BFI FAN offers a range of events to help members reach new audiences, develop their business model, be more accessible, make their activity more environmentally sustainable and much more.
Find the latest opportunities below.
Upcoming Events…
Our annual event for film exhibitors across Wales.
Held in March each year, the event offers an opportunity to catch up with exhibition colleagues and find inspiration in one another’s projects, through bitesize interactive sessions. The event is also an opportunity for Fiilm Hub Wales to update on funds that will be available to Members* for the forthcoming year.
*This event is exclusively for Members of BFI FAN. If you’re not a member, you can join here.
Upcoming Events…
No upcoming events.
We’re delighted to partner with Media Cymru and Ffilm Cymru Wales for the first time, to support two Welsh trainees to participate in the Film Distributors’ Association’s (FDA) 9 month paid London based trainee scheme, gaining hands on experience in film distribution and international sales.
Exhibition and distribution are essential parts of the film chain. Understanding who the audience is and how to reach them. The scheme will support the aims our Made in Wales project, which celebrates films with Welsh connections.
Find the full course details from the FDA and Media Cymru below:
Our regular get together for exhibitors to talk about the latest films with Welsh connections, meet distributors, filmmakers and find out about Made in Wales assets.
Read more about our Made in Wales strategy here.
Upcoming Events…
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From the extravagant lifestyle of an eccentric Anglesey Marquess to adventures in the lush landscapes of Laos, eclectic stories with Welsh connections await audiences on the big screen in 2025.
Journey across Wales and beyond this year with local and global stories coming to cinemas, all of which have Welsh connections from locations, to cast and behind the scenes talent. Releasing in spring, Powys-born Joshua Trigg’s debut feature Satu – Year of the Rabbit will transport audiences to Laos as they follow two children on a stunning coming-of-age quest to find their families, friendship and the beauty of everyday life. Set to premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2025 is ie ie Productions’ newest feature film Brides, in which two teenage girls search for freedom, friendship, and belonging when they run away from their lives in the UK with a dangerous plan of travelling to Syria.
Producer Alice Lusher explains how Brides was filmed in Wales as part of an international collaboration:
It was an absolute privilege for us at ie ie productions to work alongside producers Nicky Bentham (Neon Films – UK) and Marica Stocchi (Rosamont – Italy) on Director Nadia Fall and Writer Suhayla El-Bushra’s debut feature BRIDES. A truly international collaboration exploring universal themes of identity and belonging – filmed in Wales, Turkey and Sicily. Production supported local crews and businesses in each country, and it’s been a real pleasure to see their incredible work and talent shine through this beautiful and important film. We can’t wait to share it with the world.
Thrill seeking viewers are in luck as a string of action-packed, psychological dramas and horror films are also set to release. The eagerly awaited Havoc from Welsh director of The Raid Gareth Evans, which was filmed in Cardiff sees Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker fight their way through a criminal underworld, unravelling corruption and conspiracy along the way. Following this is the mysterious The Man in My Basement starring Willem Dafoe, which is based on Walter Mosley’s novel of the same name. It was filmed in Carmarthenshire, with Welsh producer John Giwa-Amu attached. There are also high hopes for The Scurry, from Welsh director Craig Roberts and Cliff Edge Pictures, which follows the surreal story of two pest controllers who encounter an avalanche of deranged squirrels, wreaking revenge and mayhem on the staff and visitors at an eco-country park.
John Giwa-Amu comments on The Man in My Basement and it’s links to Wales:
It‘s been a great honour for Good Gate to bring such an iconic piece of American culture to film in Wales. We can’t wait for audiences to see this dark and unique thriller come to life.
There are also plenty of films brimming with Welsh heritage. Film Hub Wales is partnering with the National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive to re-release a new scan of the 2002 BAFTA-winner Oed yr Addewid. This poignant look at political disillusionment, social care and aging is all the more relevant 25 years after its initial release. A ninety-minute shorts package will also be available from the Archive’s year-long Cymru Anabl (‘Disabled Wales’) project which focused on improving the accessibility of their film and video collections, as well as improving the representation of disabled and Deaf filmmakers in them.
