Founded in 2007, The White Bus Ltd is a Southend-based company providing film, video production, exhibition services and events.

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We are based at The Old Waterworks in Southend, where our archive is home to nearly 3,000 reels of 16mm and 35mm film comprising over 270 British feature films and hundreds of short films, documentaries and animation, including the most complete collection of the works of iconic director Lindsay Anderson, whose drama documentary, The White Bus, which inspired our company name.  

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Our most high-profile events are​ Southend-on-Sea Film Festival and Horror-on-Sea Film Festival which, over the years have grown to be the largest of their kind in Essex.  Other events include sunday films at The Palace Theatre, Westcliff and free summer screenings in conjunction with Big Screen Southend. At The Old Waterworks we hold a season of relaxed screenings for children, monthly Cult Nights in partnership with Alone in the Dark: Over a Century of Stalk and Slash book and weekly Secret Cinema screenings from our archive.

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​Company Director and founder, Paul Cotgrove also Secretary to The Lindsay Anderson Foundation, has a proven record of success in a variety of film industry appointments which have demanded top quality management, training, knowledge and interpersonal skills. Having served his time as a negative cutter and film treatment technician he spent ten years as Technical Manager in the British Council Films and Television Department – while also taking the time, among many other projects, to produce, write and direct a 35mm horror film, Green Fingers.

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Paul is a huge film fan and is passionate about promoting independent film, particularly local to Southend, at both film festivals.  His practical experience and his extensive network of talented industry professionals enable him to offer consultancy services and practical advice.​​