Film Hub South West & West Midlands, one of nine lead partners in BFI’s Film Audience Network, has awarded funding of £90,000 to support 12 projects bringing new film activities and experiences to local and regional audiences across the region including Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.

Awarded £1.2 million over four years by the BFI, Film Hub SWWM is developing a network of cinemas, cross art venues and film festivals to collaborate in boosting film choice across the UK. Watershed is the Film Hub Lead Organisation for the South West and West Midlands.

Mark Cosgrove, Watershed's Cinema Curator and Chair of Film Hub SWWM and BFI FAN explains:

“This is an exciting time for film audiences across the UK with the BFI’s Film Audience Network taking effect across the regions and nations, creating opportunities for more people to access a broader diversity of films in a wider range of places. Film-watching is one of the UK’s most popular and important cultural activities, but many people cannot easily access a diverse range of films in cinemas. This investment from the BFI will help us to address this."

Eddie Berg, Director of Partnerships for the BFI said:

“The BFI Film Audience Network and its partners are central to the BFI’s vision to bring a greater choice of film to audiences across the UK. We are excited to break new ground in enabling a whole range of partners who are already experts at understanding their local and regional audiences to work together for the first time as a network to the benefit of audiences and filmmakers.”

The 12 successful recipients who will be sharing the £90k award, present a wide range of projects. Highlights include regional collaboration between Curzon cinema in Clevedon, The Courtyard in Hereford and The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, bringing a season of film and live music events curated by 'songsfromtheshed' producer Jon Earl to each venue. Afrika Eye Film Festival will be touring African silent film - Siliva the Zulu (1927), with a live score by Nigerian composer and musician, Juwon Ogungbe.

Film Hub SWWM is also inviting more film exhibition organisations based in the South West or West Midlands to apply for Film Hub Membership which is entirely free and provides access to funding, training and sector development initiatives and allows organisations the opportunity to draw upon the experience of Hub members. Find out more about the Film Hub SWWM and how you can get involved.

---