Awst 2025

A fyddech chi wrth eich bodd yn cael sinema ar eich stepen drws? Wel efallai eich bod chi'n agosach at un nag yr ydych chi'n meddwl! Mae Cymru yn llawn dop â dros 120 o sgriniau cymunedol a sinemâu dros dro.  

I lawer o bobl sy'n hoff o ffilmiau, mae gyrru dros hanner awr i'w sinema agosaf yn gwbl arferol, ac rydyn ni'n gwneud hynny gan mai ar y sgrin fawr mae ffilmiau i fod i gael eu gwylio, ynte? I rai cynulleidfaoedd, nid yw hyn yn bosibl am lawer o resymau ac mae'r wefr o gael eu sgrin gymunedol leol eu hunain yn golygu eu bod yn gallu cael mynediad at ffilmiau yn fwy rheolaidd. Mae hefyd yn rhoi cyfle iddynt ddysgu'r sgil o ddewis ffilmiau, trefnu eu digwyddiadau eu hunain, neu adeiladu clwb ffilm rheolaidd.

Os wnaethoch chi golli ein blogiau blaenorol ar wyliau aa sinemâu yng Nghymru, yna efallai nad ydych chi'n gyfarwydd â phwy ydym ni Canolfan Ffilm Cymru. Felly cyn i ni drafod sinemâu cymunedol Cymru – dyma’ch atgoffa chi mai ein gwaith ni yw cefnogi 'arddangoswyr' Cymreig o bob siâp a maint i ddod â ffilmiau rhyngwladol ac annibynnol gorau’r DU i gymunedau Cymru drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Rydym yn ariannu, hyfforddi a chynghori, gan gynnig cymorth iddynt lle bo angen.

Felly, beth yn union mae sinemâu cymunedol yn ei gynnig? Wel, rydyn ni'n falch eich bod wedi gofyn! Y peth gwych amdanyn nhw yw mai gwirfoddolwyr sy'n caru ffilm sy’n eu harwain fel arfer. Felly, os ydych chi hefyd yn caru ffilm, yna rydych chi'n mynd i gwrdd â llawer o bobl o'r un anian a gobeithio y cewch gyfle i wneud ambell i ffrind yno. Yn aml mae ganddynt gyfleusterau gwych, o'r sgrin i'r sain, i wneud eich profiad y gorau y gall fod.Cymerwch Sinema Gymunedol Dinas Powys yn Murchfield er enghraifft. Maent yn sgrinio ar ail ddydd Sadwrn bob mis ac maent wedi buddsoddi'n rheolaidd yn eu cyfleusterau o sgrin sefydlog y gellir ei dynnu'n ôl i daflunydd wedi'i osod ar y nenfwd, blwch rheoli newydd gyda dau chwaraewr Blu-ray / DVD, paneli nenfwd acwstig i ddileu'r adleisio, bleindiau ‘blackout’, a system seinyddion gwell! Ydi hyn yn eich plesio gymaint â ni?

Os ydych chi'n chwilio am y ffilmiau annibynnol gorau o bob cwr o'r byd, Cymdeithas Ffilm y Fenni yw'r ŵyl i chi. Clywsom si mai dyma'r gymdeithas ffilm fwyaf hirhoedlog yng Nghymru. Mynnwch eich aelodaeth yn gyflym – maen nhw bob amser yn gwerthu pob tocyn! Clwb arall sy'n adnabyddus am ei ddetholiadau gwych o ffilmiau yw Cymdeithas Ffilm Abergwaun, lle mae'r panel ffilmiau cymunedol yn helpu i ddewis ffilmiau yn yr hyfryd Theatr Gwaun yn Sir Benfro..

Rydyn ni, Canolfan Ffilm Cymru, wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Cherdd a Ffilm Cymunedol TAPE dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf i helpu i sefydlu sgriniau cymunedol newydd ledled y Gogledd fel rhan o'n prosiect Spotlight. Mae un o'r safleoedd, Sinema Llangoed (Neuadd Bentref Llangoed), wedi trawsnewid yn sinema o'r radd flaenaf gyda thaflunydd laser 4K Epson, system sain newydd, a sgrin sinema fformat mawr – yn ogystal â’r ffilmiau Cymraeg, annibynnol a rhyngwladol gorau!  

Os ydych yng Ngogledd Ddwyrain Cymru, un na ddylid ei cholli yw Sinema Gymunedol Mynydd Helygain, gyda'i chefndir mynyddig hardd yn Sir y Fflint. Wedi'i sefydlu yn 2015, maent yn dangos ffilm bob dau fis yn Neuadd / Llyfrgell Plwyf Helygain gyda diodydd poeth, popcorn a bisgedi. Neu os ydych chi yn Sir Gaerfyrddin,, mae Sinema Sadwrn yn Llansadwrn yn dangos ffilmiau'n rheolaidd ar ddydd Gwener olaf pob mis. O glasuron i gomedi, dramâu i ffilmiau mewn ieithoedd tramor, animeiddiadau a ffilmiau dogfen, mae digon o ddewis. Maen nhw'n disgrifio’u digwyddiadau fel achlysuron cyfeillgar gyda’r dafarn drws nesaf yn lle am ddiod a sgwrs cyn / ar ôl ffilm.

