This summer, BIFA launched the Cinema of the Year Award supported by Kia and over 130 cinemas are taking part, including Monmouth’s historic Savoy Theatre.

Voting is open now and closes on 22 September. A jury will then select the nominees and winner, taking into account audience votes and the cinemas’ submissions.

Five nominees will be announced on 3 November along with the rest of the nominees for BIFA 2025 and cinemagoers can vote from 3 to 25 November to decide the winner.

The Savoy stands on the oldest working theatre site in Wales which has had a splendidly varied history. The Bell Inn which stood here from before 1649 would have put on entertainment.

In 1830 the Odd Fellows Society used public subscription to erect the "most commodious hall" in the area which opened later that year and was a home for dances, ceremonies, political rallies and their own meetings.

It was locally known as the Bell Inn Assembly Room.

The first extensive use as a theatre was in 1850/51 when the room was turned into The New Theatre by well known touring actor/manager J F Rogers.

The venture lasted about six months.

Kia has been championing independent cinema and their communities since 2022. As a proud supporter of independent cinema and the screening of independent films, like BIFA, Kia is championing diverse and compelling stories that reach the big screen.

That’s why this year, Kia is proud to elevate their commitment to independent cinemas by partnering with BIFA on the first Cinema of the Year Award. This exciting new award will allow local communities to celebrate their favourite cinemas by getting behind them and voting for them to win this prestigious award celebrating the UK’s best independent cinema.

You can vote for the Savoy here: