Annual Report 2015/2016

2 | ICO Annual Report 2016 Introductions Dorothy Wilson Chair of Trustees, Independent Cinema Office Independent consultant, coach and producer As the very new Chair of ICO’s board it’s my privilege to introduce a report Catharine Des Forges that illustrates what an important Director, Independent Cinema Office and influential organisation the ICO is now, some thirteen years after its establishment. The Evening Standard in Welcome to our second annual report, We celebrated the talent of emerging its Progress 1000 list recently commented a celebration not only of the ICO’s work artists by taking five newly commissioned that the ICO is ‘not exactly a lone voice in the last 12 months but of the entire short films to 80,000 people across the UK but certainly one of the loudest when UK independent cinema scene. Our and a premiere at the Toronto International it comes to taking a pickaxe to our job is to advocate for the collective Film Festival and we brought some classic out-of-date film distribution system.’ experience of watching films in a cinema films not seen since their original releases The Standard added that our Director, setting, whatever and wherever that is, back to the big screen, ranging from an Catharine Des Forges ‘founded the ICO and to stimulate an open, thriving and auteur classic, Ran, to Ken Loach’s first to help change the way we see films and challenging film culture. This report gives feature, Poor Cow. ensure the ones we see aren’t all fast, just a glimpse of that work and of all the furious and computer-enhanced.’ fantastic organisations we work with We are delighted to welcome a new directly and indirectly across the UK. chair and 6 new board members, as well The ICO indeed champions extraordinary as bid farewell and thanks to Michael film work, inspires and supports film This year has seen some exciting firsts Kuhn, our outgoing Chair, and Ben Cook producers and programmers and plays a for us such as the launch of our Women’s who has stepped down from the board. critical role behind the scenes in helping Leadership scheme, which saw a cohort We are grateful for the generosity with to spread access to great film across the of eight of the UK’s most talented senior which they give their time to us and for country. Prioritising change through managers undertake a transformative all their contributions to the organisation. influence, the ICO's programming supports programme over six months. We’ve also cinemas in underserved parts of the established some new partnerships As always, we are grateful to our funders country and help spread access to films that have enabled us to deliver the best and partners without whom we could on big screens. ICO’s ambitious initiatives, of world cinema to fresh audiences, in not achieve anything – the British Film designed to increase and secure diversity particular distributing Power in Our Hands, Institute (BFI), Creative Skillset, Arts Council of film audiences, film programmers and a ground-breaking documentary on the England, Creative Europe, BFI Film Audience promoters, are flowering very effectively Deaf community's fight for civil rights Network (BFI FAN), distributors and, and we look forward to seeing ever more and principally, the right to be heard. most importantly, exhibitors everywhere. fruits of those initiatives in the year ahead. Introductions ICO Annual Report 2016 | 3 Contents Our Goals 7 Programming 10 Helping cinemas show the best films from around the world Training 16 Making sure our sector has the best skills for a sustainable and diverse future Screening Days 26 Sharing upcoming films with cinemas so they have the broadest choice for their audiences Consultancy 34 Helping cinemas improve and grow, through strategic, impartial advice Artists’ Moving Image 38 Bringing beautiful, unconventional films to cinemas from the world’s top artists Distribution 44 Giving UK audiences the chance to see films they wouldn’t otherwise see Advice & Information 50 Helping make sure everyone can screen films About Us 53 ICO Annual Report 2016 | 5 6 | ICO Annual Report 2016 Contents Our Goals Our mission is to stimulate an open, thriving and challenging film culture. How do we do that? Overleaf are our six overarching goals. To increase To enable a diverse range To make the admissions for of films to be seen by exhibition industry independent cinemas diverse audiences more inclusive Cinemas are only as strong as their Cinema is the most democratic art form, The easiest way to make sure audiences, and we want to make sure but to live up to that democratic vision, everyone in your community wants they are as large and diverse as possible. we need a rich diversity to be shown to be an audience member is to ensure The ICO exists because we know the on screen. The films that matter are all groups are reflected in the cinema's UK has a curious, engaged and spirited not always those with huge marketing workforce. We