Ümit & Son, the beloved cinema shop on Lower Clapton Road, has reopened after a major transformation. The revamp introduces a micro screening room, projection workshops, and an expanded archive of film treasures, ensuring the shop survives and thrives in the digital age.
New features of the revamped shop
The shop now includes a flexible interior with a 15-seat micro cinema for screenings of old reels from its extensive collection. Upstairs, visitors can attend workshops on using a newly installed 35mm projector and a fully working Moviola. The basement houses a living archive of film history and memorabilia, filled with rare items from 20th-century cinema.
Partnership that saved the shop
The makeover resulted from a collaboration between shop founder Ümit Mesut and filmmaker Liam Saint-Pierre. Saint-Pierre first visited the shop after finding an old Super 8 projector in a bin and later made a documentary about the shop, 'The Way of the Dodo', which won Best Short Documentary at Barcelona Film Festival. Together, they launched Ciné Real, hosting weekly 16mm screenings at Castle Cinema in Clapton.
Kickstarter success
Rising rents threatened the shop's closure. Last year, Saint-Pierre shot a documentary on film about their quest to find Quentin Tarantino for help. Though unsuccessful, the campaign raised £55,000 on Kickstarter—more than double the original goal—funding the reinvention. According to the shop, the 16mm film collection is now listed online, and the micro cinema can be hired for £250 per screening.
Community and future
The shop at 35 Lower Clapton Road, E5 0NS, continues to attract Londoners passionate about analogue film. Ümit Mesut said, 'We wanted to create a space where people can experience the magic of film in a hands-on way.' The revamp ensures the shop remains a vital part of London's cinema culture.
