Exploding Cinema Appreciation Post! Set Social, Peckham – 3rd April 2025!
Exploding Cinema’s independent screening events have been a vital force in supporting and sustaining independent filmmakers in London and beyond for over two decades. Founded in the early 1990s, this grassroots collective has consistently provided a democratic, non-hierarchical platform for filmmakers working outside the mainstream industry, long before digital distribution made it easier to reach audiences. What makes Exploding Cinema truly unique is its commitment to screening work that’s often excluded from traditional film festivals—no matter the format, budget, or level of polish.
For emerging and experimental filmmakers, Exploding Cinema offers something increasingly rare: a chance to show work without gatekeepers, submission fees, or rigid curatorial criteria. It’s a space where film is celebrated as a communal, live experience, not just a product. Events are usually held in non-traditional venues—warehouses, social centres, pubs—transforming them into vibrant spaces of DIY creativity, complete with live visuals, eclectic soundtracks, and a wonderfully mixed crowd.
But their impact doesn’t stop at London’s borders. By inspiring similar initiatives and collaborating with artists internationally, Exploding Cinema has helped fuel a global underground film culture. Its ethos—accessibility, experimentation, and community—resonates far beyond the UK. For filmmakers without industry connections or institutional backing, these events are not just screenings—they’re lifelines.
In a world where independent voices are often drowned out by algorithms and commercial demands, Exploding Cinema remains a loud, flickering beacon of artistic freedom and collective energy. So thanks for screening my film Inferis (2024) on the 3rd April 2024 at Set Social, Peckham and for screening many other wonderful independent short works. For information and history of Exploding Cinema please check out their website here:
The Cinema Fix presents 