Film societies
Film societies have long provided one of the most vital forces in independent film exhibition in the UK. The film society movement has continued to ensure that innovative, diverse film programming takes place in areas of the country where cinemas either don’t exist or where there are few alternatives to the mainstream.
ICO Services for Film Societies
The ICO works closely with film societies across the UK and especially with the British Federation of Film Societies.
If you require assistance in booking films, please see Film programming advice and film bookings.
If you want to start your own film society, please download the BFFS’s free guide here.
If your film society would like to be added to the ICO’s mailing list, please contact us at enquiries@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.
The UK Film Council has funded the ICO to provide programming advice services to all film societies in the UK. These are as follows:
Programming Services
A dedicated email enquiry service to the non-theatrical sector offering advice on:
- Print availability
- Release patterns
- Advice on hire terms
- Archive material - programming and exhibition
- Formats
- Rights tracking information
- Referrals to specialised organisations
- Advice and advocacy on accessing publicity materials
The service can be accessed via the dedicated email address enquiries@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk and we ask that you allow a week for your query to be answered in order to enable us to resource the service effectively.
Screening Days
These events are staffed, managed and administrated by the ICO. However, we work in partnership with our colleagues at the BFFS to ensure that we accommodate the needs of their members within the event. We are responsible for providing the programme for these events, of which there will be two a year. We anticipate that one will be held in London and the second in the regions. Screening Days are open to all exhibitors and are held over a three - four day period (including a weekend) in which it is possible to view new releases.
Forthcoming Screening Days | November 2008
The next ICO Screening Days event will be held from the 8 – 10 November 2008 at the Filmhouse, Edinburgh. More details to follow shortly.
Previous Screening Days | March 2008
Our last Screening Days event was held at the BFI Southbank in London. We were thrilled to have over 270 delegates from 90+ venues, film festivals and film societies attending. For more information on this event, including booking contacts for films and images, visit the March 2008 page.
Industry Advocacy
Comprehensive consultation with distributors in order to seek industry standards on such issues as:
- Non-theatric windows
- DVD licensing (for information from Filmbank on licensing please download a PDF here)
- Marketing materials
- Transport strategies
