Welsh cinemas are celebrating a significant anniversary this spring, with the first known film screenings taking place in Cardiff 130-years ago, in April 1896.
Wales’ big screens have been home to the pioneering Welsh films of William Haggar and Arthur Cheetham from the early 1900s, right through to the latest anticipated releases of 2026, such as Effi o Blaenau and Madfabulous.
To mark the occasion, Film Hub Wales is running activity throughout the year, including sharing the results of an industry wide survey which lays out the Welsh screen industries’ hopes for the future of Welsh film and a similarly themed Made in Wales podcast. There will also be a series of ‘cinema treasure’ blogs, giving audiences a look at historic and newly renovated venues and a list of some of the key Welsh titles from the last 13 decades, which will be available to screen in cinemas for a ‘This is Welsh Film’ season.
Hana Lewis, Head of Film Hub Wales, explains the significance of the anniversary:
“Cinema has evolved over the last 130 years, reflecting changes in society, new ways of storytelling and embracing digital technologies. It has remained a constant source of escapism, entertainment and connection. There are many ‘cinema treasures’ for audiences to discover in Wales, from The Monmouth Savoy to Brynamman Hall and more. We want to make 2026 a year of cinema, to thank them for their significant contributions to our communities, whilst also recognising the role of Welsh film itself and our hopes for the future of on-screen stories from Wales. In our recent industry survey, 97% of Welsh filmmakers told us that it was important to them that their film was seen on a big screen, so we can’t underestimate the value of cinema to production, as well as audiences.”
So where did it all begin? American Birt Acres first screened films privately for the Cardiff photographic society before going on to exhibit his films to audiences in Cathays Park, just pipping the renowned Lumiere Brothers to the post, as they brought their famous Cinematographe to Cardiff’s Empire Music Hall in May 1896. In June, Acres then shot the first film in Wales – a Royal Visit of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) to Cardiff.
Film Hub Wales’ ‘This is Welsh Film’ 130-year film package includes over 70 films reaching right back to 1898, including one of the most remarkable cinematic films of that time called “Conway Castle – Panoramic View of Conway on the L & N.W Railway”, courtesy of the Screen and Sound Archive at the National Library of Wales. Known as a sub-genre of film called ‘phantom train ride’, the locomotive was filmed from a truck as it ran through the tunnel, out into a spectacular panoramic vista of the Castle. Other films from across the decades include the first Welsh talkie ‘Y Chwarelwr’, and favourites such as The Proud Valley, Rhosyn a Rhith (Coming up Roses), Submarine, Gwledd and many more.
Film Hub Wales’ industry survey also revealed that 87% of respondents feel that there not enough films made in Welsh and there are not enough films about life in Wales, making it even more crucial to take a look back at some of the most influential films to be made in Wales, whilst also preserving Welsh screen culture.
Annie Grundy from Wales’ beloved cinema the Magic Lantern, which recently made Time Out’s top 100 cinemas in the world list, as well as winning the BIFA’s 2025 cinema of the year award, adds:
“Happy 130th Birthday to Welsh cinema – what an exciting year! We are also celebrating 125 years of films playing at the Magic Lantern – originally the ‘Assembly Rooms’ in Tywyn, Gwynedd. Our 125 film programme launched on 8th March with a talk about the history of the venue from the team’s very own Chris Richards. Like many of the fabulous cinemas in Wales, we look forward to digging into ‘This is Welsh Film’ and treating our audience to some screenings of the greatest films from the archive. It’s so important for our communities to see their culture and heritage on the big screen.”
