)

2021: Cinemateket Oslo 

2022: Le Grand Rex, Paris (Alexandre Hellmann)

2023: Forum Sittard, The Netherlands (Marie-Rose Vandenbergh)

2024: Lumière Cinema Restaurant Café, Maastrich (David Deprez and Aerd de Boode)

New Screen of the year (2017 – 2018)

2017: Arcadia Cinema Melzo, Italy (Piero and Laura Fumagalli)

2018: Village World @ The Mall Athens, Greece (George Christodoulou)

Screen of the year (2016)

2016: Cinecitta Nürnberg, DE (Wolfram and Laura Weber)