Eye Cinema Galway has received the “Cinema of the Year” award at the annual Prestige Awards.
The cinema announced the news on their social media page on Sunday, and credited the win to the hard work and dedication of the Eye Cinema team.
“We were absolutely thrilled,” said Chiara Kelly, Film Programmer at Eye Cinema.
The Prestige Awards are an annual contest organised by the UK-based Fenice Media publishing group that awards small and medium enterprises that excel in their respective fields.
In Galway, previous Prestige Awards winners include the ‘The Galway Wedding Centre’ in Terryland Retail Park.
Road to success
The Prestige Awards took note of Eye Cinema’s active online activity and suggested the cinema take part in the running, according to Ms Kelly.
“When you’re a small, independent cinema, the competition is huge,” she said.
“Receiving the award felt like the recognition of our hard work, from floor staff and up to management.”
Eye Cinema opened in Galway’s Wellpark Retail Park in March 2005. The cinema features nine screens and caters to a wide audience with a selection of Hollywood releases, Bollywood movies, as well as broadcasts of sporting events and live theatre.
“It’s very local, very near to our home,” said Princewell Onyeari, a Galway resident who attended a showing at Eye Cinema. “They’re great, like. They’re sound.”
A cinema for everyone
Galway resident Una McCann singled out the staff’s thoughtfulness as a standout.
“I work in a school and sometimes bring groups of kids, and they’re very accommodating to different needs, and very kind.”
Being accommodating to all is a priority for the cinema, according to Ms Kelly.
“We work closely with disability associations, local schools, and organise special screenings.”
An example of those are sensory screenings, where the volume is dampened, the lights only partially dimmed and attendees remain free to move around the room.
Ailbhe O’Connor, administrator at Galway Autism Partnership who partner with Eye Cinema for sensory screenings, said that the screenings are usually a big hit.
“Our members give us positive feedback generally and their parents are happy they get to experience a trip to the cinema under safe circumstances,” she said.
“The Eye Cinema staff … are always incredible.”