Alumna and author Jane Giles to give talk on Scala Cinema

Scala cinema book

On Wednesday 16 October 2019, the Histories: Art, Drama and Film Research Group at the School of Arts is delighted to host Jane Giles, MA Film alumna and author, who will give a talk entitled ‘From Canterbury to King’s Cross (and Back): A Film Programmer’s Tale’.

A Masters student at the University of Kent from 1986-87, Jane’s first job was as film programmer at the notorious and influential Scala cinema from 1988 to 1992. Famous for its iconic venue in London’s Kings Cross, the cinema was modelled on American style ‘repertory houses’ and showed a mix of Hollywood classics and cult movies, horror, Kung Fu, LGBT, animation, silent comedy, Psychotronic and unclassifiable films, often in double bills. Known for its illustrated foyers, cats, all-night film marathons and dynamic monthly programme design, the cinema became a film school for many budding filmmakers.

Jane will return to Kent to talk about her most recent publication, Scala Cinema 1978-1993 (FAB Press, 2018), which won the 2019 Kraszna-Krausz award for Excellence in Film Book publishing. Scala Cinema 1978-1993 is an in-depth look at the cinema’s history and features the complete collection of all 178 monthly programmes, plus photographs and ephemera.

Jane is also the author of books The Cinema of Jean Genet (BFI, 1991), Criminal Desires (Creation, 2002) and The Crying Game (BFI Modern Classics, 1997), in addition to writing for the GuardianTime Out, and Sight & Sound among others.

The event, which will take place in Grimond Lecture Theatre 3 at 5pm, is free to attend and open to all.