An Introduction To Programming & Audience Development For Independent Cinema

Venue: Monday 3rd July 2006 - Falmouth Arts Centre and Thursday 13th July 2006 - Watershed Bristol

Dates: This one-day course is available on two separate dates: Monday 3rd July 2006 and Thursday 13th July 2006

The Independent Cinema Office presents an essential one day training course aimed at independent exhibitors based in the South West who want to broaden the range of audiences attending film screenings at their venue, film society or festival, while working with limited resources. The course will focus on how to develop your programming strategies and marketing materials to maximise attendances, and is appropriate for full-time and part-time cinemas, arts centres, film societies, film festivals, rural touring organisations and arts development officers.

The course will include presentations and case studies, as well as group exercises which will analyse your current programming strategies and marketing materials and identify ways in which they can be improved. You will learn foolproof strategies first-hand from recognised experts who have years of experience in the field of audience development, programming and marketing in 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:

• Programming, diversity and identity – creating the strongest film and event programme for your organisation.
• What programming strategies can you employ to address the widest audience?
• How do you reach different target audiences?
• Do your existing marketing materials adequately sell your film programme – and how can they be improved?
• How do you access the resources and information you need to do your job?

Booking your place:

Thanks to the provision of RIFE Lottery funding from South West Screen, the price for this course is £20 + VAT (£23.50), but as places are strictly limited and available on a first come first served basis early booking is strongly recommended. To book your place, download an application form and return it by Friday 23rd June.

If you have any queries about the course, or wish to check that it is appropriate to your needs, contact Emma Sullivan on 020 7636 7120 or email emma@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.

These training days have been organised with the financial support of South West Screen, the Regional Screen Agency leading the development of film, television and digital media in the South West -
www.swscreen.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