Beyond Boundaries 360 2026

Develop your voice. Build your network. Create cinema experiences that matter.

Beyond Boundaries 360 is Film Hub South West’s FREE development programme for individuals who are interested in film curation, event production, marketing and audience development.

Applications for Beyond Boundaries 360 2026 open on Tuesday 18 August.

What is Beyond Boundaries 360?

Taking place in Southampton, this four-month programme is designed to support people who are passionate about bringing communities together through film. Whether you’re taking your very first steps into screening films or looking to develop an existing idea, Beyond Boundaries will give you the skills, confidence and connections to create meaningful cinema experiences for local audiences.

Working alongside a cohort of fellow creatives, community organisers and cultural practitioners, you’ll learn directly from industry professionals while developing your own screening project from concept through to delivery.

Previous examples of projects brought to life through the programme include:

Queer folk–horror collective and screenings
Film screenings in vegetable allotments
Accessible screenings for d/Deaf audiences

This is an opportunity to become part of a growing network of people shaping the future of film culture across the South West and the South Coast specifically.

This project is led by Watershed, the Film Hub Lead organisation for the South West as part of BFI Film Audience Network with support from BFI awarding funds from National Lottery, and is open to anyone based in the South West.

We are particularly encouraging applications from those that:

are based in Wiltshire, Hampshire, the Solent region and the Isle of Wight areas
are who are currently underrepresented* within the UK screen and cultural sectors (see ‘Who is Beyond Boundaries for?’ section below)

A Place-Based Programme

Beyond Boundaries 2026 has been developed specifically to nurture new exhibition talent across the South West with a focus on Wiltshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Solent area.

We know these areas are home to ambitious creatives, community leaders and organisations with exciting ideas for engaging audiences through film. This programme exists to help those ideas flourish, creating stronger local networks, encouraging collaboration and supporting more diverse and inclusive film activity across the region.

Participants will have opportunities to build lasting relationships with cinemas, festivals, community organisations and fellow South West based exhibitors, creating a network that continues well beyond the programme itself.

Location

This programme is delivered in-person in Southampton.

Learning together in the same room is central to the programme’s collaborative approach. Workshops have been designed to encourage discussion, practical activities, peer learning and relationship building, helping participants develop trusted connections with one another and with industry professionals.

Participants should expect to attend workshop sessions in person.

Applicants should only apply if they are able to travel to Southampton for the majority of scheduled sessions between October 2026 – January 2027.

Bursaries

We can support the costs of you taking part in this programme. Once accepted, we will let all participants know how to access financial assistance for travel costs if required.

Who is Beyond Boundaries for?

We’re looking for South West based individuals, over 18 years old, who are excited about creating memorable film experiences for their communities.

You might be a freelancer and/or be involved in running or working for a small organisation or a collective. We welcome those who are at the early stage of their career in film exhibition, and/or who wish to move into cultural film exhibition from another sector.

You might be:

Someone passionate about cinema who has ideas about bringing films to local audiences but isn’t sure where to begin.
An aspiring or emerging film programmer or curator.
A freelancer working in arts, culture or community engagement.
Part of a community / grassroots organisation or collective looking to start film events.
An events manager keen to work on film events.
Involved in PR, comms or outreach keen to work on film events.

You don’t need previous experience of running screenings. We’re just as interested in your curiosity, creativity and commitment to working with audiences.

Please note you must be 18 and over and not in full-time education when the programme starts.

We particularly welcome applications from those that:

are based in Wiltshire, Hampshire, the Solent region and the Isle of Wight areas
are currently underrepresented* within the UK screen and cultural sectors and are committed to creating a programme where a wide range of voices, lived experiences and perspectives are represented.

*For example, you are from a community that experiences racism, you did not go to university, you had free school meals as a child, if you identify as LGBTQIA+, you are a Deaf or disabled person (as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

What You’ll Experience

Across four months you’ll take part in an inspiring programme of workshops, practical sessions and mentoring covering topics including:

Film curation and programming
Producing and delivering film events
Audience development and community engagement
Marketing, Outreach and PR
Inclusive practice and accessibility
Budgeting and fundraising
Rights, licensing and exhibition logistics
Working with cinemas, festivals and cultural partners

Sessions will be led by experienced exhibitors, festival programmers, marketers and guest speakers from across the film industry, alongside members of the Watershed and Film Hub South West teams. Throughout the programme you’ll also receive tailored one-to-one support to help develop your own project.

Bring Your Idea to Life

Beyond Boundaries is built around doing, not just learning.

Throughout the programme you’ll develop your own film exhibition idea, test it with your peers, receive feedback from industry professionals and refine your plans into a project that could be delivered for audiences.

Projects developed through Beyond Boundaries may be supported to seek further development and funding opportunities through Film Hub South West helping participants take the next step from ambition to action.

Read Beyond Boundaries Success Stories

Selection Criteria:

Participants will be selected based on the following criteria:

Be living in the South West of England (see our region map on the FAQs page here)
Demonstrating a high level of interest in film and cinema with ideas about bringing films to local audiences.
A clear commitment to inclusion.
A motivation to develop yourself and your work.
Be available to attend in-person sessions in Southampton between Oct 2026 – Jan 2027 (Full details will be arranged in conversation with successful applicants).
Be 18 and over and not in full-time education when the programme starts.
Not have been part of any previous Beyond Boundaries programmes.

We particularly welcome applications from those that are currently underrepresented* within the UK screen and cultural sector.

*This may include coming from a low socio-economic background (this might mean you had free school meals as a child for example), being from Black, Asian or other minoritised communities, not having English as a first language, being neurodivergent, having a disability, being care experienced, etc.

We have staff team members who are neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, racially minoritised, disabled, and are from a range of different class backgrounds. Get in touch if you have similar experiences and wish to chat to one of us before making an application.

Get in touch: neil.r@watershed.co.uk

Submitting Your Application