In reply to Graeme Campbell's comments (Opinion, April 14) regarding cinema and film choice in Brighton, I would first like to say Mr Campbell has got his basic facts wrong.

The film mentioned, Sexy Beast, was actually shown for at least a week at the Odeon. The film distributors informed the Duke of York's programmer, so we decided only to show the film later as a late show.

In terms of choice, let's look at the current Duke of York's programme. Over seven weeks, we are showing 52 films, nine of which are first-run premires or re-releases not being shown elsewhere in Brighton, 15 of which are foreign-language, three British, 16 European and only 17 from the US - all this despite only having one screen.

This cinema certainly has no plans to be anything other than a cinema. I should also mention that we are having our best ever start to the year in terms of business, so plenty of people are happy with our programming.

Films such as Chocolat do provide much-needed revenue, however, and make it possible to show more obscure films. Despite being shown at all three cinemas in town, it was still our second biggest film of the year.

Don't forget the Gardner Arts Centre and Cinemateque also provide alternative film programming. Although the's no room of complacency, it is certainly not a case of no choice for Brighton.

-Blake Smith, manager, Duke of York's Premier Picturehouse