For biography fans, the stories of two iconic Welsh figures hit screens in 2025. Mad as Birds’ new feature film Madfabulous depicts the life of the eccentric Henry Cyril Paget, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey and stars Welsh actor Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin) alongside Rupert Everett and Siobhán McSweeney. From Welsh production company Severn Screen, and director Marc Evans, Mr Burton follows the origin story of actor Richard Burton, and stars Welsh talent Aneurin Barnard and Aimee-Ffion Edwards, alongside Toby Jones and Lesley Manville. This is just a snapshot of the films set for release in 2025, with many more to come.
Toki Allison, Made in Wales Project Manager explains how Film Hub Wales’ Made in Wales project supports releases such as these:
Made in Wales aims to fill a gap in the film ecosystem, by creating a bridge between filmmakers and distributors, exploring how that film reaches audiences. Working with Welsh cinemas and festivals, we aim to raise awareness of films with Welsh connections, ensuring that audiences get a chance to see these stories as part of a shared experience in a cinema setting. There’s some special storytelling going on in and around Wales and a unique perspective that deserves to be seen and invested in. Wales is many things and we’re intent on expanding that narrative.
Joedi Langley, Interim Head of Creative Wales, added:
It’s an exciting year for film, with many anticipated titles on the way. Creative Wales is proud to have supported several of these productions, both independently and via the Ffilm Cymru Wales Feature Fund – which in itself has contributed to several recent releases like ‘Chuck Chuck Baby’, ‘The Almond and the Seahorse’ and ‘Timestalker’. The Made in Wales project shines a spotlight on the breadth of filmmaking talent we have here in Wales and gives new features an important platform by raising their profile among audiences and celebrates each one’s Welsh connections and is a project we’re very proud to support. Here’s to a successful year in film for Wales in 2025.
Film Hub Wales’ Made in Wales (MIW) project celebrates films with Welsh connections. It offers a host of year-round activities in partnership with Welsh exhibitors, including a film catalogue, which hosts information on over 1000 shorts and feature films. Audiences can keep up to date with news of upcoming Welsh releases and the latest interviews by following Made in Wales on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, the Made in Wales podcast, YouTube and Letterboxd.
MIW is made possible thanks to funding from Creative Wales and the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), awarding funds from the National Lottery. BFI FAN offers support to exhibitors across the whole of the UK, to boost cultural programming and engage diverse audiences. In Wales, activity is led by Film Hub Wales, managed by Chapter.
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Our Marketing and Outreach officer Holly spoke to the Media Club at TAPE Community Music and Film 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 and 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!)
With the Neighbourhood Cinema project, we’re trying to work with venues in places people can get to despite weather and transport issues. Small rural villages are perfect because people do tend to make the journey if the film is really good and they can walk to it (and we always programme really good films!)
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 here.
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:
I had a brilliant time attending my first BFI FAN CON in Belfast. I attended a lot of insightful talks, discussions and training sessions and it was brilliant to meet everyone and talk so passionately about film exhibition and festivals.
Ellys attended the following talks, all of which she found were engaging and informative:
The ‘Family Fortunes: Reaching Families and Children‘ talk was presented by Exeter Phoenix and 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.
…the lunches and dinners at BFI FAN CON were a great, relaxed networking opportunity to meet fellow film exhibitors and gain an insight into how everyone approaches their work in a similar role to me – which is something I don’t often get the chance to experience.
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 here.
If you’re looking to fill your calendar with Welsh films this winter and settle into a cosy cinema seat, in front of the big screen, we have the list for you.
It’s already been a busy year for films with Welsh connections in 2024 with dramatic features such as The Almond and the Seahorse, Unicorns and Chuck Chuck Baby, plus the epic animation; Kensuke’s Kingdom, all of which had special Made in Wales interviews to introduce audiences to the Welsh links.
We have even more to look forward to, starting with Timestalker, which releases October 11th. Director Alice Lowe creates a karmic, hilarious and sometimes violent journey that sees the hapless heroine Agnes reincarnated every time she makes the same mistake: falling in love with the wrong man. The film has a host of Welsh connections from producer Vaughan Sivell to actor Aneurin Barnard, who Made in Wales interviewed this week. It was also filmed in Cardiff and Penpont House in Brecon.
Welsh Producer Vaughan Sivell explains:
Since my first film, Third Star, we’ve managed to shoot many of our films in part at home in Wales but in this case, we managed to shoot the entirety of Timestalker there. We doubled the Brecon Beacons as the Scottish Highlands, Penpont House as Georgian England and Cardiff Bay as 1980’s New York! The Welsh crew were outstanding and we had an amazing time. I can’t wait for local audiences to see it on the big screen.
