Proud to be a partner of

More people, more places,

more film

Images clockwise from top left:Pontio, BangorMonmouth Savoy Theatre © Tim KniftonNewbridge MemoWyeside Arts Centre

Front cover image: WOW Women’s

Film Club © Michal Iwanowski

What is Film Hub Wales?Film Hub Wales (FHW) champions the work of exhibitors, offering inspiration, support and inclusion, bringing British and international film to audiences across Wales and the UK.

We are part of a UK wide network of 8 hubs funded by the British Film Institute (BFI) to form the Film Audience Network (FAN), with Chapter appointed as the Film Hub Lead Organisation in Wales. We aim to reach audiences through development of the exhibition sector, offering research, training and audience development project support.

Since FHW was set up in 2013, we’ve supported over 180 cinema projects, reaching over 308,000 audience members. Our audience development support programme is designed to enable innovative and adventurous cultural film programming Wales wide, helping exhibitors to invest regularly in bold choices, facilitating greater in-depth audience participation and overcoming potential barriers to access.

Inclusion is at the heart of what we do, promoting the diversity of our audience and eclectic exhibition network. We recognise the significance of film to isolated rural communities and young audiences in Wales.

Together we celebrate the power of film to generate positive partnerships, life-changing skills and the fundamental value of film as both heritage and art-form, promoting Wales as a cornerstone for film culture.

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“If you want to get into the industry and have no idea how, this is honestly the best way. It was the best decision I’ve ever made!”

Lacey Small, Wicked Young Programmer

Outstanding supportive organisation – great network to be part of.

Exhibitor

“Screening Scratch ‘n Sniff Matilda was a joy. Our audience loved it and the whole process

was made easy and fun for us, the organisers too. The

information package was very detailed and easy to follow

and we got the impression that the Film Hub Wales team had a

great time creating it and all the beautiful accompanying artwork.

FAN Member

“If there was a film with a Welsh focus I would absolutely jump at working with Film Hub Wales

again […] They were very open, they were very communicative (…) and it makes it much easier to have a conversation when

people do that, to see what the vision is and how you can pair up.

Distributor ”

What Our Members Say

Running a cinema can, ironically, be quite an insular

experience, and the existence of the Hub is essential in

providing help, vision and support. This resource should

never be under appreciated - we do really rely on this agency

existing and flourishing.

Exhibitor

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I would never have screened a Welsh language film without

the Hub’s support because [this] isn’t a Welsh language speaking area. We undertook surveys to see what percentage of the

audience were Welsh speaking and that’s something we never would have done […] It was the support from the Film Hub that

got that going effectively.

Exhibitor

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All projects must be open and accessible. In order to reach the widest possible audience through our supported projects, we are committed to the BFI Diversity standards.

Young People: To improve year round access to film for families and young audiences (with a specific focus on ages 16-30),

Inclusion: Accessible screenings year-round that support representation on screen, in the audience and behind the camera (supporting audiences that identify as/with LGBTQIA+, BAME, old age, multi-sensory needs, low socio-economic, rural and underserved, isolated, minority languages),

Engaging Audiences: Projects that attract and sustain audiences for British independent (including Welsh) and international cinema, offering an in-depth cultural experience:

– Development of an innovative, adventurous and significant cultural film programme Wales wide that is supported by a network of collaborative regional and national partnerships,

– The ability to understand our audiences through the development of robust and engaging audience research,

Heritage: Facilitating greater access to screen heritage with a focus on national and regional collections,

– To celebrate Welsh language, heritage and culture, offering a platform for Welsh talent,

Skills: Boosting a skilled and diverse workforce across the Film Audience Network.

Contact a Family (Cymru) supportive environment family film day at Chapter (Cardiff) © Noel Dacey

Our Objectives

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Our MembersFHW’s members are at the heart of this project. The more members and partnerships we build, the greater impact we can make for audiences and our exhibition sector in Wales.

FHW welcomes new members year-round. Member organisations may include:

– Cinemas (independent and local/national circuits),

– Mixed arts venues, – Volunteer-run film societies

and community cinemas, – Touring cinemas and

community screen networks, – Film festivals, – Screen archives, – Regular pop-up film events, – Academic institutions,

– Museums and galleries, – Local authority departments and

agencies, – Local and regional development

agencies, – Community groups and leisure

providers.

Membership CriteriaTo become a FHW member, your organisation will need to share the objectives of FHW and the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) on the previous page.

FeesMembership to Film Hub Wales is free. To join, please complete our application form.