Rydym hefyd yn ffodus i gael cefnogaeth nid un ond dau ddarparwr teithiol. Flicks in the Sticks a Moviola. Mae Flicks, sy'n trawsnewid neuaddau pentref a mannau cymunedol yn sinemâu dros dro, yn cael ei redeg gan Arts Alive yn ardaloedd Swydd Amwythig, Swydd Henffordd, y ffin a chanolbarth Cymru. Mae Moviola yn cynnig gwasanaeth rhaglennu ac archebu ffilmiau ar gyfer lleoliadau cymunedol yn ogystal â chynlluniau teithiol ledled y DU, gyda ffocws ar Dde-ddwyrain Cymru. Mae'r ddau sefydliad yn gweithio gyda phob math o weithredwyr yn y rhanbarthau hyn.

Gyda dros 120 o ddarparwyr cymunedol i ddewis ohonynt, mae cymaint o argymhellion y gallem eu rhoi i chi. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, rydym wedi llunio rhestr lawn a map i helpu i ddod o hyd i'ch clwb neu ddigwyddiad lleol. Byddwn yn tynnu sylw atynt yn ar ein sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasolyn ogystal â lle gallwch ddod o hyd i'ch gŵyl agosaf a sinema llawn amser. Nodwch – nid ydym yn gysylltiedig â'r holl wefannau a restrir ac nid ydym yn gyfrifol am eu gweithgarwch. Edrychwch ar eu gwefannau lleol am fwy o wybodaeth am eu dangosiadau cyfredol. Mae llawer o sinemâu cymunedol yn cymryd seibiant dros yr haf ac yn dod yn ôl gyda rhaglen yr hydref o fis Medi ymlaen.  

Os ydych chi'n rhedeg sgrin gymunedol a heb eich rhestru isod, efallai bod hyn oherwydd eich bod wedi'ch rhestru fel sinema neu ofod celfyddydau cymysg. Os hoffech gael eich ychwanegu (neu os hoffech gael eich tynnu o'r rhestr hon), cysylltwch â niByddem wrth ein boddau’n clywed gennych.

Gall arddangoswyr o Gymru hefyd ymaelodi â Chanolfan Ffilm Cymru am ddim a gwneud cais am gyllid datblygu cynulleidfaoedd yn ogystal â chael mynediad at hyfforddiant, rhwydweithio a chyngor.

Edrychwch ar wefannau'r sinema wefans for the am y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf..  

*Organisations may be based outside of Wales and deliver across various Welsh locations.

Hub Members attend 2024’s SXSW and Sydney Film Festival with help from training bursary

SXSW festival celebrates the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture, helping creative people achieve their goals, and takes place in Austin, Texas every March. Hub member Robert Corcoran from 73 Degree Films attended 2024’s SXSW Festival to build on his relationships in the industry and attend the premier of Welsh film Timestalker. Akulah Agbami from Sheba Soul Ensemble wanted to attend the 2025 Sydney Film Festival to explore films and open new dialogues and awarenesses with indigenous Australian and Maori women film-makers whose films aren’t very accessible outside of Australia.

Working on behalf of FOCUS Festival, Rob felt his time at SXSW was extremely valuable to grow his network as well as speaking to filmmakers to “convince them of the benefits of submitting their work to a Welsh festival.” Attending the premier of Timestalker also gave Rob an insight into the appetite for Welsh film overseas, providing ideas on how to connect with international audiences. Rob feels his attendance at SXSW resulted in a marked increase in US submissions to FOCUS Wales 2025. “Additionally I managed to meet with key people at the festival to kickstart conversations around how to continue the work and increase ties further.”

Akulah, who is the Director at Sheba Soul Ensemble, who have hosted intimate and inclusive events to celebrate Black women’s film history on screen, wanted to find out how to source films from indigenous Australian and Maori women film-makers.  Akulah noted that no First Nations people attended any of the screenings and found the event still has some work to do to represent this community. With this in mind, she still came away incredibly inspired, and delighted to access several brilliant films by Black women directors, managing to watch 11 films and one short with one animation that she hopes to bring to Wales that will appeal to 16-25s and an older queer audience.

Rob and Akulah were able to attend these Film Festival’s with the support of Film Hub Wales via our Bursary scheme. If you want to attend a meeting, course or event that would benefit your organisation and develop audiences, but the costs are prohibitive, you can submit an application for support yma. 

Mehefin 2025

Efallai y byddwch chi'n synnu clywed bod gennym ni lu o sinemâu sefydledig yng Nghymru – 80 ohonynt a dweud y gwir. Daw'r rhain mewn gwahanol siapiau a meintiau. Mae rhai yn ganolfannau celfyddydau cymysg sy'n cynnig rhaglenni amlddisgyblaethol, mae eraill yn sinemâu annibynnol neu fasnachol llawn amser sy'n arbenigo mewn ffilm ac mae gan rai rhaglenni achlysurol.