Moving on to November, we have two documentaries with globally significant themes. First up is India’s 1st Best Trans Model Agency, from Pembrokeshire based director Ila Mehrotra, releasing November 11th during Transgender Awareness Week. This emotionally charged journey, filmed over seven years, follows the extraordinary story of Rudrani Chettri, her friends and the transgender community of Delhi as they create India’s first ever trans modelling agency. The film explores the complex world of India’s ‘third gender’ (Hijra), where traditional values clash with human rights. The film brings identifiable stories of love and loss, hope and poverty, beauty, glamour and catwalk glory.
On November 22nd, the multi award winning O R Tambo’s Comrade Tambo’s London Recruits will be launched to a wider cinema going public via what the organisers are calling a ‘People’s Release’. The film, hailed by Variety as an ‘edge of your seats documentary thriller‘, is set at the height of apartheid in the late sixties / early seventies as a group of working-class, anti-racist activists living in London answer Oliver Tambo’s secret call for undercover agents to bring hope to his embattled people inside South Africa. The release is being organised in partnership with the Trade Union movement and solidarity with Southern Africa organisation, ACTSA, in response to nationwide race riots across the UK. A key component will be post-screening panel discussions on how we can all contribute to an anti-racist Britain.
Welsh Director Gordon Main explains why releases like Comrade Tambo’s London Recruits are so significant:
With an emboldened far right once more on our streets, this film offers a powerful, anti-racist alternative to hate. The London Recruits risked their liberty for a better world. They are an inspiration. Shot in Wales and South Africa, the film is a proud Cymru / South Africa collaboration. It’s a showcase for great talent and locations in both countries and is part of a wider cultural and artistic dialogue that sees Welsh / African creative partnerships as vital for a culturally healthy, outward looking, international Wales.
Also highly anticipated is the second feature from Zambian Welsh Director Rungano Nyoni: On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. The film follows Shula as she drives on an empty road in the middle of the night, stumbling across the body of her beloved uncle Fred. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family. Keep your eye out for the release date, coming soon.
Fans of all things gory, can also look out for ambitious low-budget slasher film Scopohobia from Welsh director and writer Aled Owen this autumn, as well as Protein about a gym obsessed serial killer, coming soon from a team of Welsh producers Craig Russell, Tom Gripper and Dan Bailey. Both films were made in and around Swansea. Audiences can still also catch screenings of creepy British folk horror, Starve Acre, starring Welsh actors Morfydd Clark and Erin Richards.
Hana Lewis, Film Hub Wales’ Manager on how the Made in Wales project will support these releases:
Through our Made in Wales project, we work closely with the rightsholders to promote each release, creating assets such as interviews with talent and editorial articles which showcase Welsh elements such as themes or locations, of which audiences might otherwise not be aware. It’s essential that these films reach communities in cinema environments as they help us to see Wales on screen and the world to see us. We can explore our cultural identity in new ways, giving voice to diverse storytellers and challenging stereotypical perceptions of Wales.
Film Hub Wales’ Made in Wales (MIW) project celebrates films with Welsh connections. It offers a host of year-round activities in partnership with Welsh exhibitors, including a film catalogue, which hosts information on over 1000 shorts and feature films and Made in Wales podcast. Audiences can keep up to date with news of upcoming Welsh releases and the latest interviews by following @Madeinwales_ on social media.
MIW is made possible thanks to funding from Creative Wales and the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), awarding funds from the National Lottery. BFI FAN offers support to exhibitors across the whole of the UK, to boost cultural programming and engage diverse audiences. In Wales, activity is led by Film Hub Wales, managed by Chapter.
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Every time you watch a film on a big screen, a team of people are working hard behind the scenes to make sure that you have the best experience. This year, we’ll be introducing you to the people behind our funded projects – the hidden figures of film exhibition in Wales. From project directors to curators and marketing specialists who all put inclusion at the heart of their exhibition activities…
The season will be presented by the BFI Film Audience Network at venues UK-wide from October-December 2024, with highlights including:
The BFI today announces a new season celebrating the artistry of real action choreography, that has kept film audiences on the edge of their seats since the early days of cinema. Presented by the BFI Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) using funds from the National Lottery, ART OF ACTION will take place at cinemas across the UK from October-December 2024, with the chance to get behind-the-scenes insights from those working in the action and stunt communities, via special events, demonstrations, talks and screenings throughout the season. ART OF ACTION will spotlight the genre through the ages, with films ranging from cult classics to lesser-known gems from around the world. It will illuminate the work of female stunt performers and their struggle for recognition, and champion the new wave of action stars and filmmakers who are building upon the legacy of those who have fallen, crashed, smashed and picked themselves up before them.