BFI LOVE event at Castell Coch presented by Chapter and CADW, November 2015© Noel Dacey

Membership

Network – Potential to benefit from Hub fundraising,

– Industry advice and partnership support from the Film Hub Wales team and members,

– Access to Hub meetings, such as Welsh film preview days, where there is potential to collaborate through cultural programming, develop new projects and discuss new developments within the sector,

– Access to bursaries with opportunities for bespoke training and mentoring,

– Increased connectivity, through links to wider hub members, film practitioners and organisations UK wide (Cinema for All, British Film Institute, Independent Cinema Office),

– Opportunities for communication with established independent UK venues, offering potential for increased admissions,

– Representation and advocacy on a national level via FHW at UK Hub meetings and events and internationally via organisations such as UKCA and Europa Cinema,

– Access to regular updates with information on upcoming programmes and industry news, including via our film preview room.

Audience – Access to financial support. Please see our guidelines for criteria.

– Marketing support through FHW web and UK wide initiatives, social media and other outlets with potential to raise awareness of your organisation,

– Potential to participate in audience research initiatives that will aim to better understand audience behaviour and improve individual data collection,

– The opportunity to participate in high quality special events and UK wide blockbuster seasons such as Roald Dahl on Film,

– The opportunity to pool programme resources and share best practice.

Benefits for Members

Audience Development Support will be made available to exhibition projects with national, regional or local community reach that support adventurous programming, such as inclusive screenings for hard to reach communities, young or family audiences, heritage; including the celebration of Welsh culture and skills development.

Spotlight: Off Y Grid‘Get involved, get off the grid’. Eight venues (CELLB, Dragon Theatre, Galeri, Neuadd Dwyfor/Buddug, Pontio, TAPE, The Magic Lantern, Theatr Ardudwy) have joined forces as part of a strategic FHW project to promote diverse films to rural and underserved communities across North Wales.

Taking an innovative new approach to audience development, they create a buzz between the nine cinemas and increase awareness of exciting low cost events on offer for all ages.

Training and SkillsBursaries of up to £500 are available to enable members to attend training workshops, festivals, conferences and networking opportunities. We also provide bespoke regional training for members, including an annual Rural Community Cinema event during Borderlines and a community kit hire scheme in partnership with Cinema for All.

Spotlight: Opening our DoorsWorking with specialist partners, FHW offered two free diversity training days for exhibitors. These sessions explored how to welcome audiences, from dementia and transgender awareness to isolated groups such as refugees and asylum seekers.

We also lead the BFI FAN Inclusive Cinema strategy, developing accessible screening provision UK wide and the Queer Film Network UK, a network of 20+ film programmers across the UK who specialise in LGBTQIA+ cinema.

Partnership Support

MarketingFHW works with members to test flexible approaches to programming and audience development. For example, we offer both physical touring and online film preview facilities, enabling members to watch and discuss new films in advance of release.

Spotlight: Roald Dahl on Film48,893 admissions | 40 venues | 149 locations | 903 screenings

To celebrate Roald Dahl 100, the centenary year of Roald Dahl’s birth, FHW and Chapter teams developed a family friendly film programme running from July – September 2016 that celebrated the world’s number one storyteller, who was born in Cardiff in 1916.

Our resources reached as far as Europe! We offered free screenings of Alfred Hitchcock presents, commissioned and toured Matilda Scratch ‘n Sniff and launched an online evaluation tool.

Research FHW develops research projects that aim to understand the current landscape of film in Wales and beyond, exploring audiences within both rural and urban areas, the UK and the wider market. FHW has produced 8 research studies to date, from Unlocking Heritage, to Rural Cinema and Youth Festival Networks.

Spotlight: Screen Heritage We commissioned research into screen archive collections in Wales, in order to establish current levels of programming, to identify challenges and opportunities for future programme development.

The research was undertaken by Bigger Picture Research and has supported the creation of three 90 minute theatrical archive packages and one Wales on Film education resource for foundation phase to key stage four. The research is available to view at filmhubwales.org/resources.

Images left to right: Off Y Grid; Opening Doors Diversity Day at Loudoun Square; Roald Dahl on Film at Preston Outdoor Market by They Eat Culture; Dark Horse screening at Llancarfan Community Cinema

Tinted Lens Festival for Dementia Awareness Week at Chapter, May 2017© Cardiff University

Hub Advisory GroupWe have brought together a Strategic Hub Advisory Group who will guide and monitor strategy around all areas of hub development. Working with the Hub Executive (Strategic Manager and Development Officer), group members have been selected based on their varied expertise:

– Jim Barratt, Bigger Picture Research (Chair)

– Berwyn Rowlands, The Festivals Company, Iris Prize Film Festival

– Steve Blandford, Chapter Board

– Rhiannon Wyn Hughes, Wicked Wales, International Youth Film Festival

– Emma Flatley, Welsh National Opera

– Michael Flynn, Diverse Cymru

– Sara Beer, Disability Arts Cymru

WOW Film Club screening of The Hard Stop at the Wales Millennium Centre © Vedat XhymshitiRoald Dahl on Film © Guest WhoThe Queer Film Network © Jon Pountney