Community Cinema supported by RBS/Natwest
BFFS is delighted to announce that from September we will be working with RBS/NatWest on their new Local Cinema initiative, part of the RBS/NatWest Film First programme.
The initiative is aimed at supporting community cinemas up and down the country by providing them with the tools to enhance their audiences’ experience and increase their sustainability by attracting new audiences.
On offer initially from the partnership will be an exciting range of new, informative and original programme notes for use at community cinema screenings, plus revised and enriched key start-up information. As the programme develops, further offers, support and assistance for community cinemas will be provided - all aimed at increasing access to the widest possible range of cinema from the UK and around the world within a local community setting. The partnership will also support BFFS activities to enable us to help more organisations show more films in their communities.
RBS/NatWest spokesperson Dominic Warne: “We realise that some of our customers have to travel many miles to reach their nearest multiplex or independent cinema, so through our work with BFFS we hope to bring the joys of great and diverse films closer to home for many people. Film is a fantastic way of bringing people in local communities together to enjoy shared experiences.”
“The support provided by RBS/NatWest will enable increased help for an already-expanding sector, whose important work in bringing culture and enjoyment to the community deserves significant investment,” commented BFFS Chair, Claire Elliott.
Derek Malcolm, eminent film critic and BFFS President said: “This is a great opportunity to work with RBS/NatWest to deliver their new Local Cinema initiative. It is an important part of their Film First programme and the partnership will assist in securing BFFS and its activities. The initiative will give a great deal of encouragement to local communities who are often so badly served.”
BFFS Vice-President Peter Cargin, said: “For over eighty-five years film societies have been offering local communities the chance to see a wide range of the world's cinema. Now, in these difficult times, the new Local Cinema initiative of RBS/NatWest will enable BFFS to expand both the number and quality of film societies for the future.”
