As part of Spotlight, the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) wide initiative , Watershed, the Film Hub Lead organisation for the South West, was invited to make a strategic intervention in parts of the region that currently have limited cultural cinema infrastructure.  

We’re delighted to announce that the BFI has awarded £159,750 of National Lottery funding to Film Hub South West to grow audiences and access to film in underserved parts of Cornwall (North and East Cornwall and Camborne) over the next three years.  

Redruth based Creative Kernow will lead Spotlight Cornwall and, with support from delivery partner Screen Cornwall, nurture collaborations and grow the opportunities for people to access more film screenings and events in those locations.  

Creative Kernow is the cultural and creative sector organisation for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Committed to supporting and delivering accessible, high-quality and impactful cultural activity, developed with and for Cornish communities, Creative Kernow builds the connections and infrastructure the creative economy needs to thrive. 

Screen Cornwall was founded in 2019, in response to the need for a single point of contact for the thriving screen industry in the region. Their mission is to sustainably grow the screen sector ecosystem in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. They focus on nurturing a diverse range of talent through their skills and training programmes, promoting cultural distinctiveness through their commissions and work in the Cornish language, and connecting individuals and businesses with local, regional and national networks and opportunities. 

Creative Kernow CEO Gregg Whelen said,  

“Creative Kernow will work in close partnership with Film Hub South West to grow audiences and strengthen screen culture in the region. Through a coordinated approach, we’ll nurture local partnerships, build capacity and support the direct delivery of public screenings and events with organisations and festivals. The ambition is lasting impact — leaving a sustainable programme of screening activity in place for communities that are currently underserved.“ 

This hyper-local approach to audience development was initiated by BFI with support from National Lottery in 2023 to create new opportunities for communities to enjoy access to screen culture where previously there was little or none. 

For the past three years, Spotlight has supported activity led by Create Studios in Swindon, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. This resulted in the launch of Sofa Screenings at Create Studios, a new Reel25 Young Programming scheme (involving 15 participants) and a whole range of partnership initiatives such as Stroud Film Festival’s screenings in Gloucester’s food banks and special events at Swindon Pride, Signal Youth Festival and Swindon Film Festival. In addition to the investment into Cornwall, Film Hub South West will continue to support Create Studios to wrap up their programme over the next three months. 

This hyper-local approach to audience development was initiated by BFI with support from National Lottery in 2023 to create new opportunities for communities to enjoy access to screen culture where previously there was little or none. 

For the past three years, Spotlight has supported activity led by Create Studios in Swindon, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. This resulted in the launch of Sofa Screenings at Create Studios, a new Reel25 Young Programming scheme (involving 15 participants) and a whole range of partnership initiatives such as Stroud Film Festival’s screenings in Gloucester’s food banks and special events at Swindon Pride, Signal Youth Festival and Swindon Film Festival. In addition to the investment into Cornwall, Film Hub South West will continue to support Create Studios to wrap up their programme over the next three months. 

Supported by National Lottery funding, the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), is central to the BFI’s aim to ensure the greatest choice of film is available for everyone. Established in 2012, FAN is a unique, UK-wide collaboration made up of eight Hubs managed by ten leading film organisations and venues strategically placed around the country. FAN supports a stronger and more connected approach to growing audiences for UK and international film on the big screen and has over 1,700 members comprising cinemas, festivals, mixed-arts venues, community cinema and film archives, which can access training, funding, programming support and network opportunities.