Dydyn ni ddim hyd yn oed wedi cyrraedd y sgriniau cymunedol eto; Mae yna lawer mwy o'r rhain i'w crybwyll (a byddwn yn dod yn ôl at hynny yn ein blog nesaf) ond heddiw rydyn ni'n siarad yn benodol am safleoedd theatraidd.

Felly, ble dylem ni ddechrau? Gadewch i ni ddechrau drwy egluro mai ein gwaith ni fel Canolfan Ffilm Cymru yw cefnogi sinemâu Cymru i ddod â'r ffilmiau annibynnol a rhyngwladol gorau yn y DU i gymunedau Cymru drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Rydym yn ariannu, hyfforddi a chynghori arddangoswyr ffilmiau, gan gynnig cefnogaeth lle bo angen. Fe wyddom ni na fydd ffilm yn cael ei gweld dim ond oherwydd ei bod yn ffilm dda, a dyna le mae sinemâu o bwys. Eu gwaith nhw yw ystyried y gynulleidfa. Pwy fyddai'n mwynhau'r ffilm hon, sut gellir cyrraedd y gynulleidfa honno a pha effaith y gallai'r ffilm ei chael ar bobl leol.

Cymerwch Sinema Magic Lantern yn Nhywyn, Canolbarth Cymru, er enghraifft. Ar ôl dangos rîl newyddion mud gyntaf ym 1900 fel Ystafell Gynulliad y dref, mae'r adeilad wedi esblygu i fod yn sinema llawn amser poblogaidd ac unigryw gyda band, gardd gyfrinachol, a bar coctel. Nid yn unig hynny – maen nhw hefyd yn arwain digwyddiadau yn y gymuned gefn gwlad, fel agor yr adeilad ar ddiwrnod Nadolig i bobl leol sy'n byw ar eu pennau eu hunain a chreu cyfleoedd cyflogaeth i bobl ifanc yn y dref (yn ôl bob sôn mae eu tîm mor hapus yno, yn aml dydyn nhw ddim eisiau gadael!).

Ymlaen i ogledd-orllewin Cymru, os ydych chi'n cael eich hun ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog, mae'n rhaid i chi ymweld â CellB. Wedi'i leoli mewn gorsaf heddlu wedi'i haddasu, gyda dwy sgrin a chefndir syfrdanol o fynyddoedd llechi, mae'r lle yma’n llawn carisma. Dan arweiniad Gwallgofiaid, menter gymdeithasol nid-er-elw sy'n darparu hyfforddiant creadigol i bobl ifanc, mae gan y safle hostel, gigs rheolaidd a ffwrn pizza wedi'i thanio â choed.

Draw yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, mae'n rhaid i ni sôn am y gwaith adnewyddu trawiadol yn Theatr Clwyd, sy'n cael ei adnabod fel y darparwr theatr deithiol mwyaf yng Nghymru. Byddwch eisiau treulio amser yno a mwynhau golygfeydd panoramig y dref o'u hadeilad gwydr newydd, ymweld â'u bwyty sy'n cael ei redeg gan y cogydd adnabyddus Bryn Williams ac wrth gwrs, gwylio ffilm yn eu sinema bwrpasol sy'n agor o fis Gorffennaf 2025.

Gallwn gario ’mlaen gyda hyn drwy'r dydd... Os ydych chi yn ne Cymru, mae Theatr y Savoy yn Nhrefynwy yn sinema gwerth ei gweld.

Y safle theatr hynaf yng Nghymru, mae'r adeilad rhestredig hardd gradd 2 hwn yn edrych fel y sinema berffaith. Neu os ydych chi yng Nghaerdydd, dewch i Ganolfan Gelfyddydau Chapter, sydd â rhaglen enfawr drwy gydol y flwyddyn o ffilmiau annibynnol yn ogystal â pherfformiadau arbrofol, arddangosfeydd a chaffi-bar.

Draw yng ngorllewin Cymru, mae Theatr Gwaun yn Abergwaun. Mae'n theatr gymunedol annibynnol, wedi’i chefnogi gan dîm angerddol o wirfoddolwyr. Yno mae sinema, bar a chaffi gyda dewis helaeth o ddigwyddiadau, ac mae arfordir hardd Sir Benfro megis tafliad carreg ohoni.

Yn y bôn, fe allech lunio taith o amgylch Cymru, gyda sinema ym mhob stop. Swnio'n dda? I helpu gyda hyn, rydym wedi llunio rhestr lawn a map i'ch helpu chi i weld ble mae pob sinema. Byddwn yn tynnu sylw atynt ar ein cyfryngau cymdeithasol, yn ogystal â ble gallwch ddod o hyd i'ch gŵyl, clwb ffilm neu sgrin gymunedol agosaf.

