Frequently Asked Questions

The Independent Cinema Office would like to thank everyone who filled in an evaluation form. Receiving feedback is invaluable to our planning for the next Screening Days in the Autumn and ongoing success of future events. Several comments and suggestions were made frequently and we wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge your ideas and concerns. We have collated your frequently asked questions, provided answers and possible changes in light of your suggestions.

We would like to invite you to let us know what you think of these suggested changes via the following questionnaire. Completed questionnaires can be emailed to enquiries@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk or posted to the ICO.

FAQs

Q. Why wasn’t my confirmation sent to me in the post?

A. On receipt of applications for Screening Days places, the ICO emailed every delegate with a confirmation of their place including links to our website with further information on venues, travel and accommodation. On completion, the Screening Days schedule was also emailed to delegates. However, several delegates expressed surprise that confirmations were not sent in the post. The ICO is funded to complete a limited number of mailouts each year and simply does not have the funds to cover additional postal costs. Administering the Screening Days electronically is economically sensible for the ICO. However, in response to these comments, we will schedule the existing mailouts to coincide with when the majority of information about Screening Days is available. We will also plan to make information about the next Screening Days event available earlier on the website to encourage more people to use our site as the “first point of call” for enquiries. With regard to the confirmation of places, this will continue to be done electronically but individual confirmations can be sent in the post on receipt of a S.A.E.

The ICO is also considering using one contact at each film society with regards to multiple applications for Screening Days to provide a simpler application process for delegates.

Q. Why were there not more opportunities for networking?

A. The evening drinks reception was provided as an opportunity for delegates to network and socialise. Not all delegates seemed to be aware that this reception was open to everyone. We would like to reiterate that all receptions are open to all delegates. However, as networking was so often cited as a major motivation for people attending the Screening Days, we plan to provide more opportunities for this in the future. We will aim to provide a dedicated space for delegates to meet and network. We will also provide a message board at the venue and circulate a list of film societies attending the event to make it easier for delegates to make contact with other societies.

Q. Why were breaks between films so short?

A. When scheduling films for Screening Days, it is always difficult to find a balance between delivering value for money by programming as many films as possible and ease of viewing by providing adequate breaks in between films. Many delegates suggested that screenings should continue into the evening to allow for longer breaks between films. However, the costs of hiring screens in the evenings at cinemas are prohibitively expensive. The refurbishment of the NFT made less screens available to us, making the schedule harder to fit in. Future Screening Days at the NFT will take place following the refurbishment, making more facilities available to us. The ICO also always makes provision for delegates to purchase discounted tickets to public screenings at the NFT in the evening as well as at venues used for the autumn event.

In response to comments made about scheduling, the autumn Screening Days will be structured differently. We plan to book two screens at the Watershed and one screen at the Arnolfini. We also plan to combine the theatrical exhibitors Screening Days event with the film societies event to enable us to offer three days of viewing sessions. This will radically increase the screening time available to us allowing for larger breaks between films and many other advantages.

Q. Why were Screening Days places non-transferable?

A. A significant number of delegates expressed surprise at not being able to ’share’ a place amongst several members of their society. Reasons why transferring or sharing a pass should be allowed included societies not being able to afford the cost of the full pass, in addition to accommodation costs. In response to these comments, the pricing structure will be made more flexible for the next Screening Days event. The ICO suggests the following passes be available

  • A one day pass for any specified day
  • A two day pass for either pair of days
  • A three day pass for the entire duration
  • A complimentary pass if a certain number of passes are bought by the same society
  • A student pass

We welcome your response to these suggestions in particular as it is crucial the system of passes is agreeable to the ICO and to delegates. However passes will be structured they are not, and will not be transferable as this makes any attempt to account for all delegates impossible. Catering for drinks receptions and other events also relies on accurate numbers of attendance being available.

Q. Why wasn’t tea and coffee provided?

A. We received several criticisms about the service provided by the NFT café. Again this was affected by the refurbishment, so the situation will improve in 2007. As teas and coffees were not available promptly when time was tight, suggestions were made that tea and coffee should be provided by the ICO. The provision of drinks was included in previous years events, however this was reflected in the higher cost of the pass. The ICO made the Spring Screening Days pass cheaper than previous years, allowing more societies to attend. In order for the ICO to provide tea and coffee for each delegate, we would have to increase the cost of the pass. Let us know your comments on this by completing our questionnaire. We are also considering offering an option to pay for catering separately to a Screening Days pass to allow delegates to make a decision about the extra cost.

Q. Why was there no printed brochure?

A. Several delegates referred to the printed brochure produced in previous years as a more favorable option for providing details regarding bookings for each film. The delegates’ pack the ICO provided contained comprehensive information on all the films shown including distributors’ contacts for 35mm and DVD bookings. There is also extensive information on the Spring Screening Days available here. Mirroring methods used by distributors, high resolution stills are available to download for every film shown. When available, press packs, reviews and festival information are included. The ICO felt that making key resources available electronically (designed for film society programmes) was a greater priority than producing a Screening Days souvenir and cannot cover the extra cost of a published brochure. The ICO will endeavor to raise funds (perhaps via sponsorship) to meet this additional cost. In the meantime we welcome your comments about the delegates’ packs and our website via our questionnaire and will continue to consider suggestions on the resources for Screening Days.

Q. Why were other activities not offered?

A. Requests were made by delegates for other activities to be offered around the Screening Days event. These included introductions to films and more access to ICO staff. At the next Screening Days event we aim to have introductions to films, provide surgeries/workshops, and question and answer sessions on frequently made queries. These sessions would help us develop the other services the ICO offer to film societies and also provide film societies with the opportunity to meet ICO staff. We would like to remind film societies that we have a dedicated email enquiries service that can be used throughout the year for advice on a wide range of topics. Detailed information regarding this service is included in our questionnaire as well as the opportunity to suggest other activities for future Screening Days events.

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