Who can watch films at York Student Cinema?

Everyone! YSC welcomes all University of York students, partners, visiting friends, members of the public, alumni, staff, and children. You don’t have to be a member of the society to attend.

How do I find YSC?

YSC operate from lecture theatre P/X/001.

Directions from campus: the Exhibition Centre is just across Central Hall Bridge and on the right. P/X/001 is at the other end of the building, just by the exit near YorkSU.

By bus: The University campus is accessible via several bus routes from the city centre. A single journey to the University usually costs £2.60. Tap-on-tap-off contactless readers are available on the buses, or tickets can be purchased from the driver.

1. The bus numbers U1 and U2 go to campus from Merchantgate and the Rail Station. The closest stop to us on these routes is University Library.
2. From this stop, head away from the hill, towards the Market Square shops.
3. Facing the shops, take the path down the left-hand side until it reaches the lake, then turn left again until you reach Central Hall (the spaceship-looking building).
4. Turn right past the entrance to Central Hall and head over Central Hall Bridge, then turn right into Exhibition Centre. P/X/001 is at the other end of the building.

1. The bus number U3 also goes to campus from Merchantgate in the city centre. The closest stop to us on this route is Newton Way.
2. From here, head up the road into campus, following signage towards the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology.
3. Once you reach YorkSU (the Student Centre), turn right and walk down the road into Exhibition Centre, where the cinema is located.

By car: Our nearest car park is Campus West car park in James College. Looking towards The Roger Kirk Centre, turn right and walk down the road past YorkSU, and you should find yourself at the Exhibition Centre, where the cinema is.

Can I buy tickets in advance?

Yes! You can buy online tickets here.

What refreshments/snacks do you sell?

Our refreshments stand offers the cheapest prices on campus, all located just outside P/X/001!

Large bags of sweet, salted and sweet + salty popcorn are £2 each. We also offer a variety of large bags of confectionery, priced at £2 each, and drinks (Coke, Dr Pepper) at £1.

Do you take cash/card?

Yes! We take cash (UK currency only, please), and we have a card machine, so we can do contactless payments.

What are Semester/Annual passes?

Semester and Annual passes are a bargain for the serious film fans! For just a £20 Semester Pass, you can get into all our films for the rest of the semester, or go all the way with a £35 Annual Pass for the whole year! Get it early, when you can make the most of it!

How do I join YSC as a member and what do I gain?

Any student can become a member by finding us on the YorkSU website and paying the £5 membership fee. This entitles you to discounted tickets for all our screenings.

If you wish to be more involved in the society, feel free to come along to one of our weekly meetings at 18:15 every Monday in P/T/003.

We will help you find which role suits you and introduce you to our other members.

Helping out with screenings also entitles you to see that screening for free.

Our roles include:

• front of house service
• working on the refreshments stand
• ushering
• projecting with our digital projector
• press and publicity
• keeping our social media up to date
• and even running this website (hi!)

What do you get from back from YSC? The chance to see all our films for free, the chance to propose films for us to show, great experience to put on your CV, and great friends, as well as helping the society to develop in new directions.

Can others organise socials with YSC?

We welcome any societies or outside clubs who wish to collaborate on a screening. If you want to partner with us to screen a film, get in contact via Instagram or email.

We may be able to give discounts to members of your society! Please contact us well in advance to be sure we can fit your screening in.

PLEASE NOTE: Only our trained projectionists have access to our equipment. Nobody not associated with the Society will be allowed to access our equipment. The small screens, computer sound, and computer projector in P/X/001 are available for everyone to use.

What technology does YSC use?

Our experience of technology since the 1960s has covered a range of cinema history. Currently, we use the same technology as any other leading cinema:

• A Christie 2000 digital projector (acquired through generous donations from YuFund)
• Dolby Surround Sound speakers
• a large Cinema Scope screen.

How do YSC get their films so soon?

We operate in exactly the same manner as a typical cinema, the difference being that we are run by volunteers and any profit made is reinvested back into the cinema. Our films are all supplied by cinema distributors.

What happens if a showing sells out?

We have a maximum capacity of around 250 people per screening, which we cannot exceed for health and safety reasons. If a screening sells out and there is still demand for it, we will run a double screening, which means the film will be run again immediately after the first screening.

We are doing our best to predict when this will happen and advertise it in advance, but it isn’t an exact science, so that's not always possible!

Our front of house staff will advise what time a second screening will start depending on the length of the film.

Tickets may be bought early for the second screening, or you may buy them before the second screening at the same place.

Is YSC award-winning?

In 2014, York Student Cinema was awarded York Student Union’s Society of the Year after being nominated by our loyal members. In addition to this, our 2015 committee won the Committee of the Year at the Love York Awards. Over the years, YSC has won many awards from both YorkSU and the British Film Federation Society (BFFS), including Winner and Runner-Up for their award for Best Student Cinema on multiple occasions.

When am I entitled to see a film for free?

There are two scenarios in which we offer free films to our customers/members.

1. If a customer has gained a free ticket from a promotion or as a prize, they will be given a physical “free pass” ticket to be presented to our front of house staff.
2. Members of the cinema are entitled to watch, for free, any film that they are involved in running. Without our members running Front of House, Refreshments, and Projection, our cinema wouldn’t be able to operate.

If you have any other questions, recommendations, or requests, please contact us at ysc@yorksu.org, and we will get back to you as soon as possible!