Os ydych chi'n rhedeg sinema a heb eich rhestru isod, efallai bod hyn oherwydd eich bod wedi'ch rhestru fel sgrin gymunedol. Os hoffech gael eich ychwanegu (neu os hoffech gael eich tynnu o'r rhestr hon), cysylltwch â ni. Byddem wrth ein boddau’n clywed gennych. Gall sinemâu Cymru hefyd ymaelodi â Chanolfan Ffilm Cymru am ddim a gwneud cais am gyllid datblygu cynulleidfaoedd yn ogystal â chael mynediad at hyfforddiant, rhwydweithio a chyngor.

Mai 2025

Oeddech chi'n gwybod bod Cymru'n gartref i 40 o wyliau o bob siâp a maint? Mae llawer o'r rhain yn ymroddedig i ffilm, neu mae ganddynt gynigion ffilm rheolaidd. P'un a ydych chi'n wneuthurwr ffilmiau newydd sy'n chwilio am le i lansio'ch ffilm fer nesaf, neu os ydych chi'n mynychwr brwd o’r sinema sy'n chwilio am y ffilmiau newydd gorau, mae ein gwyliau Cymreig are ich cyfer.

Yng Nghanolfan Ffilm Cymru, rydym yn gweithio gyda gwyliau ffilm, gan eu helpu i ddod â'r ffilmiau annibynnol a rhyngwladol gorau yn y DU i gymunedau Cymru drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Mae gwyliau yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yn y gadwyn ffilm. Maent yn arddangos talent newydd, yn aml yn eu helpu i sicrhau asiantau gwerthu a bargeinion dosbarthu - cyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd newydd gartref a ledled y byd. Maent hefyd yn adnabyddus am ddigwyddiadau arbennig, dewisiadau ffilm unigryw a beiddgar nad yw cynulleidfaoedd efallai yn eu gweld mewn mannau eraill a lle i'r diwydiant a'r cyhoedd ddod at ei gilydd.

Felly pa wyliau sy'n aros i gael eu darganfod ar garreg eich drws yng Nghymru? Wel, mae o leiaf 40 (rydyn ni'n gwybod amdanynt) ac nid yw hyn yn cynnwys y llawer mwy o ddigwyddiadau teithiol sy'n ymddangos mewn sinemâu yn ystod y flwyddyn a gwyliau celfyddydol ehangach sy'n sgrinio ffilmiau o bryd i'w gilydd. Mae 34 o'r rhain yn ddigwyddiadau Cymreig yn benodol ac mae 6 yn ddigwyddiadau yn y DU neu ryngwladol sy'n teithio i Gymru.

Mae gan lawer o'r gwyliau themâu unigryw (20 yr ydym yn eu cyfrif) fel Gŵyl Ffilm SeeMôr sy'n archwilio popeth sy'n ymddangos ar yr arfordir a'r môr yn Ynys Môn, Gŵyl Animeiddio Caerdydd a Gŵyl Animeiddio Japaneaidd Kotatsu, neu i'r rhai sy'n chwilio am wefr mae Gŵyl Arswyd Ryngwladol Abertoir - sydd ar fin dathlu ei 20fed flwyddyn yn 2025.

Mae gwahanol wyliau yn cynnig cefnogaeth bwrpasol i dalent newydd fel Gŵyl Ffilm Bae Caerfyrddin, Gŵyl Ffilm Fach Caerdydd a Focus Wales. Ar gyfer cynulleidfaoedd ifanc mae Wicked Wales a Gŵyl Ffilm Ryngwladol Cymru i Blant. A gallwn ni barhau i’w rhestru! Ar gyfer y ffilmiau lleol a byd-eang newydd gorau mae Wales One World, am flas ar Affrica mae Gŵyl Ffilm Watch-Africa, Gŵyl Undod Hijinx yn dathlu artistiaid anabl, ag anableddau dysgu a/neu awtistig a'n gŵyl ffilm fwyaf yng Nghymru, Gwobr Iris Gŵyl Ffilm LGBTQ+ yn gartref i'r wobr ffilm fer fwyaf yn y byd. Rydyn ni wedi cael ein difetha am ddewis yn sicr.

Yn ogystal â lle gwych i ddarganfod ffilmiau newydd, os ydych chi'n dechrau yn y diwydiant ffilm ac yn chwilio am gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli, mae gwyliau yn lle gwych i ddysgu sgiliau newydd a gwneud cysylltiadau.

Ar hyn o bryd mae tua 50% o'r gwyliau yn cael eu cynnal yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, gyda'r 50% arall yng ggogledd, dwyrain a gorllewin y wlad. Mae llawer yn cynnig digwyddiadau ar-lein ochr yn ochr â'u rhaglenni personol, gan ein bod yn gwybod y gall cyrraedd yno fod yn her.

I helpu gyda hyn, rydym wedi llunio rhestr lawn a map i'ch helpu chi i weld yn union ble a phryd mae pob gŵyl yn digwydd. Byddwn hefyd yn tynnu sylw at wyliau sydd ar ddod yn fisol ar cyfryngau cymdeithasol, rhag ofn bod angen nodyn atgoffa arnoch, yn ogystal â ble gallwch ddod o hyd i'ch sinema, clwb ffilm neu sgrin gymunedol agosaf.

