Rural cinema pilot scheme
The UK Film Council is driving a new rural strategy to give more people in rural areas the opportunity to enjoy the communal experience of cinema.
This strategy builds on the UK Film Council's ongoing work to improve access to cinema for audiences across the UK. Its initiatives have already inspired the creation of the world's first Digital Screen Network, as well as underpinning cinema access programmes and capital funding schemes designed to improve facilities for independent cinemas across the UK.
Today, many rural exhibitors use DVD-based equipment. This usually means they cannot screen a newly released film until 12-16 weeks after the film's cinema release, or when the DVD becomes available to buy.
Limited access to industry standard equipment can also mean that when a film is available, rural communities are not offered the same high standard of presentation available to audiences in urban areas.
The rural strategy aims to give more audiences in rural areas immediate access to new films in high quality presentations.
The Rural Cinema Pilot Scheme
To achieve this, the UK Film Council intends to implement a Rural Cinema Pilot Scheme that will bring high standard digital equipment to rural audiences giving them the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that modern digital cinemas have to offer, including live satellite events and 3D films.
Rural cinema in this sense means film screenings in rural areas, normally in non-traditional venues such as village and town halls, arts centres and other community spaces. It encompasses film societies, film clubs, mobile cinemas and community cinemas.
The UK Film Council has allocated £1.2 million of Lottery funding to the Rural Cinema Pilot Scheme.
The Rural Cinema Pilot Scheme will be rolled out initially across three areas identified as being under-screened:
- Shropshire;
- Wiltshire (plus the adjoining Test Valley Local Authority); and
- North Yorkshire.
These test beds will enable the UK Film Council to trial solutions in a focused, monitored environment. Through annual reporting and a transparent monitoring system, the data collected from the pilot will be shared for the benefit of all stakeholders and other interested parties to promote best practice and provide the foundations of any future national scheme.
Consortium approach
Each of the three pilot areas have their own particular characteristics and are at different stages of development from a cinema perspective. There are also significant operational and structural differences between different types of rural cinema practitioners in each area. The UK Film Council wants to build on existing successful initiatives in each region, while taking account of these differences.
We are therefore encouraging applications to run the pilot scheme on the ground from organisations representing a consortium of parties in each area that are active in rural cinema. These could include mobile cinema operators, festivals, film societies, arts centres, local and regional and national public bodies.
Successful applicants will be able to purchase high standard digital equipment that the UK Film Council believes will significantly improve the quality or presentation and range of films available to rural cinemas. The award will also be used to carry out audience development work, training and other activities to ensure that the technology is maximised and that it benefits the largest number of people.
The pilot scheme will run for three years.
For more information, please read
Rural cinema pilot scheme strategy document. To apply, please visit the guidelines and application form page.
