CLEVEDON'S historic Curzon Cinema truly moved into the 21st century this week - with the unveiling of a brand new digital projector

CLEVEDON'S historic Curzon Cinema truly moved into the 21st century this week - with the unveiling of a brand new digital projector.The state of the art projector has been installed following funding from the UK Film Council.The Curzon, which is operated as a not for profit community cinema, is the only picture house in North Somerset to have won through the rigorous assessment process and to be awarded a grant for the new equipment.The new projector will mean that the Curzon will be able to show selected films in a digital format which arrive at the cinema on password protected disk.The image quality is as good as, if not better than celluloid film.Curzon general manager Jon Webber said: "This is fantastic news for the Curzon and for the cinema-going public and the community we serve."The fact that we are only one of 31 independent cinemas and one of only 19 cinemas between Wiltshire and Cornwall to be offered this new digital equipment is a demonstration of the important role the Curzon has in enriching the culture of the area and in providing local cinema entertainment."As well as providing earlier and wider access to specialised films, there will be added community benefits.The Curzon already boasts a long track record in supporting local film-makers, schools and youth clubs by screening locally made films.The new equipment will provide even greater scope for this in the future, offering access to a wide selection of educational films, classic and archive material, foreign language films and specialised short films.Curzon director of community education, Brian Crewe, said: "We already have a strong community education programme, working in partnership with local schools and youth groups."This new projection equipment is the newest and very best available and will provide even greater flexibility for the screening of locally made films - a core element of what we are about as a community enterprise."The first digital screening at the Curzon will be a new film about a pivotal romantic liaison in the young life of Jane Austin.Becoming Jane will run at the Curzon until April 22, giving people the chance to see the new equipment in action.