Os ydych chi'n rhedeg gŵyl ffilm ac nad ydych wedi'ch rhestru isod ac yr hoffech gael eich ychwanegu (neu os hoffech gael eich tynnu o'r rhestr hon), cysylltwch â niGall Gwyliau Ffilm yng Nghymru hefyd ymaelodi â Chanolfan Ffilm Cymru am ddim a gwneud cais am gyllid datblygu cynulleidfaoedd yn ogystal â chael mynediad at hyfforddiant, rhwydweithio a chyngor.

Darllenwch y datganiad i’r wasg llawn yma

Film Hub Members attend ICO’s Screening Days with help from training bursary

The ICO (Independent Cinema Office) runs national Screening Days events, a staple in the independent cinema calendar giving exhibitors the chance to watch the best upcoming film releases from across the globe and discuss them with industry peers. The Screening Days took place in both Nottingham and London in Autumn and Spring where hub members from Cymdeithas Ffilm Y Fenni, Chapter Cardiff, a Pontardawe Film Club went along to not only see upcoming releases to help develop their programmes but also for invaluable networking and discussions.

Here’s what our members told us about their experience:

The ICO Screenings Days provide members with the opportunities to explore new UK independent and foreign language film releases as well as being able to discuss programming of various films directly with the representatives of distribution companies. David Charles Price attended on behalf of the Cymdeithas Ffilm Y Fenni to explore new UK independent and foreign language film releases. Dave came away with a plan for the next season’s programme, new contacts and potential new partnership with Borderlines Festival where they plan on sponsoring a film. Angie Dickinson attended on behalf of Pontardawe Film Club and found this opportunity significant in the programming for the venue, ultimately amending their original suggestions based off of the outcomes of attending the Screening Day as well as new marketing ideas thanks to meeting Promoters in-person.

Claire Vaughan from Chapter Cardiff attended the Screening finding the in-person films vital to having greater programming knowledge. Having secured bursary funding, Claire was also able to attend the ICO Audience Development day and arrange meeting with other venues in the area who have a similar offering to Chapter, visiting Derby QUAD, HOME Manchester and Phoenix Leicester. The visits and audience development day provided Claire with more in-depth knowledge on young audiences, an understanding of other venues’ strategy on resilience, leading to further meetings, as well as information on audience’s Eco credentials which she was able to feed back to the team and the UKCA policy.

Dave, Claire and Angie were able to attend the ICO Screening Days with the support of Film Hub Wales via our Bursary scheme. If you want to attend a meeting, course or event that would benefit your organisation and develop audiences but the costs are prohibitive, you can submit an application for support here.

Our Marketing and Outreach officer Holly spoke to the Media Club at TAPE Cerdd a Ffilm Cymunedol about their Neighbourhood Cinema project and how they programme and market films to rural communities in North Wales.

What is the Neighbourhood Cinema project? 
We launched a cinema project called ‘Neighbourhood Cinema’ for communities across North Wales in 2023, with support from Film Hub Wales via BFI National Lottery funding. The project currently runs screenings at The Luxor Community Cinema in Llanfairfechan, various sites across Anglesey via Mencap Môn and at TAPE’s base in Colwyn Bay. We’re also exploring a number of ongoing partnerships with the aim of bringing films to communities where it’s more difficult to access regular film screenings.

What is the Media Club at TAPE and how is it involved?
Specialising in creative inclusion, we ‘co-created’ the project in collaboration with our Media Club – a safe and supportive space which offers hands on experiences to a cohort of people from across the local community. The Media Club focuses on giving people aged 18 and over the opportunity to gain experience in podcasting, sound recording, film reviews and cinema programming. The club meets weekly as a part of TAPE’s session schedule.

How do you programme films?
We watch films as a club. Sometimes we watch them at home by ourselves or as a group. We then come together to discuss whether we think they will be good choices for us here at TAPE and the other Neighbourhood Cinema venues we programme for. Recently, the group all really enjoyed Snow Leopard, The Mountain Within Me a Strange Darlings. We are keen to fit those into ours and Llanfairfechan’s programmes somewhere! Snow Leopard was one of the best films we have seen in a long time, it was absolutely brilliant. We try to pick films that people wouldn’t necessarily choose to watch or can’t find at mainstream cinemas, so we can provide that experience for them.

Do you try to estimate audience numbers for your screenings?
We do try to estimate numbers for the screenings as we programme. It’s difficult to be concrete about it as a lot of our screenings are free. People sign up for tickets but may not make it to the screening. We’ve tried lots of different ideas to retain as many people as possible, but you can’t win against the elements! If it’s been raining all day, we have reduced numbers (even though a rainy day is the perfect excuse to hide away at the cinema!)  

The Luxor Community Cinema in Llanfairfechan is a really good example of this. They hit the ground running with their first two screenings. I was at The Sound of Music screening and it was packed – the atmosphere was fantastic and we had  such a good time. They also screened Brian and Charles and they had a great crowd there as well. After both screenings, they received feedback from the audience and there is a real enthusiasm there. People are making suggestions about what they want to see, and it feels like the venue has become involved within the community straight away and  we have a really good partnership.

