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Underwriting fund for specialised film

Hopefully member groups will screen a wide range of films, and not just stick to Hollywood blockbusters. The UK Film Council has suggested the term 'specialised film' for such non-mainstream titles, and provided a working definition.

The Network is in the process of getting funding to help underwrite the cost of screening films that fall within the 'specialised film' definition. If you think that a film you are planning to show might qualify, send details in to the secretary to see if the screening is eligible for support.


         Email our secretary



If your audience numbers are lower than hoped, and you lose money on an eligible screening, the Network should be able to underwrite 50% of the loss. (There is a total of £1,500 available for this scheme in 2004-05, and support will be given on a first-come-first-served basis until the fund has been distributed.)

To claim support through the scheme, talk to the secretary at least one month prior to the screening. It should normally be obvious whether a screening is eligible for support, but if it is unclear the Network committee will have the final say.

         Email our secretary



Specialised films: a working definition

Specialised films may be either feature-length or shorts, fact or fiction. They normally fall in to one or more of the following categories:

Films which engage with current aesthetic, political, social and cultural issues, and seek to encourage their audiences to do likewise

English language films that, because of the creative originality of their form or content, challenge audience expectations, emotionally, aesthetically or intellectually.

UK minority indigenous language films particularly those that, because of the creative originality of their form or content, challenge audience expectations, emotionally, aesthetically or intellectually

Foreign language films particularly those that, because of the creative originality of their form or content, challenge audience expectations, emotionally, aesthetically or intellectually.

Foreign language films particularly those that, because of the creative originality of their form or content, challenge audience expectations, emotionally, aesthetically or intellectually.

Classic films that reappear in cinema repertories over the years

Archive films because of their place in the history of cinema or because of their relevance to a particular community of interest or geographical community

Films that appeal to children and other underserved audiences especially those that, because of the creative originality of their form or content, challenge expectations, emotionally, aesthetically or intellectually