BFI FAN CON 2024

Film Policy 101: Where does the money to support film come from and how does it get to exhibitors?

Ever wondered how money from the government and the National Lottery reaches film exhibitors? This session will shed light on the pathways through which public funds are made available for film and how they reach exhibitors. Led by the BFI’s Jack Powell, it will explore how the BFI works with DCMS and the National Lottery on policy and funding.

With a new government in post, the session will also consider what changes there might be on the horizon and how exhibitors can contribute to future advocating efforts.

Speakers:
Jack Powell, British Film Institute

We’ll Come to You: People-Centred Approaches to Film Exhibition

How meaningful is your community engagement and your project evaluation? Are the ways you currently work helping you to understand potential barriers for audiences from underserved socioeconomic backgrounds and what you can do to address them?

This workshop will look at how we evaluate engagement and participation, and how we can open up current models to be co-created with people and communities. We’ll focus on how people-centred evaluation can provide new perspectives to inform your work, understand the impact of what you do on a deeper level, and develop initiatives that are both relevant and wanted by communities.

During the session you will be encouraged to reflect critically on failures – as well as successes – and consider next steps for developing participatory projects and their evaluation, bringing together the voices that often get missed on a tick-box form.

Curated by Linnea Pettersson

Relaxed Networking for Cinema and Access Workers

Using some principles from relaxed and accessible screenings, Midnight Memphis will facilitate an accessible networking session which is open to all delegates who have an interest in or are engaged in access work. This can include any workers who currently work with or aim to work with people who experience barriers of any kind and/or workers who experience barriers themselves and who wish to connect with other workers in the sector. There’ll be a chance to sign up in advance for one of the limited number of spaces and to indicate any access requirements and personal goals for the session.

Facilitator: Midnight Memphis, Film Exhibitor and Access Worker, Daydream Cinema

The Evolving Role of AI in Cinema

This interactive session explores the evolving role of AI in cinema and wider culture, covering current applications for video, image, music and text generation, while also exploring how AIs can be used to create games and interactive experiences. Covering key concepts in AI, the session will discuss practical topics like prompt engineering fundamentals and using AI for data analysis. Designed for all knowledge levels, this session aims to provide a foundation for understanding AI’s potential in cinema and offers strategies for continued self-learning and personal innovation. A laptop and headphones are encouraged but not required.

Speakers:
Jocelyn Burnham, Independent AI Practitioner and Trainer

Gather: A Convening of the Global Majority BFI FAN Network

This is an opportunity for Global Majority BFI FAN programmers, marketers and cinema workers to come together to share, celebrate and support each other in inclusive practice in the BFI Film Audience Network and discuss ideas on how we move forward on current models across the sector.

Facilitator:
Lara Ratnaraja

Saving Our Cinema, Securing Our Future

This session will look at a range of independent cinemas across the UK that have successfully embarked on ambitious renovation programmes to secure their futures.  It is designed to be an inspirational, practical session, reflecting on challenges faced and lessons learnt by venues at various points along their redevelopment journeys: Strand Arts Centre, Belfast; Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff; and Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds.

Curated by Strand Arts Centre, Belfast

Speakers:
Mimi Turtle, CEO of the Strand Arts Centre, Belfast (speaker and chair)
Wendy Cook, Head of Cinema at Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds
Claire Vaughan, Cinema Programme Manager at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff 

Updates from the Industry & Sector-Wide Initiatives

A chance to get updates and ask questions to representatives of some new and continuing developments in the industry including the newly-established Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, which seeks to uphold and improve standards of behaviour in the sector, and Escapes, the BFI’s national scheme that collaborates with independent cinemas to offer new audiences an opportunity to enjoy the big screen experience and discover cinema.

Making Film Festivals More Sustainable and Inclusive

How can we think differently and more expansively about the role and potential of film festivals? Yi Wang, Director of Queer East in London, will look at how challenging a top-down programming approach by using guest curators has led to greater inclusivity and richer experiences for audiences while Michael Pattison, Director of Alchemy Film & Arts in Hawick, will share how their festival, through their Film Town initiative, has become a multi-dimensional year-round presence that has increased engagement and local opportunity while leading to a more equitable and sustainable organisation for those working in it.

Board Game: Sustainability Planning

Facilitator and cinema curator Bruno Miguel Castro will lead this session where he’ll introduce the board game “Sustainability in the Arts” which was created within the framework of the CoopAnimArt Erasmus+ programme. This is a fun way to work as a team to think differently about the way your organisation looks at integrated sustainability planning and determine areas for development. Played in small groups, it’s also something that you can bring back and facilitate within your home organisation’s team after the conference.

Releasing Irish Films: From Script to Screen

Irish film has become a global force to be reckoned with over the past few years and this is no small part to the commitment and passion from independent distributors who place significant value on audience engagement from the outset. Join Gill Cooper (Wildcard Distribution – titles include KNEECAP, and LYRA) and Robert McCann-Finn (Breakout Pictures – titles include THE QUIET GIRL and THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN) as they discuss the state of the cinema industry across the Island of Ireland and give us a sneak peak at some upcoming releases.