Film Hub South West is the driving force behind a growing network of over 160 cinemas, film festivals, cross-arts venues and other film exhibition organisations from across the south west.
Film Hub South West is led by internationally renowned independent cinema Watershed based in Bristol UNESCO City of Film, with support from the National Lottery as part of the UK-wide BFI Film Audience Network (BFI FAN.)
Photo of Mark Jenkin and Anna Navas at Plymouth Art Cinema’s screening of EnysMen. Photo by Dom Moore
The region covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, West of England, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly.
With support from National Lottery funding, the Film Hub South West works collaboratively with its members to develop a thriving and inclusive film sector enabling more people to show, watch, and make films where they are, regardless of geography or circumstance; supporting them with funding opportunities as well as bursaries, training, programming support, members-only industry intelligence, and networking. Since 2023, Film Hub South West has also been able to make a strategic intervention in parts of the south west that currently have little cultural cinema infrastructure through the Spotlight programme.
Support
Project support is available to members through the Film Exhibition Fund, which supports annual and multi-year activity that bring audiences together for a communal viewing experience, in particular screenings of UK independent and international films. There are two deadlines each year and it is usually oversubscribed, so it’s important for members to approach the Hub about planned projects early to stand the best chance of successfully accessing funding. For smaller-scale initiatives (below £2000), members can apply to the rolling Audience Pitch Pot. The Cinema Incentive scheme also aims to encourage member venues to take more risks within their annual programme, to increase opportunities for audiences to experience a broader range of cinema beyond the mainstream and to develop the UK market for a wider range of film.
Training & Events
There are plenty of opportunities for members to come together online and in-person for monthly members meet-ups and free training sessions covering a range of topics responsive to their needs. They can also access online resources, travel/training bursaries and request one-to-ones with members of the Film Hub South West team. All members are invited to take part in an annual Members Advisory Forum, a space to collectively reflect on the Hub’s growing and increasingly diverse membership and inform strategic plans for the year ahead.
Talent Development
As of 2018, thanks to National Lottery funding, Film Hub South West is also home to two BFI NETWORK Talent Executives who nurture the South West’s new wave of filmmaking talent. They support writers, directors and producers who have original stories to tell and inspired approaches to their craft; through initiatives such as the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund and Early Development Fund. There are also many ways they can support talent who are not yet ready to apply for BFI NETWORK funding through various labs, networking opportunities and development programmes.
Early Stage Creatives
Working towards a more inclusive and representative film exhibition sector, Film Hub South West delivers Beyond Boundaries 360, a free collaborative development programme for south west-based individuals and small organisations who are interested in cultural film curation, event production and audience development. The annual programme offers a space to connect with other practitioners as well as get support to access funding.
Working closely with BFI FAN and regional partners, Watershed runs BFI Film Academy in the south west, offering opportunities for 16 – 25-year-olds to get to know more about film and how to make a career in the screen industries; supporting activity such as commissions, mentoring, networking events and skills development programmes.
UK-wide BFI FAN Role
In addition to our work across the region, since 2023, Film Hub South West also leads on BFI FAN Programming in collaboration with and on behalf of the wider BFI Film Audience Network co-ordinated by Producer Ti Singh. With support from the National Lottery, working closely with BFI and BFI FAN partners, a themed programme takes place each year across the UK. To date, these have included Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger (2023) and Art of Action (2024.)
Producer Ti Singh also oversees Booking Now – a monthly newsletter which keeps all BFI FAN members up to date on films, events, tours and added value opportunities such as talent available for booking.
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