From the jaw-dropping stunts of the silent era to the intricate dynamic choreography of today’s biggest action films, via the daredevil ethos of Hong Kong filmmaking, ART OF ACTION will feature screenings of THE GENERAL (1926), THE TRAIN (1964), THE WILD BUNCH (1969), the POLICE STORY TRILOGY (1985-1992), RUN LOLA RUN (1998), CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000), POLITE SOCIETY (2023) and many more. The centrepiece of ART OF ACTION will be a BFI re-release of Kathryn Bigelow’s POINT BREAK (1991) starring Keanu Reeves as FBI agent Johnny Utah, who goes undercover with a gang of surfers, led by Patrick Swayze’s Bodhi, who are suspects in a series of bank robberies. Bigelow’s kinetic masterpiece, which has rarely been seen on big screens in the UK in recent years, will be released in selected cinemas UK-wide by BFI Distribution on 8 November, with the film also available on BFI Player on the same date.
Timon Singh, BFI FAN Producer and programmer of ART OF ACTION, said:
After the triumph of EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE and the continued success of franchises like JOHN WICK and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, it’s clear that the thrill of watching ‘real action’ done by stunt performers, as well as stars like Michelle Yeoh and Tom Cruise, still captivates audiences. This season looks at the cinematic artistry, skills and craft involved in creating iconic action sequences and films, as well as engage with the historic roots and cross-cultural influences of the genre. We’ll celebrate the skill and daring of actors and stunt performers and their extraordinary on-screen exploits and provide opportunities to get behind-the-scenes insights into the daring world of action design which will thrill and entertain, and hopefully inspire the next generation of creatives.
Jason Wood, BFI Director of Public Programme & Audiences, said:
Art of Action will be a high-octane crowd pleaser at a moment when we truly need to be supporting cinemas, which provide such vital culture and entertainment to communities across the UK. The BFI Film Audience Network plays a really important role in getting diverse films to audiences and this has been an inspirational and creative collaboration with our colleagues at Watershed, Bristol taking the lead. It’s a greatblueprint for how the BFI can work with partners UK-wide on major projects. Art of Action’s broad historical and international scope presents the films we love alongside brand-new discoveries from silent gems to combat charged women, martial arts to major blockbusters plus a long-awaited re-release of Kathryn Bigelow’s seminal Point Break. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
The season will be programmed around three key themes, with the first dedicated to spotlighting action through the ages – from the early visual gags of silent gems like THE GENERAL (1926) to influential classics such as THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) and THE TRAIN (1964), through to the intricate and dynamic wuxia choreography of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000). ART OF ACTION will also bust the myth that action is just by and for men; celebrating the plethora of female talent in front of and behind the camera, as well as shedding a light on under-represented voices in the action community, from YES MADAM (1985) to POLITE SOCIETY (2023) via RUN LOLA RUN (1998). Finally, the season will explore how action films became a global phenomenon as both Eastern and Western filmmakers were inspired by each other, and the impact of such cross-cultural influences on cinema today – from SEVEN SAMURAI (1954) and THE WILD BUNCH (1969) to the POLICE STORY TRILOGY (1985-1992).
More than 50 venues UK-wide will host events and screenings supported by the BFI Film Audience Network, with some of the highlights set to include:
The full UK-wide line-up of screenings, events and touring programmes will be announced soon.
BFI Southbank will play host to a major season from 21 October – 30 November, concentrating on several themes alongside stunts; the women of action, the master John Woo and the influence of Bollywood, as well as serving a plotted guide through the history of action cinema with a special all action-themed edition of Big Screen Classics, where BFI Southbank shows classic films on a daily basis for just £9. Special events confirmed for the season so far include Stunt Saturday on 16 November, a special day of talks, panel events, screenings and workshops all celebrating the art of stunts. BFI Southbank will welcome Nida Manzoor for a Q&A on 17 November, following a screening of her hilarious and exhilarating action/comedy POLITE SOCIETY (2023), which follows 16-year-old Ria, an aspiring stuntwoman, who is alarmed when her sister Lena is swept up by a charming suitor and starts heading towards marriage at speed. Also on 17 November, The Art of the Action Trailer will present some of the best and worst action trailers through time, pondering the iconic trailer voiceover and decide whether it’s better to reveal or conceal the big stunts.