It’s great to hear that the Luxor has had such an amazing start! What do you think is working particularly well in Llanfairfechan? 
Chris Potter, who runs the community hall is really active in running the whole centre. They are constantly telling people about the cinema and the upcoming screenings. The venue is already very well used by the local community, but the cinema has generated a lot of excitement in t

he village so there is enthusiasm there from the very start. They’ve also ensured that the community a part of the cinema experience, asking them for feedback on the screenings and suggestions about what they would like to see in the future. I think the village has wanted the cinema back for a long time.  

We helped them out with the opening of the cinema, as we loaned them our air-screen whilst they crowd-funded the money for some permanent projection kit. We didn’t want them to have to wait any longer!  

I think it was also a great idea to show The Sound of Music as their first screening, as it was the film that they were going to show before the Luxor Cinema closed down in 1964. The apprentice projectionist from 1964 actually came along to the screening as he still lives in the village, which just adds to the local history of it all! The Luxor is such a good example of what happens when you have the perfect venue and the perfect team. 

Where do you go from the programming stage? What sort of marketing do you currently do to spread the word about your screenings?
We’re very active on our social media platforms – we mainly use Instagram and Facebook. We also produce an audio podcast that goes out every Saturday and they’ve been doing really well. Local radio has been really important for us, they’re supportive of our regular bespoke adverts for the events. It always feels like there is more marketing that we can do, and it is crucial to give people as much time as possible to find out about our events.

Is there anything else that you have done outside of marketing to increase engagement with your programme?
We’ve just started to do some programming with partner organisations. We started by working with Mencap Môn to programme for the Oriel Môn venue in Anglesey and that has been amazing from the start. We have just started to work with an organisation called Anheddau, which is a disability services and support organisation here in North Wales. They want to engage with the people who use their services more, so we are  creating a bespoke programme together, which will be really special. We’re also in the process of talking with organisations like Mind to create similar bespoke programmes there as well.  

We’ve also been doing some outreach screenings at film locations which has been really fun. We hosted a Halloween screening of our second feature film Approaching Shadows at the pub featured in the film. The screening was packed! The crowd were raucous in the best way and they loved it, it worked really well. We’re planning on going back to that same village in January to screen Brian and Charles, as that was also filmed there! It is a different way to engage these communities with Welsh films as well which is nice. 

It’s a really exciting time for the project and we can’t wait to see where it goes in 2025.

Find out more about the Neighbourhood Cinema project yma.

Ellys Donovan, Festival Producer of Cardiff Animation Festival tells us about her experience at BFI FAN CON 2024.

BFI FAN CON is a brand new conference for BFI FAN (Film Audience Network) members, from small community cinemas and touring collectives right up to large multi-screen independent cinemas and landmark film festivals. The inaugural event took place in September 2024 (Belfast) and Ellys attended on behalf of Cardiff Animation Festival.

Here’s what Ellys told us about her experience:

 Ellys attended the following talks, all of which she found were engaging and informative:

• Spotlight: Working with Communities in Underserved Areas
• Making Film Festivals More Sustainable and Inclusive
• Integrating Accessible Cinema Experiences For All Audiences
• Deaf Awareness Training
• ‘We’ll Come To You’ People Centred Approaches to Film Exhibition
• The Evolving Role of AI in Cinema
• Family Fortunes: Reaching Families and Children

The ‘Family Fortunes: Reaching Families and Children‘ talk was presented by Exeter Phoenix a Cinemagic Film Festival which explored how they have successfully engaged children / family audiences with their programme and developed a sustainable practice with families being one of their biggest audiences. This is something Cardiff Animation Festival will consider when programming in the future and how they can bring new content to families that would otherwise not have access to it on the big screen.

Read more about all the sessions above.

A community engagement session, We’ll Come to You: People-Centred Approaches to Film Exhibition (curated by Linnea Pettersson) explored potential barriers for audiences from underserved socio economic backgrounds and what can be done to to address them – this was helpful for Ellys in relation to the touring programmes they offer to communities across Wales and how they can consider a people-centred approach to their programming.

Linnea Pettersson is the BFI FAN Socio Economic Champion, read more and find resources here.

Ellys made several new connections with festivals and cinema programmers across the UK and Ireland which could result in more exciting collaborations for Cardiff Animation Festival in future. The new knowledge, training insights and contacts will be shared with the festival team to continue improving Cardiff Animation Festival events for the years ahead.

Ellys attended BFI FAN CON with the support of Film Hub Wales via our Bursary scheme. If you want to attend a meeting, course or event that would benefit your organisation and develop audiences but the costs are prohibitive, you can submit an application for support here.

As actor Mark Lewis Jones’ latest film Portraits of Dangerous Women hit cinema screens on October 11th 2024, he’s also is preparing to receive the BAFTA Cymru 2024 Siân Phillips Award. Across his 38-year acting career, he’s starred in a host of critically-acclaimed films and television dramas. To celebrate this achievement, we’ve curated a list of some of Mark’s films from our Made in Wales catalogue.

