Our reflections on how three years of funding, talent development and audience engagement have supported Northern film culture.
Film Hub North champions film culture in the North of England through funding schemes, training programmes and by building vibrant local film communities. We work with film exhibition organisations, filmmakers and young people aged 16–25, helping to get great films made, screened and seen in the region.
This report summarises our programmes and activities from April 2023 to March 2026, highlighting our reach and impact on regional film culture. It presents key data for projects we’ve funded alongside insights and feedback from our members and event participants.
Highlights include:
331 film exhibitor members, from mixed art venues to film societies, cinemas to screen archives, pop-ups and film festivals
39 filmmaking projects supported, with talent hailing from Manchester, Bradford, Liverpool, Cumbria, Northumberland and beyond
More than 4,000 young people engaged through screenings, in-person events, workshops, training and online activity
278,147 audience admissions across 133 supported organisations' activity
72 members supported via event and training bursaries
Supported films presented at festivals including BFI London Film Festival, Aesthetica, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Leeds International Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, Bolton International Flm Festival, Sunderland Film Festival, and more
Talent development partnerships with Channel 4, ITV and BBC Drama.
As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, we're excited to continue supporting the film exhibition sector, nurturing regional talent and helping audiences discover new stories on screen. Find out more about the next chapter of BFI Film Audience Network activity across the UK here.
Film Hub North is supported by National Lottery funding, and led in partnership by the North’s two leading independent cinemas: Showroom Cinema, Sheffield, and HOME, Manchester.
