Cinema For All

Cinema For All
Name	Cinema For All
Type	Charity
Founded	1946
Location	United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Focus	Film exhibition, community cinema, amateur filmmaking

Cinema For All

Cinema For All is a UK-based charity supporting community cinemas, amateur film societies, and projectionists. It traces roots to post-war recreational movements and has evolved into a network providing advice, resources, and advocacy for local exhibition and filmmaking initiatives. The organisation interfaces with national cultural bodies, funding agencies, and festivals to sustain grassroots film culture across towns and regions.

History

Cinema For All originated from mid-20th-century film society movements associated with figures and entities such as Richmond Film Society, British Film Institute, National Film Theatre, and local civic halls. Early connections linked to wartime and post-war cultural recovery projects like the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts and community arts schemes in cities including Manchester, Leeds, and Bristol. Throughout the late 20th century it engaged alongside institutions such as Arts Council England, British Council, National Lottery, and regional development agencies. The organisation responded to policy shifts influenced by debates involving the Home Office, legislative changes following acts like the Charities Act 2006, and funding cycles set by bodies including the Heritage Lottery Fund. Cinema For All has worked in parallel with festivals such as Glasgow Film Festival, Sheffield Doc/Fest, and Edinburgh International Film Festival while maintaining ties to cinema chains like Odeon Cinemas Group and independent venues including Cameo Cinema.

Mission and Activities

The core mission aligns with objectives common to cultural charities partnering with entities such as Arts Council England, British Film Institute, Screen Scotland, and local authorities in Coventry, Brighton, and Cardiff. Activities encompass advocacy before policy-makers including members of Parliament of the United Kingdom, advisory support similar to that offered by Film Hub Midlands and Northern Ireland Screen, and practical services akin to those from UK Film Council successors. Cinema For All produces guidance on licensing, projection standards influenced by bodies like the British Board of Film Classification, outreach best practices used by National Theatre touring programmes, and accessibility measures paralleling initiatives from Royal National Institute of Blind People and Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Organizational Structure

The organisation operates with a governance model exemplified by charity trustee frameworks under oversight comparable to Charity Commission for England and Wales regulation. Leadership typically includes an appointed director and volunteer board members drawn from networks associated with Film Festival Alliance, independent exhibitors from venues like The Curzon Cinemas Group, and technicians who have worked at institutions such as BFI Southbank. Operational teams coordinate regionally with hubs similar to Film Hub North, liaising with freelance programmers, projectionists trained in formats championed by British Film Institute National Archive, and communications staff experienced in campaigns like those from Save Our Cinemas.

Membership and Community Engagement

Membership mirrors models used by organisations like National Trust for Scotland and Friends of the Earth with tiered schemes for individuals, societies, and venue partners. Members include amateur filmmakers from collectives akin to London Film-makers' Co-op, projection volunteers from rural venues such as The Electric, Birmingham, and community stakeholders in towns across Cornwall, Cumbria, and Norfolk. Engagement channels follow examples set by Campaign for Real Ale branches, using regional meet-ups, online forums, and newsletters similar to communications from The Guardian media outlets. Collaborations extend to university film departments at institutions like University of Manchester, Goldsmiths, University of London, and University of Glasgow for student involvement.

Festivals, Screenings, and Events

Cinema For All supports local programming in the spirit of curated events seen at Raindance Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, and London Short Film Festival. It helps societies host retrospectives celebrating work by filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean, Ken Loach, and Pedro Almodóvar, and thematic seasons comparable to programmes from National Film Theatre. The organisation also facilitates touring programmes, community film weeks modeled on Black History Month film strands, and pop-up screenings in partnership with venues like Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, and municipal theatres in Leicester and Nottingham.

Training and Education Programs

Training initiatives echo professional development offered by Skillset and academic short courses at institutions such as London Film School and NFTS. Programs include projectionist certification covering 35mm and digital workflows endorsed by standards from Digital Cinema Initiatives, programming workshops reflecting curatorial practices at Curzon Cinemas, and community filmmaking courses akin to outreach run by Film Hub South East. Partnerships with schools and youth organisations like Prince's Trust facilitate media literacy workshops and filmmaking projects comparable to schemes by Into Film and Film Academy.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams combine membership fees, grants from bodies such as Arts Council England, Screen Scotland, and legacy funding models similar to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with sponsorships from independent businesses and support in kind from venues like Everyman Cinemas. Strategic partnerships involve collaborations with archives including British Film Institute National Archive, distribution bodies such as Curzon Artificial Eye, and training partners like National Film and Television School. The organisation has also worked on joint initiatives with broadcasters including BBC and Channel 4 to amplify community exhibition and to access curated content for member societies.

Category:Film organisations in the United Kingdom