strive towards an filmgoing audience. We want to make budgets or big names. That’s why we equality of opportunity. In our training, sure they’re best served by our cinemas make sure there’s equality of access to our focus is on ensuring all kinds of and film festivals. Our programming the best of world cinema in distribution people can enter the film workforce, as services lead the way in showing how at our Screening Days events, attended this yields long-term change (see our commercial and cultural goals can be by over 900 programmers and venue FEDS scheme, p20) and on diversifying combined. At its heart, our training staff each year (see p26). When great people in key creative decision making is aimed at helping cinemas and film films aren’t in distribution, we intervene roles as this has wide-reaching impact festivals stay sustainable, and that can directly by distributing them ourselves. (see our Women’s Leadership scheme, only happen with thriving audiences. Our distribution projects have grown p19). We democratise access to by 400% in the last decade, supporting information about our sector and how to uncompromising and innovative work succeed in it, via our advice service and that makes an impact on communities. online information, as well as our free We work with distributors big and small jobs service. to make sure the films that matter for audiences can be found across the country. 910,000 988 80% ADMISSIONS FROM THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FILMS PERCENTAGE OF OUR FEDS TRAINEES WHO CINEMAS IN OUR NETWORK. SHOWN IN OUR PROGRAMMING GRADUATED TO FULL TIME ROLES IN THE FILM NETWORK IN 2015/2016. AND TV INDUSTRY AFTER THE TRAINEESHIP. 8 | ICO Annual Report 2016 To provide formal To inform positive policy To support new venues so that training routes into changes and increase funding people can access independent exhibition careers for independent film exhibition films wherever they live Exhibition can only thrive when the Our industry needs a strong voice to Our sector is growing, but to continue people working in it have the best skills. make sure our needs are served by those to do so, we need not just more films but We want exhibition to be seen not just as a in power. The ICO works with funders exemplary places to see them. In the job, but a career. For that to happen, there and policy makers to advocate for our last year alone, the ICO added 100 new has to be a clear path to follow to rise to sector and champion the film culture venues (or spaces showing independent the top. With this approach, we can attract we want to see. We share our successful film) to its database. Taking an talent and ensure that the best candidates models with partners nationally and adventurous, ambitious approach to progress on a fair basis. Our training internationally so that our sector is programming and operations needs a courses provide that structure, from known as a world leader. long-term vision and the ICO is here people starting their careers (such as to support venues as they grow. With Practical Programming, p24) or at the our consultancy service, we help local very top (such as Women’s Leadership, authorities and private enterprises make p19). We also deliver organisational informed decisions about starting a new change as well as personal development. cinema. Our training and advice services Our consultancy service gives businesses are tailored for every experience level, access to key advice so they can develop especially those entering or developing vision and strategy. in their cinema careers. 303 £700,000 130,000 THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE TRAINED THE FUNDING RECEIVED BY THE ICO IN 2015/16 THE NUMBER OF TIMES OUR ‘HOW FROM MORE THAN 235 ORGANISATIONS TO DELIVER PROJECTS THAT BENEFITED TO START A CINEMA’ GUIDE WAS IN 32 COUNTRIES, IN 2015-16. THE WHOLE OF THE EXHIBITION INDUSTRY. ACCESSED IN 2015/2016. ICO Annual Report 2016 | 9 Programming Programming is at the heart of the Independent Cinema Office. We have a network of over twenty venues across the country. We help them show diverse film programmes, so that audiences, wherever they live, can see films from around the world. Our approach is to develop appropriate, bespoke programmes for each venue, with the understanding that each venue has its own identity. We help cinemas to build new audiences will bring the specifics of the venue and to become economically sustainable. and local audiences into the discussion. Our approach to programming is to It’s only through such a partnership, balance the latest blockbusters and combining national opportunity with crossover arthouse hits with the type of an understanding of local settings and films that we are strong advocates for: audiences, that the cinemas can deliver world cinema, archive films, documentary successful programmes that bring titles and artists’ moving image work.

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