DERBYSHIRE FILM
page 3

The result

Twenty-one local cinemas have now been set up across Derbyshire, mostly in village halls and run by local people. Some of the villages have gone on to successfully apply for grant aid to buy their own digital projection equipment. The attraction of the mini-cinemas is that local people have control over what they choose to watch and do not have to travel to or see what the nearest multiplex offers. Quite often films are shown a year after being shown at the nearest multiplex because people prefer to see them in their own village. When given a choice of walking to the local village hall to see friends and watch a film on the big screen or the more expensive and difficult option of the multiplex, most people choose the former.

The Team at Holymoor (photos Kay Ogilvie and EM Media)

The people screening the films have not only developed technical skills in film exhibi-tion, research, marketing and publicity; they are also attracting loyal audiences. All of the comments from local people have been very positive and very complimentary. Cinema has been brought back to some villages for the first time in 50 years! A sus-tainable network of film promoters with expertise in film exhibition and event man-agement has been set up across Derbyshire which will continue long after the project ends. New audiences, practitioners and participants for film and related art forms have been established. The project has helped build stronger communities with more active citizens and increased volunteering opportunities.

The reasons for its success

• The people of Derbyshire themselves were the biggest reason for its success. Pro-viding them with the resources and training to run their own events means that the film clubs will be sustainable beyond the life of the project. Their enthusiasm and hard work shows the difference it is making to them.
• Working in partnership with the arts officers to publicise the scheme helped with targeting different groups.
• Employing a fieldworker with knowledge of the film exhibition sector was important. Kay Ogilvie had already started a successful film club in Bonsall and her direct ex-perience helped encourage others to do it for themselves. Her direct contact with the groups helped them to develop the confidence to continue to show films.

Further information