Art of Action will explore the cinematic artistry, skill and craft involved in creating iconic sequences and films, as well as engage with the historic roots and cross-cultural influences of action cinema. You can also expect behind-the-scenes insights into the daring and ground-breaking world of the film action community and opportunities for the next generation of creatives.

South West-based Art of Action events

During the Art of Action season (October-December 2024), there will be a host of exciting events happening all around the south west courtesy of our members. 

Here are the key events that have been funded by BFI FAN, courtesy of funds from the National Lottery. 

• The Poly (awarded £2000): The Poly’s Women In Action season will celebrate women in the action movie genre including 3 titles focusing on the career of Michelle Yeoh’.
• Exeter Phoenix (awarded £3000): Exeter Phoenix will celebrate the women who have advanced action cinema both on and off-screen. Delivered in partnership with film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith, of Girls of Film Podcast and Dolly’s Film Club with collaborations from Plymouth Art Cinema the season will present eight culturally influential films spanning across six decades. Through a specially curated podcast, in-person introductions and hands-on activities Exeter Phoenix will build on the connections and individuals who influenced action cinema and blew the genre in new directions.  
• Purbeck Film Society (awarded £4000): Purbeck Film Festival’s Stunt Saturday will be an action-packed day featuring five screenings of great stunt films with three introductory talks and even a hands-on stunt workshop for young people.  
• FilmBath (awarded £2500): Within the FilmBath Festival 2024 there will be a curated strand for Art of Action screening Run Lola Run, Polite Society and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to align with one of our core values to champion women in film on screen and behind the camera. All of these will have additional elements such as Q&As, martial arts demonstrations and stunt performances.   
• Pat’s Film Club (awarded £2500): As well as distributing the film The Stunt Man, Pat’s Film Club will be screening a host of films followed by a Q&A with a local British Stunt Register member. 
• Gloucester Guildhall (awarded £1683): Gloucester Guildhall presents ‘Woman Kings’ celebrating female stars, women directors and stuntwomen, profiling underrepresented voices and the history of stunt work. Using performance and spectacle to put the ‘art’ into action, the season will kick off with an epic fight scene flashmob with local youth martial arts squad, choreographed by stunt industry professionals. Award-winning female Japanese dancer, choreographer and stunts person Yukiko Masui highlights the artistry and visual choreography of action, with a sword workshop preluding our screening of Yojimbo. Seasoned stunt performer Kasmir Leese shares his journey into stunt work in a talk to inspire the next generation of artists. 
• Watershed (awarded £5000): Watershed’s expansive season, co-curated with film-maker Nida Manzoor, will celebrate the ‘women of action’, both in front of and behind the camera – centring the many actors, stunt performers and coordinators, directors and writers, who’ve helped shape the action genre into what it is today – as well as a Point Break party to celebrate the re-release of Kathryn Bigelow’s cult classic. From the dynamic duo of Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock in Yes, Madam! to the vision of the Wachowskis in creating The Matrix (not to mention Carrie-Anne Moss’ cartwheeling antics as iconic heroine Trinity) and their influence on Manzoor’s own Polite Society.  
• Cary Comes Home (awarded £2000): Discover “The Art of Cary Grant in Action” at the 2024 Cary Comes Home Festival, celebrating Cary Grant’s acrobatic prowess and impact on action cinema. From the slapstick charm of Bringing Up Baby to the thrilling suspense of North by Northwest and the Riviera rooftop escapades in To Catch A Thief, immerse yourself in curated screenings, live performances, and interactive workshops. Explore Grant’s acrobatic roots, his legacy as a cinematic icon and his influence as the prototype of the archetypal action hero, James Bond.  
• Dirt In The Gate Movies (awarded £125): Presenting John Woo’s action spectacle Hard Target from an original 35mm print at the Regent Christchurch with an introduction by a leading academic exploring the themes centred around the Director’s legacy and his ultra stylised ‘Art of Action’.
• Create Studios ‘Sofa Screenings’ (awarded £375): Swindon will celebrate the role of women in action film by screening Run, Lola, Run and/or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, with a local filmmaker to discuss how influences have shaped her work in this genre. TBC: A possible partnership with Swindon Film Society to screen Point Break, with a discussion from a stunt artist.  

There are also a host of Film Hub South West members that will be screening the season’s core Menu titles: The General (1926), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Train (1964), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Yes Madam (1985), Point Break (1991), Run, Lola, Run (1998), Polite Society (2023), Seven Samurai (1954), The Wild Bunch (1969) and the Police Story Trilogy (1985-1992).

If you’re interested in putting on a screening of any of those titles, register your interest below.

Backed by a UK-wide Press and marketing campaign and a central listing platform, the season will have a broad audience appeal.  

You must be a member of Film Hub South West as part of BFI Film Audience Network to access support from this programme.

How do I become a Film Hub Member?

To be eligible for support, organisations must be registered members of the Film Hub South West and be legally constituted with a nominated UK Bank Account. Proposals from individuals or non-members will not be considered.

If you are not already a member of the hub you can look at the criteria and apply here.

Where do I start?

Look at the Creative Brief below for more information about the programme scope and to get some inspiration.

Also get ideas from the list of available contextual titles that are available to book.

What is available?

There are three ways you can engage with the programme and access support:

• 1) MENU: Pick from the menu of key titles available from assorted distributors in the UK and access support of up to £125 per film for enhancement wraparound activity and audience development; with a very straight- forward process to access the support.
• 2) BESPOKE: Up to £15,000 (average awards likely to be circa £5,000 based on previous activity) to develop bespoke projects to allow exhibitors to develop a more bespoke activity within the parameters of the Creative Brief. (APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED)
• 3) CROSS-FAN: Up to £15,000 to develop programme and/or Marketing/Outreach Activity with the potential to scale or tour across the UK and/or projects involving multiple site-specific events across the UK. Read the Funding Guidelines for more information and guidance. (APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED)

Period of activity:

The bulk of the season takes place this Autumn (Oct-Dec 2024)  across the FAN membership.

(Note that for non-theatrical members, the menu will be available to book until the end of Jan 2025)

Accessibility:

If you require any access needs for completing the form, you may email us directly and we can advise how we can accommodate your needs to complete a proposal.

You can find further support for access here

What are the guidelines for this fund?

Please read carefully the Creative Brief and Funding Guidelines below.

• Creative Brief
• Funding Guidelines

Click Here To Submit Your Application for Menu titles

Key dates:

• Menu Expressions of Interest can be submitted until Monday 30 September 2024  
• Period of Activity: October – December 2024 (except for the Menu titles which can be booked until January 2025 and some special regional preview events)