To see Mark’s full filmography and TV credits, click yma.

Bob tro y byddwch yn gwylio ffilm ar sgrin fawr, mae tîm o bobl yn gweithio'n galed y tu ôl i'r llenni i sicrhau eich bod yn cael y profiad gorau. Eleni, byddwn yn eich cyflwyno i'r bobl y tu ôl i'n prosiectau a ariennir – ffigurau cudd arddangosfa ffilm yng Nghymru. O gyfarwyddwyr prosiect i guraduron ac arbenigwyr marchnata sydd i gyd yn rhoi cynhwysiant wrth wraidd eu gweithgareddau arddangos...

Paul O’Connor, Co-Founder of Sol Cinema attended Sheffield DocFest 2024 and told us about his experience after 10 years away from the festival…

Sheffield DocFest is the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most influential markets for documentary projects. They champion and present the breadth of documentary form – film, television, immersive and art – in the vibrant city of Sheffield each June at Showroom Cinema.

Paul was hoping to attend workshops, film screenings, meet filmmakers and event organisers to explore collaborations with Sol Cinema which brings new audiences to see short films they wouldn’t usually see.  

Here’s what Paul told us about his festival experience:

DocFest brought together filmmakers from across the world and Paul felt inspired by the networking sessions, workshops and film premieres he attended. A funding panel outlined the need to think differently about where to source funds, he gained insights into the current climate of the creative industries and he met potential new bookings for Sol Cinema.

Paul attended the Sheffield DocFest with the support of Film Hub Wales via our Bursary scheme. If you want to attend a meeting, course or event that would benefit your organisation and develop audiences but the costs are prohibitive, you can submit an application for support here.

Chwefror 13, 2023

Diweddariad gan y Rheolwr, Hana Lewis

Hoffwn gychwyn drwy ddiolch i bob un ohonoch am roi o’ch amser i fynych cyfarfodydd a chwblhau holiaduron yn ystod 2022, wrth i’r BFI ddatblygu eu strategaeth, Screen 2023. Mae’r ffaith ein bod ni wedi dod ynghyd gyda’r un nod o gefnogi arddangos ffilm yng Nghymru yn destun balchder i ni ac rydym wir yn gwerthfawrogi eich amser.

Bydd nifer ohonoch wedi clywed y cyhoeddiad diweddar gan y BFI bod Rhwydwaith Cynulleidfa Ffilm y BFI yn mynd i barhau tu hwnt i Ebrill 2023, fel rhan o’u Strategaeth 10 mlynedd Cyllid Loteri Genedlaethol. Mae’n bleser gen i rannu bod Film Hub Wales, gyda Chapter fel Sefydliad Arweiniol, yn un o 11 o bartneriaid strategol ledled y DU i dderbyn cyllid Loteri Genedlaethol gan y BFI i barhau i ddatblygu cynulleidfaoedd sinema ar gyfer ffilm annibynnol o’r DU a ffilm rhyngwladol.

Beth mae hyn yn ei olygu i Gymru? Bydd Canolfan Ffilm Cymru yn derbyn £895,500 dros dair blynedd (£286,900 bob blwyddyn). Bydd yr arian yn cael ei rannu rhwng datblygu sgiliau, ymchwil cynulleidfa, cyfathrebu, prosiect ‘sbotolau’ newydd a’r gronfa arddangos ffilm – a fydd yn cael ei ail lansio yn hwyr ym mis Mawrth / yn gynnar ym mis Ebrill. Bydd y bwrsari hyfforddi a’r potyn llain yn parhau i fod yn agored drwy gydol y flwyddyn, gyda chyllideb newydd ym mis Ebrill.

Rydym yn gwneud rhai newidiadau i’n rhaglenni yn seiliedig ar yr hyn ddwedoch wrthym yn ystod y cyfnod ymgynghori a’r heriau sy’n wynebu’r sector arddangos. Rydym yn bwriadu cynnal sesiynau rhaglennu ar-lein bob chwarter er mwyn cael cyfle i sgwrsio am y ffilmiau diweddaraf. Rydym yn bwriadu dod at ein gilydd yn fwy aml, gan gynnwys digwyddiad blynyddol lle gallwn rannu syniadau. Yn ogystal, rydym yn siarad ag Archif Sgrin a Sain Cymru ynglŷn â mynediad at gynnwys Cymraeg ac yn archwilio beth fyddai costau digideiddio teitlau allweddol.

Mae ein prosiect Gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru (sy’n dathlu ffilmiau gyda chysylltiad Cymreig) yn cael ei gyllido tan 31 Mawrth 2023 ar hyn o bryd. Rydym wrthi’n gweithio ar gynllun cyllido ar gyfer y dyfodol, gyda ffilmiau megis Being Hijra a London Recruits yn ein calendr. Byddwn hefyd yn cydweithio â’n partneriaid Ffilm Cymru Wales / BFI Network Cymru i gefnogi gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau newydd ledled y DU.^ain 2023 ar hyn o bryd. Rydym wrthi’n gweithio ar gynllun cyllido ar gyfer y dyfodol, gyda ffilmiau megis India’s 1st Best Trans Model Agency a Comrade Tambo’s London Recruits yn ein calendr. Byddwn hefyd yn cydweithio â’n partneriaid Ffilm Cymru Wales / BFI Network Cymru i gefnogi gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau newydd ledled y DU.

