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The initiative, launched in 2006 and led
by Chris Baker, helped to set up over a dozen new screens
in Devon and Cornwall including
Lost in Film (Lostwithiel), Cinema by the Sea (Looe), Torbay Film Club,
Teignmouth, Chudleigh and
Lympstone, several of which went on to win
Distinctions in the New Film Society category of the BFFS’s Annual Awards 2007,
2008 and 2009. The Film WbySW project has now ended but new prospects are
continuing to come forward in its wake: Ipplepen in
Devon and elsewhere in the region, Westbury, Kilve
and
Shipham...
Here’s a round-up of some of these new and prospective screens…
Lympstone launched their new venture back in September 2007 with a full house of 115 for Cinema Paradiso and have continued with successful monthly screenings. They won an Arts for All award in 2008, enabling them to organise a weekend film-making workshop for youngsters in their village.
Torbay Film Club had a trial screening of The Lives of Others at the end of November 2007, attracting an audience of 65; their latest 2010-2011 season of nine films at Torbay Museum has just started; see www.torbayfilmclub.co.uk for details.
Teignmouth Film Society had an audience of 150 for Pan’s Labyrinth also in November 2007, at the Community College Arts Centre resulting in their first season in 2008. Their 2010 season is underway – see www.teignmouthfilm.org
Portishead Film Society followed a trial screening of Little Miss Sunshine in February 2008 and has been showing films regularly at the Gordano School ever since. www.portisheadfilm.org.uk
Looe – Cinema by the Sea have been awarded grants by Cornwall County Council and Awards for All which enabled them to move to a new venue in 2009. For their latest programme see www.looefilmsociety.org.uk
Budleigh launched their first season in September 2008 at the Public Hall, Budleigh Salterton with a monthly screenings of recent and classic films from The Lives of Others to M.Hulot’s Holiday and Hitchcock’s Rear Window. Their second season ranged from Goodbye Lenin to I’ve Loved You So Long
Chudleigh Film Society, also in Devon, was launched with a trial screening in June 2008 and has gone from strength to strength having just launched its 2010/2011 season – see www.chudleighfilmsociety.org
Shipham Film Society closed their 2009-2010 season with a special screening of Looking for Eric introduced by its director Ken Loach – only 15 months after their inaugural trial screening in the Somerset village.
If you would like to follow these groups and start your own film venture, we can provide help in a number of ways - advice and expertise on professional equipment, how to book films and DVDs, including our own block booking scheme, and publicity material. Contact Chris Baker or Brain Clay and send off to the BFFS office for a start-up pack for all you need to know.
