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New Pilot Scheme Launched to Open up Digital Cinema to Rural Wiltshire and the Test Valley
UK Film Council awards new consortium £400,000 to run Wiltshire and Test Valley Rural Cinema Pilot Scheme
A newly-formed consortium has been awarded Lottery funding from the
UK Film Council to bring the latest in digital cinema to venues across
rural Wiltshire and Test Valley.
The Wiltshire and Test Valley Rural Cinema Pilot Scheme, named White Horse Pictures, will be delivered by a consortium led by screen agency South West Screen, and comprising fellow screen agency Screen South, Wiltshire Council, rural cinema operator Moviola, The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham, The Arc Theatre in Trowbridge, Wiltshire College, the South West Group of the BFFS (British Federation of Film Societies), and the renowned Salisbury International Arts Festival.
Backed
with £400,000 Lottery funding over three years, the consortium will
purchase a combination of touring digital cinema standard projection
equipment and high definition Blu Ray kit, which it will operate in
non-traditional venues across the region. Screenings will take place in
up to 28 existing Moviola venues and a touring programme will travel
around eight further venues selected from market towns such as Calne,
Durrington, Malmesbury, Melksham, Pewsey, Trowbridge, Corsham,
Stockbidge and Romsey, as well as barracks communities in Larkhill,
Hullavington and Tidworth. Screenings are expected to commence later
this year, with the touring programme running from September 2010. A
fully functioning website, which will include listings, film reviews
and, ultimately, online ticketing, is also being developed.
Rural
audiences will be able to enjoy a modern digital cinema experience of
the latest film releases, including 3D screenings, as well as live
opera, theatre and sport satellite events beamed across the UK, without
having to travel long distances.
The pilot scheme, which will
run for three years, will also include a dedicated Young People’s
programme which will encourage young people aged 12 and above to get
involved in creating and promoting film programmes that suit younger
tastes.
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Communications,
said: “We are a nation full of people enthusiastic about film and these
people don’t just live in our big cities. This innovative approach is
an exciting step forward in giving people who don’t have easy access to
cinemas more opportunities to see top-class films, in a digital format,
closer to home.
“Through this project people in rural areas
could be seeing the latest blockbuster and new British films in a pop-up
cinema, in the open-air, in a community centre or a town hall. Not only
is this an imaginative way of making it possible for people to see a
wider range of films, it’s also a great way of communities getting
together to enjoy a unique cinematic experience with their friends,
families and neighbours.”
Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive Officer of South West Screen,
said: “We are delighted to be part of White Horse Pictures. The
consortium has come together to offer a strong programme targeting
different communities within Wiltshire and the Test Valley. It’s vital
to be able to include recent cinema releases in rural touring programmes
to attract and maintain audiences, and the digital equipment provided
by this funding will enable us to do just that. We hope it will provide a
huge boost for the region.”
John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, said: “Enabling people to get access to a wide range of films on the big screen is an important objective for us. Our research shows that there’s a big appetite for the cinema experience in rural areas, but in many cases it’s not being met. This experimental Lottery-funded scheme will bring together rural communities to watch films in 3D, to catch some of the latest releases, and to see specialist films as well as try out alternative cinema experiences like live opera, and big sports events using digital and satellite delivery.”
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