FAQs

Q) Who can watch films at York Student Cinema?

Everyone! YSC welcome all University of York students, partners, visiting friends, members of the public, alumni, staff and children. You don’t have to be a member of the society to attend. ID may be requested for films rated 15 or 18 (Student ID will be accepted).


Q) How do I find YSC?

YSC operate from lecture theatre P/X/001.
Directions from campus: the Exhibition Centre is just across Central Hall Bridge and on the right and P/X/001 is just by the exit through the other side (exit near YUSU).

From town or the train station; the bus numbers 66 and 67 go to campus with a return costing £3. Simply ask the driver for “the University Library”. From this shop, head away from the hill, in the direction of Market Square (distinguished by several shops). Facing the shops, take the path down the left hand side until it reaches the lake. Then turn left again until you reach Central Hall (spaceship), head over the bridge and then turn right. If you head forwards you should hit central bridge then follow the above directions.


Q) Can I buy tickets in advance?

Yes! You can buy online tickets here.


Q) How do I join YSC as a member and what do I gain?

Any student can become a member by finding us on the YUSU website https://www.yusu.org/groups/york-student-cinema-ysc and paying the £5 membership fee. This then entitles you to one free ticket, and discounted tickets for all other screenings.

If you wish to be more involved in the society you should feel free to come along to one of our weekly meetings at 18:15 every Monday. We will help you to find what role suits you and introduce you to our other members. Helping out with screenings also entitles you to see that screening for free.

Our roles include front of house service, working on the refreshments stand, committee members, projecting with our digital projector, press and publicity, keeping our social media up to date and even running this website.

What do you get from back from YSC? The chance to see all our films for free, the chance to vote on the films we show, great experience to put on your CV, and great friends with lots of socials (ranging from meals and nights out to film nights).


Q) Can others organise socials with YSC?

We welcome any societies or outside clubs who wish to have a social with us. If you like the look of any of our films, we offer discount for tickets bought in large bulk. If you wish to request a certain film, please be aware we will need plenty of notice (usually a semester) and cannot offer a guarantee. For a private screening our films cost us over £200 to show, our prices will reflect this reality.

PLEASE NOTE: Only our trained projectionists have access to our equipment. No-one not associated with the Society will be allowed to access our equipment. The small screen, computer sound and computer projector in P/X/001 are available for everyone to use.


Q) What technology does YSC use?

Our experience of technology since the 1960s has covered a range of cinema history. Currently we use the same technology as any other leading Cinema: A Christie 2000 digital projector (acquired through generous donations from YuFund), Dolby Surround Sound speakers and a large Cinema Scope screen.


Q) How do YSC get their films so soon?

We operate in exactly the same manner as a typical cinema, the difference being that we are run by volunteers and any profit made is reinvested back into the cinema. Our films are all supplied by cinema distributors.



Q) What happens if a showing sells out?

We gave a maximum capacity of around 250 people per screening. For health and safety reasons we cannot exceed this number. If a screening sells out and there is still a demand for it, we will run a double screening which means the film will be run again immediately after the first screening. We are doing our best to predict when this will happen and advertise it in advance, but it isn’t an exact science so that is not always possible! Our front of house staff will advise what time a second screening will start depending on the length of the film. Tickets may be bought early for the second screening or you may buy them before the second screening at the same place.


Q) What does the refreshments stand sell?

Our refreshments stand offers the cheapest prices on campus, all located just inside P/X/001! Large bags of sweet and salted popcorn are £1.50 each. A variety of confectionary is priced at 60p with drinks (water, coke, sprite) at 80p.


Q) Is YSC award-winning?

In 2014, York Student Cinema was awarded York Student Union’s Society of the Year after being nominated by our loyal members, not only that, but the 2015 committee won the Committee of the Year at the, newly named, Love York Awards at the university. Over the years, YSC has won many awards from both YUSU and the British Film Federation Society (BFFS) including Winner and runner up for their award for Best Student Cinema on multiple occasions.


Q) The lights are on during the screening, can you turn them off?

Due to the fact that we operate in one of the University lecture theatres we do not have the power to change equipment and facilities as we choose. The lights system in P/X/001 is known to be temperamental, and we do all that we can to ensure that the lights are low and that there is a suitable environment for the film.


Q) When am I entitled to see a film for free?

There are two scenarios in which we offer free films to our customers/members.

  1. If a customer has gained a free ticket from a promotion or as a prize they will be given a physical “free pass” ticket to be presented to our front of house staff. Members will also get one free ticket when they buy membership, this will not be in the form of a physical ticket, however, and you will need to give your university email address to our front of house staff when you wish to claim your free ticket.
  2. Members of the cinema are entitled to watch, for free, any film that they are involved in running. Without our members running front of house, refreshments, and projecting, our cinema wouldn’t be able to operate.

If you have any other questions, recommendations or request, please contact us at ysc@yusu.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible!