The Curzon Project

The short documentary, The Curzon Project, featuring the story of the iconic art deco cinema which was a key landmark on Belfast’s Ormeau Road from 1936-1999, is now available to watch online.

After screenings with Belfast Film Festival, Syracuse Film Festival, Dungannon Film Club, The Picture House (Ballyclare) and Subterranean Film Club (Omagh), the makers of the film are keen to get the film in front of audiences worldwide.

Ormeau businesses Kaffe O and Stylografik, teamed up with Out of Orbit and Film Hub NI (part of the BFI Film Audience Network), to produce a short documentary featuring archive footage, interviews with the Gaston family (the cinema’s owners), patrons, and ex-employees. The film also features John T. Davis, David Holmes and Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones).

The Curzon Film Centre was not just a cinema, it was many different things to different people. A family heirloom, a place for inspiration, relaxation and above all a safe space in a divided community where there were few.

The Curzon Project is a short documentary, which tells the story of the Curzon cinema on Belfast’s Ormeau Road which was open from 1936 and closed in 1999. Through interviews with the family who owned it, customers, projectionists and usherettes, the film’s narrative covers not only the history of the cinema, but it’s place in the community over 6 decades and shares a glimpse into the lives of some of those for which the Curzon was a place to socialise, date, shelter and get inspired by classic movies on the silver screen.

The finance for the film was crowdfunded, with additional assistance provided by Northern Ireland Screen.

Director: Jon Beer (Out of Orbit)

Producer: Sara Gunn-Smith

Executive Producers: Paul McNally & Orla Smyth

Sound Mixer: Stuart Pearson at Yellowmoon

Graphic Design / Titles by Stylografik

Colourist: Dr. Robin Price

Composer: Richard Davis

Credits Music: Dad’s Gettin Fuzzy by Dutch Coleman & Red Whitehead

Produced with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen

Huge thanks to Ryan’s Cookie Box, Manus McCormack & everyone who bought a Curzon T-shirt to help fund this film.

Copyright (c) The Curzon Project Team. Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or rerecording will constitute an infringement of copyright. For screening or broadcast enquiries opportunities please contact Sara