Cannon Mills Drive-In Cinema brings Bollywood to Bradford

The first in a series of large-scale outdoor cinema spectaculars for Bradford 2025 takes place this April, as a Drive-In Cinema comes to Cannon Mills in Great Horton, overlooking the cityscape of Bradford’s historic textile mills.

From 17 to 19 April, there will be three days of screenings for audiences to watch from their own car in a classic movie-going experience.

Specially programmed for the Drive-In is a strand of classic and contemporary Hindi films, opening with Kabir Khan’s 2015 smash hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2pm, Thursday 17 April) and classic Bollywood comedy Amar, Akbar, Anthony (7pm, Thursday 17 April).

There will also be a chance to see family-friendly road-trip movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2pm, Saturday 19 April), ahead of the release of upcoming sequel, and romantic musical comedy Jab We Met (7pm, Saturday 19 April). All Hindi films will be subtitled in English.

English language films include a Good Friday matinee screening of recent family favourite The Wild Robot (2pm, Friday 18 April), and 90s classic Speed (7pm, Friday 18 April), starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.

The Drive-In experience will include food and drink stalls on site selling a selection of snacks and popcorn, and a DJ ahead of each film. Each car will receive a special speaker on arrival, enabling audience members to listen to the films’ soundtrack inside every vehicle.

Aman Dhillon, film curator for Bollywood titles, said:“For this special Bradford 2025 Drive-In programme we wanted to bring you a mix of romantic, comedy, family friendly and action films. These four popular Bollywood films are perfect for a drive-in experience and provide a real variety in genre so there is something for everyone!

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is always my first choice when it comes to Drive-In Cinema – an ideal film to watch with a group of friends or family, is a relatable coming-of-age story, with fantastic music and beautiful cinematography as the characters take a road trip through Spain. This film was made for an outdoor big screen!”

She added: “Another family favourite sure to bring a tear to the eye is Bajrangi Bhaijaan with celebrated actor Salman Khan who sets off to unite a lost speech impaired girl with her family in Pakistan. Jab We Met is a romantic comedy perfect for couples, groups of friends or to be enjoyed as a family, with relatable characters, fantastic music that will have you dancing in your car seats and a story that provides a twist to a typical Bollywood love story!

Amar Akbar Anthony is amongst the Bollywood all-time favourites and an absolute treat to be able to watch on a big screen! This 1S70s film has a strong message on secularism with three brothers that get separated due to circumstances, one grows up as a Christian, one a Muslim and one Hindu, these much-loved characters are played by Vinod Khanna (Amar), Rishi Kapoor (Akbar) and Amitabh Bachchan (Anthony). Watch this film for over-the-top action, drama and unforgettable music!”

Tickets for the Cannon Mills Drive-In are on sale now and can be booked online at www.bradford2025.co.uk or in person from the Ticket C Info Hub at Centenary Square, Bradford. Cannon Mills Drive-In events are ticketed per car.

The event is part of Bradford: A City of Film, which includes a series of outdoor, site-specific and immersive screenings of films at sites including Ilkley Lido over the course of 2025.

The series builds on Bradford’s proud heritage as a leading centre of filmmaking, which saw the city become the first UNESCO City of Film in 2009. The incredible programme of outdoor screenings are just part of Bradford: A City of Film, which sees the magic of the silver screen travelling to all corners of Bradford district, including areas currently lacking cinema venues and spaces, thanks to a partnership between Bradford 2025, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding) and the National Science and Media Museum.

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director, Bradford 2025, comments: “Our film programme for Bradford 2025 celebrates Bradford’s history as a centre for cinema and filmmaking and brings the magic of the silver screen closer to communities across the district. We’re putting film screenings on people’s doorsteps in their local area and creating really memorable and fun shared experiences in unusual places over the course of the year.

In addition, we are proud to be working in partnership with BFI and National Science and Media Museum on a broad talent development programme for the film industry, working to secure a bright future for filmmaking and film production industries within Bradford district.”

Sally Folkard, Head of Screen and Cultural Engagement, National Science and Media Museum comments:“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Bradford 2025 and BFI to share the magic of film with audiences across Bradford. As the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, Bradford has an incredible screen heritage that we proudly champion at the National Science and Media Museum and Pictureville Cinema. 

We can’t wait for audiences to experience cinema in a whole new way. The programme is about creating unique and immersive film experiences – making cinema more accessible and bringing people together through the collective joy of watching films on the big screen.”

Sarah-Jane Meredith, Senior Manager of National Lottery Audiences Projects at the BFI, said: “Film is one of the most accessible artforms and is never bettered than when enjoyed as a communal experience, so we are thrilled to have forged such a strong culture partnership with Bradford 2025 and the National Science and Media Museum to ensure this City of Culture has film at the heart of its programme.

Attracting audiences to seek out great films and unique immersive experiences, while also literally bringing the big screen to people around the district, we are confident there is something for everyone to engage with and enjoy.”

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture is delivered by Bradford Culture Company, a charity supported by public investment from HM Government, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and through National Lottery funding from Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, Spirit of 2012, British Film Institute and a number of trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Former UK Asian Film Festival manager Aman Dhillon runs ReelN Ltd, providing programming for a wide range of festivals. In 2023 she launched the Filme Shilmy Show, a new concept talk show providing a platform for British South Asian film and television talent. 

Aman Dhillon is a consultant for Film Hub North working with independent cinemas to advise on South Asian film programming and audience development.

Credits by Asian Connect & Business Connect