Northwest Vision and Media, create the bigger picture
John Woodward Visit
Chief Executive of UK Film Council visits the Northwest
John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, visited the Northwest in November to learn more about the many educational activities funded by North West Vision (via the UK Film Council) through partners across the region.
The UK Film Council is the Government-backed strategic agency for film in the UK. Its main aim is to stimulate a competitive, successful and vibrant UK film industry and culture, and to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the nations and regions of the UK.
In Liverpool, presentations and screenings were made on three projects funded by North West Visions HAFAD (Heritage Access to Film and Audience Development fund) and Lottery Fund:
· “Shoot to Thrill” delivered by North West Disability Arts Forum,
· “Distinct Voices Diverse Lives” delivered by First Take Film & Video, a community based training provider
· “FACT's Schools and Film Education Programme ” delivered by FACT based in Liverpool.
This was followed by a tour of Merseyside’s new multi-arts
venue 'Greenland Street' with the A-Foundation’s
administrator Helen Brierley taking John through the recent 'Africa
at the Pictures' film festival. The Liverpool visit ended with a
discussion about the exciting plans for Liverpool's Capital of
Culture 2008 with Fiona Gasper from Liverpool’s Capital of
Culture Office.
John also met Carl Hunter from Art in Action, who discussed his
company’s involvement with the recent BBC Feature Film
“Allotment” on which he placed a number of trainees
with the support of North West Vision.
In the afternoon, John travelled to Manchester’s Cornerhouse
for a tour of the new DSN (Digital Screen Networks) Cinemas
followed by a presentation on the Educational
‘Livewire’ programme. In 2005/6, 1207 young people
benefited from educational activity within Cornerhouse and during
John’s visit a selection of the ‘Livewire’
teenagers had the opportunity to put their questions, on UK Film
Industry issues, directly to him.
Speaking of John’s Visit, Alice Morrison, Chief Executive at North West Vision said:
“Training and education through cinema and film is an important part of North West Vision’s work across the region. It’s inspiring that John had so much to see during his visit and it’s also worth pointing out that this was only across two of our five regions. With the ongoing support of the UK Film Council such programmes can only continue to go from strength to strength”
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