Pearl & Dean partners with Searchlight Pictures for special preview screenings of Empire of Light

We partnered with Searchlight Pictures to host preview screenings of Empire of Light at selected independent cinemas on New Year’s Day, ahead of its launch in cinemas nationwide on Monday 9th January 2023.

Pearl & Dean, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2023, will be featured in the upcoming film, with its iconic Pearl & Dean ‘Asteroid’ theme tune making a cameo. Searchlight has also created a 90” content piece running exclusively in Pearl & Dean cinemas and across Pearl & Dean social channels in support of the partnership to pay homage to the new film and the iconic music.

From Academy Award®-winning director and writer Sam Mendes, Empire of Light is a moving drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times. Set in and around a faded old cinema in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, it follows Hilary (Olivia Colman) a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen (Micheal Ward), a new employee who longs to escape this provincial town in which he faces daily adversity. Both Hilary and Stephen find a sense of belonging through their unlikely and tender relationship and come to experience the healing power of music, cinema, and community.

Pearl & Dean hosted preview screenings of Empire of Light at the below selected independent cinemas in association with Searchlight Pictures. Customers also received a free popcorn and postcard set:

Sunday, 1st January:

  • Edinburgh Dominion – 5.45pm
  • Felixtowe Palace – 8pm
  • Gorleston Palace – 8.20pm
  • Folkestone Silver Screen – 7.30pm
  • Leiston Film Theatre – 3pm
  • Sidmouth Radway – 6pm
  • Wadebridge Regal – 6pm
  • Truro Plaza – 6pm

Monday, 2nd January:

  • Great Yarmouth Arc – 7.45pm
  • Richmond The Station Cinema – 7.30pm
  • Broadstairs Palace – 7.30pm
  • Sandwich Empire – 7.45pm
  • Herne Bay Cavanagh – 8pm
  • Berkhamsted Rex – 7.30pm
  • St Andrews New Picture House – time TBC

Kathryn Jacob OBE, CEO at Pearl & Dean, said: “In 2023 we will be marking Pearl & Dean’s 70th anniversary, and we are honoured to have the unique opportunity to kick off the year with a feature in this new film from Sam Mendes. Empire of Light is a wonderful film that truly celebrates cinema and its role in our lives and the local community. In homage to the film itself, we couldn’t think of a better way than to celebrate its release and the start of our 70th year with many of our independent cinema partners so that we can all share in the magic of the silver screen.”