Take a look at the big picture
Despite falling cinema attendances in 2003 (MW January 8), there is still plenty for film fans to be cheerful about: 2003 was a bumper year for the ultimate in film marketing exercises, the star-studded premiere. Last year’s biggest crowd-puller, Lord of the Rings – the Return of the King, crowned 12 months that saw Leicester Square reassert itself as the home of British cinema.
The square hosted 53 star- studded premieres in 2003, making it the busiest and most successful year in its illustrious history. Stars attending premieres included Jennifer Lopez, Quentin Tarantino, Nicole Kidman and Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as home-grown talent such as Helen Mirren, Orlando Bloom, Colin Firth and Daniel Day-Lewis.
This year promises even more: the cinematic starting point for 2004 was the red-carpet premiere of Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai on January 6, with Cruise holding a marathon autograph session to satisfy the thousands of fans who turned out. The annual Bafta Awards ceremony takes place on February 15 at the Leicester Square Odeon, giving the Oscars a run for their money as the stars turn out in force.
Westminster council has ambitious plans for Leicester Square, to capitalise on the success of the premieres, all of which are overseen by our special events team. I hope that as many readers as possible will make time to visit Leicester Square in 2004, and to take in a movie at the country’s most famous cinemas.
Cllr Simon Milton
Leader
Westminster City Council
London SW1
