Exhibition and Education E-bulletin
July 2009
Film Agency for Wales Backs New Specialist Film Venues
Filmclub Wales Gains Politicians' Support!
Film Agency Supporting Film Screenings for Disabled Children and their Families
Women's Film Festival Birds Eye View Looking for Welsh Partners
Dates for your Diary
Film Agency for Wales Backs New Specialist Film Venues
The Film Agency for Wales has expanded its support for specialist film exhibition across Wales, providing core funding for an additional 8 venues around the country.
£30,000 of funding has been made available across 8 venues newly supported by the Film Agency to enable them to develop specialist film programming, broadening audience access across Wales. The venues are: Theatr Harlech in Gwynedd, Scala Cinema and Arts Centre in Prestatyn, Flintshire, Llanfyllin Workhouse Cinema in Powys, Torch Theatre, Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, Pontardawe Arts Centre in Neath Port Talbot and a collective of venues across Rhondda Cynon Taf – the Coliseum in Aberdare, the Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd and the Park and Dare in Treorchy. These venues will comprise the new 'Tier 3' of exhibitors under the Film Agency's exhibition funding schemes.
The Riverfront, Newport and Galeri in Caernarfon will also both be benefiting from new funding for their specialist film programming under the Agency's Tier 2 core funding. Each of these venues have agreed targets with the Agency which aim to substantially increase their audience figures for specialist film and assist these smaller venues to develop their programme of specialist activity. Each of the venues submitted plans for development encompassing education activity with local schools, colleges and universities, increased marketing within local communities, and a commitment to increase their Welsh language film programming.
Each specialist venue will be represented at regular meetings of the Wales Specialist Film Exhibition Group (WSFEG) and submit periodic box office information to the Agency as part of their funding agreements.
Pauline Burt, Chief Executive of the Film Agency welcomed the development, commenting
"Whilst it is always a difficult balancing act in maintaining support to more established and committed specialist film venues within limited budgets and providing new opportunities for additional venues – we are committed to ensuring access to a diverse range of cinema across Wales and recognise the vital role that these cinemas have in their communities.I am therefore delighted that the Agency has been able to double the number of specialist film venues receiving core funded support from 7 to 14 venues in 2009/10."
Filmclub Wales Gains Politicians' Support!
It's been an exciting month for Filmclub in Wales, as Award-winning Welsh actor Michael Sheen became an official advocate for the scheme and Assembly Members from political parties of all colours have lent us their support.
Michael Sheen has accepted an invitation from Filmclub to represent the scheme, as partners the Film Agency for Wales, Skillset Screen Academy Wales and national charity ContinYou Cymru campaign to secure future funding for its rollout across Wales.
FILMCLUB Wales has offered pupils from 17 primary and secondary schools across six local education authorities across the country the chance to access, watch and review films online as part of a one-year bilingual pilot. Film Clubs also have the opportunity to get involved in additional film activity, such as visits from industry specialists and visits to local cinemas. Demand for new clubs has now reached an all time high, with interest registered from over 30 teachers, parents and pupils.
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Kirsty Williams AM recently tabled a Statement of Opinion on behalf of Welsh partners, which to-date has gained the support of 13 Assembly Members from each of the Welsh political parties. Commenting on Filmclub, Kirsty said:
"I hope that my statement of opinion will gain cross-party support from Assembly Members and will ensure the future of this great scheme so as to bring the wonder of film to more Welsh children."
"Films play a very important part in the social and cultural development of our children and our society. They can inspire, educate and broaden the minds of our young people."
"Filmclub allows children, who may not otherwise have the opportunity, to access a vast array of films from classics to more modern day pieces and allows them to analyze and debate in a way that builds confidence, opinion and tolerance."
Film Clubs will be running all over Wales until the end of the summer term. If you are interested in working with or finding out more about the pilot scheme please contact Hana Lewis at hana@filmagencyforwales.com
Film Agency Supporting Film Screenings for Disabled Children and their Families
Charity Contact a Family Cymru have been awarded £2,000 of Special Events funding towards film screenings aimed at bringing disabled children and their families into the cinema.
A programme of 6 screenings across Welsh venues; Chapter Arts Centre, Riverfront Newport, Torch Theatre Milford Haven, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Galeri Caernarfon and Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold will take place from this Autumn. The screenings will offer supportive and friendly environments for disabled children and their families and carers to enjoy a trip to the cinema.
The screenings will also include workshops for young people alongside the film showing and on selected dates the preview of short films created by disabled filmmakers and young people and addressing the issues important to them.
Film Agency Chief Executive Pauline Burt said:
"The Agency is committed to providing a breadth of quality cinema to all in Wales and is delighted to support a scheme aimed at giving these children and families the chance to visit and enjoy the cinema in tailored screenings that enable them to fully relax and gain the most from the experience."
"We're very pleased that these venues have agreed to take part in Contact a Family Cymru's project, and hope that by sharing the experience among their colleagues more screenings of this type to take place in the future."
Women's Film Festival Birds Eye View Looking for Welsh Partners
Birds Eye View celebrates &supports international women filmmakers. They are looking for opportunities to bring activity to Wales by working with established partnering organisations/festivals/production companies who would benefit from a unique brand and selection of events.
Birds Eye View is a dynamic, fast growing organisation determined to make a difference. They launched the UK's first major international women's film festival in 2005, and are now developing year-round training and exhibition activity with BEV Labs and the First Weekenders Club, plus a touring programme and a developing online community.
If you would like further information on how you can get involved with Birds Eye View please contact Development Manager, Tamsyn Dent: tamsyn@birds-eye-view.co.uk or visit website: www.birds-eye-view.co.uk
Dates for your Diary
Next FAW Festival and Education project funding deadline: August 14th 2009. For more information about applications contact eve@filmagencyforwales.com
Want to study film or animation, but don't have the funds? Skillset Screen Academy Wales are offering study bursaries for courses starting September 2009, application deadline 20th August 2009. More information at www.screenacademywales.org
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