What could be more appropriate than watching a Woody Allen film in his native New York, or enjoying Almodovar’s latest in Madrid? If your cinematic preferences are more art-house than mega-brand multiplex, then check out some atmospheric auditoria – and indeed, famous fleapits – around the world and make a movie pilgrimage.
 

Best of British

Film buffs have been contributing to the Guardian Film’s Cine-Files blog, a growing list of some favourite picture houses in Britain and beyond.  From the UK’s oldest purpose-built cinema in Brighton, the much-loved Duke of York’s, to the enthusiast-oriented Belmont in Aberdeen (actually part of the same Picturehouse chain), via the Art Deco splendour of the Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle, and the eclectic Electric in Birmingham, there’s no end of inspiration.

London is well served for good movie theatres, of course, but look out for historic regional cinemas – many small screens have remained locally owned and unspoilt by development or attention from large corporations. Within easy reach of the capital, check out the likes of the painstakingly restored, Edwardian wood-panelled Dome on Worthing seafront or the independent, not-for-profit Electric Palace in the Old Town of Hastings, for example.  

Home of Hollywood

For foreign expeditions further afield, film fans have to head for Hollywood. Even if the latest blockbusting epic’s not your thing, the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard is said to be the most opulent in the world, and it’s at the heart of the movie world – it’s a must-see. For a more low-key experience in Los Angeles, however (such things do exist), try the Art Deco picture palace in Los Feliz, built in 1934 and a centrepiece for this village-like neighbourhood.

Language barrier

Travelling outside the English-speaking world, you needn’t be deterred by a lack of the local language. Many arts centres, cultural organisations and enthusiast venues will run foreign-language film programmes and special screenings for expatriates and passers-through – especially in larger cities, student towns or areas with a large English-speaking population. Even in mainstream cinemas, some English-language movies will be subtitled rather than dubbed, or shown in their ‘original version’ at selected screens. Check local listings magazines and websites for further details.

High society and pop-up picturehouses

Some of the finest cinematic treats are temporary: look out for outdoor screens in parks, on beaches, on riverbanks or in other public spaces during the summer. Pop-up cinemas can turn up in the most unlikely urban places, too: disused supermarkets, on boats, rooftops, in warehouses and derelict industrial buildings or car parks. Usually, the more obscure the location, the more ‘underground’ the film. Cities such as Budapest, Berlin and Paris have particularly active cinematic scenes, but there’ll be interesting stuff going on in most places of any size – it’s an adventure, and often only found via word-of-mouth.

Local film societies and community cinemas are also vibrant, often showing films in village halls, schools, pubs, museums or other unusual spaces. Check out the British Federation of Film Societies to find out more about such activities in the UK.

You’ll also have to put up with a pop-up if you make a pilgrimage to one of the most famous picturehouses of all: the Cinema Paradiso doesn’t actually exist in the Sicilian village of Palazzo Adriano, though films are sometimes shown on a screen in the main square on summer evenings.