Organisation: Abergavenny Film Society
Abergavenny Film Society is a community cinema run by volunteers, for members and non-members. With two screenings of UK independent and international films with subtitles. Fortnightly, between September 2023 to March 2024.
Organisation: Cardiff Animation Festival
Cardiff Animation Festival will bring a wide range of exciting, animated feature films, short film screenings, exclusive Q+As with industry professionals and informal social learning activities to diverse audiences in Cardiff, as well as a touring programme of Welsh Work to independent venues across the country. Building deeper relationships with communities, the programme aims will work with neurodiverse animators, curators and audiences (Different Voices), asylum seekers and refugees (Oasis Cardiff) and rural communities in Wales (CAF on Tour).
Organisation: CellB
CellB aims to provide a modern cinematic experience and a hub for entertainment, with a modern city vibe for the community. In their mission to bring world and independent films to Blaenau audiences, their programme this year includes Youth PicZ screenings for ages 11-17, family film club, pensioners forum and training for their young Clwb Clinc creatives.
Organisation: Theatr Gwaun
As part of Theatr Gwaun’s year round programme of UK independent, international and mainstream film and documentaries are two new threads. They’re getting ‘granular’ with audience data and pro-actively building relationships with their local community, learning more about their needs in terms of cinema, from budget to experience of the venue. They have a specific focus on older age groups, young people aged 25 and under and Welsh speakers.
Organisation: Hay Castle Trust
Writing with Light present a weekend of words and film, transforming Hay Castle into an open-air cinema for the first time. Outdoor cinema, immersive projections, archive shorts and guest speakers will celebrate the art of translating text into moving images, inspiring all ages to read more, watch more, and make films.
Organisation: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will screen a selection of animated films at Chapter Cardiff, Aberystwyth Arts Center and Pontio Bangor (TBC), partnering with the Japan Foundation London to also offer online events (TBC). They will also host an inclusive Manga Comic Café (free Japanese comic reading area) to promote Japanese culture, sustainability and literacy, alongside the festival.
Organisation: The Magic Lantern
‘Film Alive in Tywyn’ at the Magic Lantern will enable the audience in and around Tywyn to experience top quality British independent (including Welsh) films and international films alongside the big blockbusters. Magic Lantern want their diverse and inclusive film selection to really buzz, to punch above its rurally isolated weight, to reflect the lives of all those living in the community, whilst also offering a window to the world and other people’s lives. The programme includes films for families and under 25s, music and film events and Environmental themed screenings in partnership with ‘Greener Tywyn’.
Organisation: WOW
The WOW Wales One World Film Festival (WOW) will run Ecosinema23 – an online programme of 6 world cinema features and 3 shorts packages in October 2023, along with the festival itself in March 2024 where 18 features (both documentary & fiction) will screen in five cinemas around Wales with added value events. Ecosinema23 (September-October 2023), leading with the theme ‘Another World Is Possible’ will offer an online festival showcase of the very best of world cinema. The programme will include fiction and documentary features, short films – including a package of films from Colombia created for the ‘Creating Safer Space’ programme, Climate Stories (two short films from Bangladesh produced by WOW) plus Q&As, panel discussions and an event in partnership with the Land Workers Alliance WOW24 (March 2024) will showcase 18 films of the very best of world cinema, principally award winners at other festivals. 45 screenings will take place across cinemas in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardigan, Fishguard and Swansea with Q&As and panel discussions. Major events in Aberystwyth will be AberCon, WOW’s anime convention organised in partnership with Mencap Ceredigion and a ‘Creating Safer Space’ event & panel discussion with visiting speakers organised in partnership with the International Politics department.
Organisation: Wyeside Arts Centre
Wyeside Arts Centre will offer a diverse and inclusive programme of British, independent and Welsh Language film in 2023. The programme will include foreign and Welsh language films, documentaries and films by creatives from minoritised communities. Subtitled screenings are offered every Thursday, along with relaxed screenings for children with autism, a ‘Tea and Biscuits Matinee’ every month for OAPs, plus a new programme of Mother and Baby relaxed screenings.
Organisation: Iris Prize
The Best of Iris takes a selection of LGBTQ+ short films made in the past 18 months and make them available to cinemas across the UK for free, with classification from the BBFC. Iris Prize aim to increase audiences for LGBTQ+ stories, building a sustainable relationship with cinemas.
Organisation: Abertoir Horror Festival
Abertoir, Wales’ International Horror Festival, is a popular and vibrant genre festival across six days. It celebrates its 18th edition in 2023. With audiences hailing from the UK and beyond, the programme includes an offsite screening, live piano accompaniment, over 30 films, shorts, talks, filmmaker Q&As, special events and opportunities for audiences to engage with key talent from the film industry. Additionally, there will be an accessible, shorter virtual form of the festival taking place simultaneously. Abertoir’s core goals are to create a diverse, accessible, educational and enjoyable festival with a strong sense of community, encouraging a deep appreciation and understanding of genre film. Their new mentoring programme also opens up opportunities for young people to work towards becoming the next generation of festival programmers and organisers.
