ORGANISATION: Contact A Family, Wales-wide
National charity, Contact A Family Cymru offered a programme of supportive environment film screenings for families with children who have disabilities. Screenings were adjusted to support sensory needs, breakout spaces and enable parents to participate. Events took place in 5 local authorities across Wales. The programme ran for four years, across the 22 Welsh counties and explore accessibility kite marks with mentoring from Contact. we also worked with researcher Ben Ewart-Dean to produce a report: ‘Cinema Provision in Wales for Families with Disabled Children.’
ORGANISATION: Flicks in the Sticks, Powys
Flicks in the Sticks is the touring cinema branch of Arts Alive, taking big screen films to rural communities whose access to the cinema is severely limited. Through Flicks, communities in Powys have access to great films on their doorstep, at affordable prices and in a friendly and familiar atmosphere. From September 2015 onwards, a broad range of films were screened to 10 venues in mid Powys, aiming to support sustainability so that venues could continue to plan events in future. Flicks bring promoters together to offer support and training, increase the feeling of a strong network that links to the wider Hub network in Wales.
ORGANISATION: Chapter, Pontio & Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Cardiff, Bangor and Mold
The three venues are working together to develop a sustainable model of enjoyable and inclusive events that will encourage people with dementia, their carers and the wider film audiences to come together to explore their love of film in Wales.
The 12 month season will benefit from specialist partner support, including Public Health Wales and Alzheimer’s Society, who are working with Film Hub Wales to offer Dementia Friends sessions to members as part of Opening Doors.
The programme will test and refine approaches to: staff training; adaption of the wider venue and auditorium environment where possible; types of film; most appropriate screening time; and how to communicate with audiences within the venue and in marketing materials.
Partners will explore the potential to roll out to further venues in partnership with the Film Audience Network where possible.
ORGANISATION: Torch Theatre, Milford Haven
Sunset Cinema returned for summer 2015 with more films in more rural locations following the Torch’s successful pilot in 2014. This time the project took classic films to seven beautiful historical sites around Pembrokeshire for a two week tour of fantastic outdoor cinema screenings.
ORGANISATION: Newbridge Memo, Caerphilly
Newbridge Memo transported audiences to a time of silent film, exotic dancing, and storytelling with their screening of the 1940 film The Thief of Bagdad with live musical accompaniment. The event re-launched the beautiful art deco cinema to audiences across Caerphilly.
ORGANISATION: Gwyn Hall and Darkened Rooms, Port Talbot
Autumn 2014 saw two classic horror films in the atmospheric surroundings of Margam Castle. Gwyn Hall worked in partnership with Darkened Rooms for the first time, developing new skills in off-site delivery, presenting a classic double feature of films that will tingle any spine.
ORGANISATION: Cymryd Rhan, Llandrindod Wells
This year Cymryd Rhan are working with Clwyd Theatr Cymyr to bring cinema to underserved communities across Flintshire, inlcuding the Bryn Gwalia Estate. Working as a result of the Mold Do-It partnership, the project will offer exciting oppotunities for new community members like Northop Hall to get involved and an extra care scheme for older people in Mold. Their film program brings together the themes of the organisation and uses film to explore themes of disability, ignorance and communities being brought together to create change.
ORGANISATION: Theatr Harlech, Gwynedd
A year long programme designed to develop audiences through extending the reach of Theatr Harlech’s film programme through the production of off site screenings for hard to reach audiences affected by Pont Briwet Bridge closure, added value workshops, live streaming, Welsh language events and a broad programme of independent film in partnership with Harlech Film Society. Programmes will be adapted to maximise the reach of audiences who struggle to get to the venue, including over 50s, young people and audiences with disabilities.
ORGANISATION: Torch Theatr, Milford Haven
Offering a special season of British cinema which surrounds International Women’s Day, the Torch are exploring audience development techniques through a ‘Great Dames’ season, showcasing the lesser known work of actresses such as Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Kirsten Scott Thomas. Offering programme notes and introductory talks from key speakers around the cultural context of 60s London and industry sexism, they aim to ask their audiences to feed back via vox pops, creating an interesting tool to market further seasons. They will also test out a number of new ticket offers for both young and older audiences to boost attendances for wider programmes within their rural location.
ORGANISATION: National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales, Aberystwyth & Wales-wide
NSSAW and Dr Alex Southern will work together to curate 5 themed archive packages from the Unlocking Film Heritage material available in Wales, with resources made available for teachers delivering the Welsh baccalaureate. The packages will be tailored to the curriculum, enabling young people to engage with a variety of archive films across different topics. A handy tips sheet will also be created for exhibitors, with programming advice and best methods of accessing the films and the archive itself.
ORGANISATION: Prestatyn and Meliden Community Safety Group, Rhyl
Working in partnership with Theatr Colwyn between April and September 2016, the project will facilitate a series of creative workshops, practical exercises and visits, with the aim of equipping a group of young people in Rhyl with the skills of becoming young film programmers working in Wales. Twenty four taster sessions and workshops will offer hands on experience in programming, learning about exhibition and distribution, marketing and how to set up a cinema. With support and advice from Theatr Colwyn, the group will curate a programme of screenings for audiences at Rhyl Little Theatre, Colwyn and the new international youth film festival Wicked 16. The project will also work in collaboration with a young programmers project in South Wales, managed by Chapter and funded by Cardiff Council Cultural Projects.
ORGANISATION: Chapter Learning & Ben Ewart Dean, Wales-wide
A project working to create and deliver multiple life-long learning resources around a range of relevant new release films, along with in venue workshops for audiences, education training events and online video tutorials for members. The project will aim to offer informal education activity in venues across Wales that will accompany a range of screenings at associated venues. Look out for resources here.
We were also excited to offer an Into Film preview for young audiences with Vue Cwmbran this year.
