This summer, we’re celebrating not one but two major milestones in Oxford cinema history – 30 years of the Ultimate Picture Palace, and 50 years since the opening of our predecessor, the much-loved Penultimate Picture Palace.
To mark the occasion, we’ve put together a vibrant season of special screenings, live events, guest introductions, comedy collaborations, filmmaker Q&As and partner takeovers running throughout June, July and August. Whether you’re a longtime regular or visiting the UPP for the first time, this Summer of Celebration is all about bringing people together through film.
The programme begins in early June with a wide-ranging line-up that reflects the eclectic spirit of the cinema. Pride Month screenings include Saving Face, presented in partnership with the Oxford University Filmmaking Foundation, while Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner: The Final Cut celebrates the UPP’s own 30th anniversary in suitably cinematic style – it was the very first film shown when we opened in 1996!
Throughout June, we’re also teaming up with local organisations and community partners for a number of events connected to Great Big Green Week. Audiences can join post-screening discussions and introductions for The People’s Emergency Briefing and Ackroyd & Harvey: The Art of Activism, exploring creativity, climate and collective action on screen.
One of the highlights of the season comes on Saturday 13 June with a special screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger, accompanied by a live score from Hugo Max – a rare opportunity to experience silent cinema as it was originally intended. We’re also delighted to welcome exciting new partners to the UPP this summer, including Have A Gd Trip for the launch of Skateboard Film Club, and the University of Oxford Indigenous Society for a screening of Wiñaypacha (tickets available soon).
Film lovers looking for something a little stranger can join the Weimar Film Network for screenings of Arnold Fanck’s The Holy Mountain and the rarely screened Song, both presented as part of the Rethinking Weimar Cinema Conference 2026.
Comedy fans are in for a treat too. In partnership with QED Comedy Lab and the Oxford Comedy Festival, we’ll be screening favourites including Legally Blonde, What We Do In The Shadows and Sherlock Jr x REM, each introduced with live stand-up comedy performances before the film.
We’re also excited to host a special screening of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas on 11 July, complete with pizza from local restaurant Il Principe (tickets available soon) – the perfect pairing for one of cinema’s most iconic mob classics.
July also brings one of the season’s most significant anniversary events: a special 35mm screening of Winstanley, celebrating 50 years of the Penultimate Picture Palace. The first film shown back when PPP opened in 1976, we’re hoping to accompany the screening with a director Q&A, making it a fitting tribute to the cinema’s long and fascinating history. Keep your eyes peeled for more info and booking links closer to the time.
In August, the celebrations continue with the Japanese Film Club and a screening of Shall We Dance?, one of many ongoing collaborations that make the UPP such a unique community cinema.
Across the summer, this programme celebrates everything the UPP has always stood for: bold filmmaking, passionate audiences, grassroots collaboration and the joy of discovering films together. From cult classics and silent cinema to comedy nights and community conversations, there’s something for everyone in this season’s line-up.
And this is only the beginning. We’ll be announcing even more events and special screenings for July and August closer to the time, so keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you.
