Over £1m invested in the North in the latest round of the BFI Culture Recovery Fund.
Cinemas are on the cusp of reopening once again and, as we eagerly await the big day on 17 May, we’re celebrating the 24 independent venues in the North who are set to return with support from the latest round of the BFI Culture Recovery Fund.
The recent grants, announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in early April, mean that a further £1m has been awarded to independent cinemas in the region, helping them stay here for audiences and here for culture. Funding recipients in this round include a pair of defiantly community-centric cinemas in the North East – Jam Jar Cinema and Star & Shadow – and Lake District venues the Keswick Alhambra, Zeffirellis Ambleside and the Royalty Cinema, Windermere.
People have been missing the big screen experience and we know they are looking forward to cinemas being able to reopen from 17 May onwards. The Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline to survival for local independent cinemas up and down the country, ensuring that they will be able to welcome their audiences back. – Ben Roberts, Chief Executive at BFI
As film organisation look ahead to reopening and beyond, Film Hub North has a launched a number of funding schemes to help restart the independent film exhibition sector – including 2 new opportunities announced last week.
Funding from one-off microgrants to long-term organisational investment is now available to support exhibitors to resume screenings and reconnect with local audiences. Support is also available for training and professional development to ensure that exhibitors return to work skilled and ready to face the challenges of a changed sector.
