Paul Greengrass lends name to cinema screenings

Paul Greengrass, who grew up in Gravesend, agreed the cinema could take his name

Cinema-style film screenings to be held at a Gravesend theatre are to be named after a Hollywood director who grew up in the town.

The twice-weekly Paul Greengrass Cinema, will honour the director of The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum and Bloody Sunday.

The screenings will begin at Kent civic centre's Woodville Halls on 8 January.

"We were very lucky that he agreed to lend his name to our project," said Woodville manager Neil Chandler.

"He went to school locally and we thought, let's see if we can get him on board."

A digital projector and big screen have been installed at the theatre by Gravesham Borough Council.

Cinema trials

It is the first time big-screen movies have been shown in Gravesend since its cinema burned down in 2006.

"There were cinema trials at the Woodville, bringing in an outside company with projectors," said Mr Chandler.

"It did prove quite successful but it was very difficult to get the movies that we wanted and also it wasn't as regular as it needs to be.

"People need to understand when they can go to the cinema. If they don't know when films are going to be on it is very difficult to build up repeat business."

Mr Chandler said the Paul Greengrass cinema would show new films about six weeks after their release but would start with the best movies of 2012.

The first scheduled screening is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, with tickets free throughout January.