Audience Development Surgeries

Expert advice for Northern film exhibitors.

Kick-off 2024 with a fresh approach to growing audiences and developing your organisation.

Audience Development Surgeries are a new support programme for Northern film exhibitors, providing expert advice to move your organisation forward.

We’re excited to partner with Jonny Tull (Tull Stories) and Bill Lawrence (Reel Solutions) to offer members of our exhibitor network bespoke, hour-long advice surgeries.

Jonny and Bill have an extensive range of expertise, and will be available to advise exhibitors on areas such as:

• Curating a programme and booking films
• Reaching audiences, analysing data and developing strategy
• Business planning and development, managing finances and mentoring

There are 10 hour-long sessions available; every session is fully funded by Film Hub North. Surgeries will take place during February and March 2024.

Who is it for?

Audience Development Surgeries are available to members of our exhibitor network. If you’re not yet a Film Hub North member, click here to find out more about joining our community.

These sessions are appropriate for both new and emerging film exhibitors looking to create an initial audience development strategy, as well as more experienced organisations who want to refine their work.

Priority will be given to organisations who have not previously accessed advice sessions through the BFI Film Audience Network.

We will also consider the diversity of organisational leadership, organisational need, engagement with under-served audiences, geographic location and applicants’ long-term plans for audience development.

How to apply

Expressions of interest can be made by completing a short form.

You’ll be asked to provide information about your organisation, your audience development ambitions and what you want to get out of your session.

Download the EOI Form

Completed forms should be returned to: info@filmhubnorth.org.uk.

Please also ensure that you complete the BFI Film Audience Network Equality Monitoring Form as part of your application.

Deadline extended to 17:00 on Wednesday 14 February 2024. 

Applications submitted on or before Monday 29 January 2024 will be notified by Friday 2 February 2024.

All other applicants will be notified by Tuesday 20 February 2024.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a short evaluation after their session; this information will help us support your audience development ambitions in the longer-term.

Jonny Tull

Jonny Tull is a film distribution and exhibition consultant. Following a successful career in programming and marketing for independent cinemas and the arts, Jonny now works with filmmakers, cinemas, festivals and film distributors to help bring their projects to the world under the banner of Tull Stories.

His specialisms span audience development, research, fundraising and programming for cinema, as well as the UK theatrical and online releases of independent films.

Since 2017, Jonny has worked with many cinema clients and on the release of dozens of independent films. He is a member of the Arts Marketing Association, a consultant with Doc Society and an Associate of the data analysis and insight company Indigo.

jonny@tullstories.co.uk

www.tullstories.co.uk

Bill Lawrence

Bill Lawrence set up Reel Solutions in 2006 to pursue his passion for supporting all forms of cinema. He co-founded Manchester Animation Festival in 2015 and remains actively involved.

He was previously Creative Director at Showroom Cinema, Sheffield and Head of Film at the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford. He set up three of the city's film festivals - Bradford Film Festival, Bite the Mango and Bradford Animation Festival. In 2006, Bill was one of the key people to set up Bradford: City of Film.

Bill has extensive experience in setting up festivals, programming, finance, and company structures.

bill@reelsolutions.co.uk

www.reelsolutions.co.uk