BFI IMAX, the UK’s largest screen, is one of the best places to watch an action blockbuster with its immersive, unmatched scale. The cinema will host a number of events during the season, including all-nighters dedicated to JOHN WICK and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, and the premiere of a new 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s SEVEN SAMURAI (1954) on 26 September. SEVEN SAMURAI will also be released by the BFI on 4K UHD on 21 October, with the new restoration playing in further selected cinemas as part of the season. More information about the 4K UHD release will be revealed soon.
Audiences will also be able to stream films from the season at home on BFI Player, with a selection of titles set to include FIST OF FURY (1972), THE STREET FIGHTER (1974), ARMOUR OF GOD (1986), HEROES SHED NO TEARS (1986), POINT BREAK (1991), RUN LOLA RUN (1998), LEONOR WILL NEVER DIE (2022) and many more to be announced soon.
Film Hub Wales (FHW) has awarded over £100,000 of BFI National Lottery funding to nineteen independent Welsh cinemas and film festivals, through its Film Exhibition Fund.
Funds will enable Welsh audiences to watch the latest UK independent and international films in their local communities, at affordable prices. From relaxed, family friendly films to eco cinema strands and the latest Welsh releases, there’s plenty to choose from.
Audiences in Bridgend and Blaenau Ffestiniog will even get to watch the films in exciting new cinema spaces. Awen Cultural Trust is launching its Llynfi Valley Cinema Project alongside at Maesteg Town Hall following its multi-million-pound redevelopment. At Cellb, their new ‘Sgrin Emyr Ankst’, opens in memory of Welsh music and cinema pioneer Emyr Glyn Williams – his legacy is set to inspire the young people of Wales for many years to come.
Rhys Roberts from Cellb explains the importance of their new screen to the community:
Cellb is located in the center of the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, a high mountainous location under the Stiniog quarries with its rich past history in industry, heritage and culture. It was the location for the first ever Welsh language film, Y Chwarelwr, an important film that reflects the lives of the local quarrymen in its community. Its past historic Culture and Welsh language was a vital part of the social and cultural dynamics.
Today, we feel that it’s important to celebrate and to educate our young people about modern heroes such as Emyr and it is with this in mind that we wish to dedicate our Screen 1 to his name. Our youths need role models, whom have flourished in the arts and culture and Emyr is a fine example of a local boy who dreamt big and made a huge impact on Welsh Culture. This is for you Emyr, you have inspired us and we will shine your beacon on to the masses for years to come. Diolch Emyr, Caru chdi.
At the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven, they’re building relationships with their audiences and local partners, exploring global themes of intersectional identity through their film programme. They’re opening up the space to new communities by celebrating important awareness dates such as Black History Month, LGBTQIA+ History Month and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Chelsey Gillard, The Torch’s Artistic Director explains:
We are thrilled to work with Film Hub Wales to deliver a series of celebratory cinema seasons across six months. This funding will allow us to build relationships with our communities and discover what people want to see at their local cinema, informing our long-term sustainability. By working with partners across Wales that bring a wealth of lived experiences, we will be able to screen a wider variety of films and facilitate post-screening events that we hope will support discussion, reflection and connection.
Other highlights include youth-led activities at Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea and Theatr Gwaun in Fishguard, works screened from neurodivergent filmmakers at both Hijinx Unity Festival and through Cardiff Animation Festival’s Different Voices strand, as well as a nature/ecology in horror strand at Abertoir International Horror Festival – think disgusting real-life parasites and ‘nature fights back’.
Hana Lewis, Head of Film Hub Wales adds:
The fund is designed to help cinemas, festivals and community screens to bring the best UK independent and international films to Welsh audiences, in accessible and affordable ways. There’s so much to look forward to this year, which communities simply can’t get from watching a film at home. By heading out to their local cinema space, they’re already part of something bigger within their community and with a host of activities on offer, audiences get a night out for the price of their ticket.
The projects are supported by Film Hub Wales, which is part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) using funds from the National Lottery to ensure the greatest choice of cinema is available to everyone across the UK. Funds in Wales are administered by FHW via Chapter as the Film Hub Lead Organisation.
More than £30M is raised each week for good causes across the UK by the National Lottery.
