Dover’s Silver Screen Cinema could be under threat of closure if it doesn’t upgrade its system to show new movie releases.

The single screen complex currently shows movies via a 35mm motion picture film, which as of this month is being made universally redundant.

Mainstream movie distributors have announced that all films will now need to be shown via digital cinema packages, which means that the cinema will not be able to comply.

According to town councillor Pam Brivio, this issue has been hanging over the cinema for some time.

The council has been invited to discuss and negotiate with relevant parties about the possible conversion of a new digital projector, that could cost anything up to £40,000.

It has been suggested that the district council may be willing to fund half of this.

The building, in Gaol Lane, is owned by Dover District Council and the issue was discussed in a town council meeting held last week.

A report from Cllr Brivio reads: “Clearly this has provided a major obstacle to the continued operation of the Silver Screen Cinema.

“There is a great deal of support for the cinema, which is currently the only one in Dover and is widely used by residents as it is both convenient and reasonably priced." - Cllr Pam Brivio

“It offers a much more intimate and friendly viewing environment than the multiscreens in Westwood Cross.”

It continued: “There is outline planning permission for a multiplex cinema close by in the DTIZ but many other towns have benefitted enormously from having an independent cinema operating successfully alongside mainstream multiscreens.

“The Gaol Lane cinema already offers Thursday morning screenings which are very popular with those who prefer not to go to evening performances or enjoy films other than the mainstream blockbusters.”

It was suggested in the meeting that the independent screen could show screenings for children to watch as part of their learning at school, an idea warmly received by Mayor Cllr Ronnie Philpott.

Cllr Philpott said: “I think it will be lovely.

“They can screen things that children can go and see for educational purposes.”

It has been recommended that this matter is addressed at the next full town council meeting.