Byddwn yn cydweithio â BFI Film Academy Plus, sydd newydd ei gyhoeddi fel y cynnig addysgiadol mewn canolfannau ledled y DU, a fydd yn helpu’r rheiny sydd rhwng 16 a 25 mlwydd oed i ffilmio llwybrau gyrfa a diwylliant. Bydd y cynnig yn cael ei redeg yng Nghymru gan Chapter a bydd cyllideb yn cefnogi dosbarthiadau meistr, dangosiadau a bwrsarïau. Bydd y cynllun yn helpu ffans ffilm ifanc i ddysgu am y diwydiant, gwylio sinema ddiwylliannol, dod i adnabod eu canolfannau lleol a datblygu sgiliau fel gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau a churaduron annibynnol.

Bydd rhagor o weithgareddau ar draws y Rhwydwaith Cynulleidfa Ffilm ehangach – byddwn yn trafod y rhain yn yr wythnosau nesaf wrth i’r cynlluniau cael eu sefydlu.

Yn olaf, mae’n flin gennym gyhoeddi bod prosiect RhCFf Sinema Cynhwysol (SC) yn dod i ben ym mis Mawrth. Mae gymaint o waith yn dal i’w wneud, ond rydyn ni’n falch iawn o’n huchelgais a’n cyfraniadau. Hoffem ddweud diolch o galon i bartneriaid a chynghorwyr SC. Rydym yn ffarwelio â Toki Allison, Rheolwr Prosiect talentog SC, wrth iddi symud ymlaen i rôl newydd gyffrous. Yn ystod wythnosau olaf y prosiect beth am achub ar y cyfle i ddefnyddio adnoddau newydd ardderchog, gan gynnwys Trans Loving Care a sinema Dosbarth-Gweithiol. Byddwn yn rhoi diweddariad dros y misoedd nesaf ynglŷn â sut i gael mynediad at yr adnoddau a grëwyd dros gyfnod y prosiect.

Rydyn ni’n gobeithio’n fawr y bydd modd i chi ymuno â ni yn Hub Helo yng Nghastell y Gelli, 23^ydd Mawrth, lle byddwn yn siarad am y flwyddyn i ddod.

Tan hynny – sinema am byth!

Dion Wyn Hughes is the Projects and Marketing Manager for Wicked Wales. He recently attended the International Youth Media Summit (IYMS) in Falkenberg, Sweden.

IYMS is an annual two-week event that brings together young people from different cultures to create media projects aimed at inspiring their own generation to take action and responsibility for the future. By confronting and examining global problems and exploring solutions together, they are bound in a shared purpose. Working toward a common goal and being accountable for a concrete creative product within a limited time period provides the perfect “stew” for collaboration. Here’s what Dion told us about the trip:

Throughout a fortnight, the challenge was to create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) over seven topics the IYMS wanted to eradicate in the world through diplomacy and film. They are youth empowerment, environment, violence, women’s rights, poverty, health and discrimination. Each group were split into young filmmakers, young diplomats and advisors who all worked together to create a short film about their subject matter with the help of their mentor who worked within the assigned fields. By the end of the summit, they would have a completed film that will be shared with international audiences at film festivals, on YouTube and through their partners, including UNESCO.

There are various ways to encourage and embrace heritage, language and culture, from Afghanistan to Nepal to Norway. Each day there were numerous opportunities to hear about different nations, how they promote their countries’ work, and the best models to exhibit the films. While many have expressed their frustrations about funding and sharing their voices globally, the summit allows you to develop and work on further collaborations beyond the two-week summit.

One of the main reasons Wicked Wales wanted to attend the summit was to engage with more young people. As they were the ones making the films and making positive changes in their communities, it was an enlightening experience. Hearing about the various programs they work on and their viewing habits benefited us as an organisation and for Wales as a whole. The diversity of delegates gave a fresh perspective on what works well for us and where we can improve and further diversity and inclusion in our sector.

The main takeaway from IYMS is the importance of international collaboration and working with organisations to improve our methods and share our own practices from Wales. We can learn so much from one another, and Wicked Wales has already begun a dialogue with partners in Sweden and Nepal on how we can collaborate further. Fortunately, through social media, we can now stay in touch with some of the great film societies we connected with and keep an eye on the ideas and programming that they’re doing. We hadn’t looked further afield until now, so I think this will benefit us when determining our own programme and events.

Dion attended the International Youth Media Summit with the support of Film Hub Wales via our Bursary scheme. If you want to attend a meeting, course or event that would benefit your organisation and develop audiences but the costs are prohibitive, you can submit an application for support here.