University revives cinema with £1.3 million upgrade

A major investment has transformed a university venue into a cutting-edge cinema, reinvigorating opportunities for students and the creative sector alike.

The University of Sunderland has officially reopened its refurbished cinema on St. Peter’s Campus following extensive damage caused by Storm Arwen in 2021. 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.

The £1.3 million renovation has equipped the 120-seat cinema with state-of-the-art features, including a laser projector and Dolby Atmos sound system.

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.”

The venue is set to enhance the experience of students studying filmmaking and media at the university, providing a space for lectures, screenings and showcasing students’ work. The cinema will also support the broader creative community, with Film Hub North funding a public screening programme celebrating independent cinema and regional talent.

This refurbishment comes as the city of Sunderland and the wider region is seeing major investment in filmmaking and nurturing homegrown talent. The Crown Work Studios, spearheaded by Fulwell73 and Cain International, is set to bring Hollywood to Wearside, creating an estimated 8,000 new jobs and offering opportunities for students to fulfil their potential closer to home.

Lewis Atkinson, MP for Sunderland Central, added: “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 world-wide reputation for excellence in all aspects of media, TV and film production – in teaching, in research and in knowledge exchange.”

The refurbishment of the cinema also comes off the back of the University of Sunderland being placed third for media studies and fifth for film production in the UK by The Guardian University Guide 2025.

Lee Hall, head of school of media and creative industries at the university, added: “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. 

“The cinema can play host to screenings and add to Sunderland’s vibrancy. We have big plans to show films celebrating the north-east and regional talent as well as everyone’s favourite films.”

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