An Introduction To Programming and Marketing Cultural Cinema

Venue: Signals Media Arts, Colchester

Dates: Wednesday 26th April 2006

The Independent Cinema Office presents an essential one-day training course aimed at independent film exhibitors in the Screen East region who want to broaden the range of programming at their venue, film society, or festival - but are working with limited staff and resources. The course will focus on how to develop your programming strategies, marketing materials and publicity activity, and is appropriate for full-time and part-time cinemas, arts centres, film societies, new and emerging film festivals, and arts development officers.

You will learn foolproof strategies first-hand from recognised experts who have years of experience in the field of programming, marketing and publicity for the independent cinema sector, and by the end of the day you will have identified a number of achievable targets for development at your own organisation.

The course will cover the following areas:

• How do you devise and implement a new programming strategy?
• What are the best programming strategies for a range of different cinema – such as archive films, regionally-produced work, and short films?
• How do you target specific audiences?
• Do your existing marketing materials adequately sell your film programme - and how can they be improved?
• How do you research and write copy that sells films to a number of different audiences?
• How to generate PR and maximise your media coverage
• The ‘dos and don’ts’ of writing and distributing press releases
• Recognising and selling your most appealing press stories and angles
• What resources can you access to make your job easier?

Booking your place:

Thanks to the provision of CIBIP funding by Screen East this course is available at the significantly reduced cost of £25 + VAT (£29.37) per person, but as places are strictly limited and available on a first come first served basis early booking is strongly recommended. One of the requirements of this CIBIP funding is that all trainees must fill in a number of evaluation forms relating to the training, so you must be willing to do this. To book your place download an application form and return it with your cheque by Monday April 10th.

If you have any queries about the course, or wish to check that it is appropriate to your needs, contact Becky Innes on 020 7636 7120 or email beckyi@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

Course Tutor: Catharine Des Forges, Director of the Independent Cinema Office

With 13 years of experience across the UK exhibition sector, Catharine is acknowledged as an expert in the field. She completed her MA in Film & Television at the University of London in 1993 and from 1994-7 worked in the BFI’s Regional Exhibition Unit, programming and advising a range of independent cinemas. She was the programmer for the Brief Encounters Short Film Festival for 3 years, worked as an assessor for the Arts Council Lottery scheme and co-devised and jointly lead the BFI’s Cultural Programming Course for 6 years. Catharine has lectured in film at a number of UK universities including the University of London, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Surrey. In 2000 Catharine was appointed Senior Programmer for the BFI’s Programme Unit where she was responsible for touring and curating film programmes. In July 2003 she set up the Independent Cinema Office, the national organisation for the development and support of the UK’s independent exhibition sector, and has been its Director ever since.

This project is funded by the Skillset Film Skills Fund, which is supported by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council and the film industry through the Skills Investment Fund. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries - www.skillset.org.

This training day has been organised in partnership with and with financial support from Screen East - www.screeneast.co.uk

If you wish to receive updates about any new training schemes as soon as they are advertised, please email us at info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk