Film Hub NI is launching an innovative training programme Moving Pictures, to encourage independent and community cinemas, film festivals and venues across Northern Ireland to explore online opportunities to engage audiences with the best of local and international film.
Film Hub NI, part of the BFI Film Audience Network, has recognised that many of their voluntary members, experts in screening film in real life, may lack the digital resources required to provide online films and events since the Covid pandemic affected the industry.
Sara Gunn-Smith, Marketing and Audiences Officer, Film Hub NI, says: “Film Hub NI’s priority remains to support our 80 plus members to encourage audiences to enjoy independent film in cinema spaces when it is safe to do so. However, we must also recognise the many new ways to engage with audiences through online activity. With kind support from Northern Ireland Screen, we’ve developed this comprehensive training programme to guide our members through every aspect of working online to deliver screenings and events. This will allow exhibitors to keep connecting meaningfully with audiences and showcasing inventive programming – even when the big screens are dark.”
Moving Pictures will comprise of nine one-hour weekly sessions delivered via Zoom to cover topics as varied as Video on Demand (VOD) platforms and programming, accessibility, audience development and marketing, starting for Film Hub NI members on Thursday 28th January 2021. One-to-one mentoring will also be available for 15 organisations to ensure they are upskilled to future proof their offering, beyond these difficult Covid times. An additional series of podcasts will be released in March, which will be available to the wider industry.
The Moving Pictures programme is free of charge to Film Hub NI members and will be delivered by a range of leading experts in the film industry including Michael Staley, Queens Film Theatre (QFT); Rose Baker, Belfast Film Festival (BFF), Toki Allison, Film Audience Network (FAN); Ellen Reay, QFT and Andi Jarvis, Eximo Marketing, amongst others.
The Moving Pictures programme was developed by Film Hub NI and funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen.
For more information and to sign up, please visit: https://www.filmhubni.org/projects/the-moving-pictures-programme/
