Cinema for All South West

We are the South West Group of the national body, Cinema for All, the trading name of the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS). We are enthusiasts, volunteers running Film Societies and Community Cinemas ourselves, who understand the problems and rewards of bringing cinema to parts that other agencies don’t reach. For the past 40 years, we have been committed to supporting and extending our membership throughout the region by setting up new venues, promoting audience development and exploring the developing digital projection technologies.

The work of the Group is run by our Executive Committee, some of whom can be seen here on the left gathered at a recent Viewing Session. Left to right they are:

• Jane Sanders – Regional Secretary from Shipham Community Cinema who is our the main contact – you can contact her here
• Brian Clay – who was Regional Secretary from 1976 to 2016 and who now is the liaison with the national office of Cinema for All in Sheffield and the BFI Film Hub based at the Watershed in Bristol.
      Can assist with technical matters, short film hire (specifically those that have screened at recent viewing sessions), outdoor screenings and equipment hire.
• Paul Schilling – former Chair from Shaftesbury Arts Centre Film Society; Paul is responsible for one of our digital projection kits and for arranging trial screenings for new venues. You are also likely to see him at Regional Viewing Sessions projecting films.
• Andy Hastie from Yeovil Cinémathèque who is often to be found organising the box office at Viewings
• Chris Baker – our Treasurer who is in charge of our second set of digital equipment based in Bath and is the main contact for new venues wanting to get started with trial screenings – you can contact him here.

Other Executive members include Donna Anton (Hayle) who is the contact for Cornwall, Andrew Fairhurst from Shipham Comunity Cinema (CfA SW membership secretary) and Ralph Willett (Yeovil Cinémathèque). Kim Rixon is the administrator of the SW Group website.

Cinema for All South West covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire as well as Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Currently, we have member groups from Swindon in the east, Hayle and Penzance in the west, Dartmouth in the south and as far north as Cheltenham; we also have several associate Societies in neighbouring counties in the east.

We organise two main events every year, Viewing Sessions in the Spring and Autumn which provide an opportunity both to preview six new DVD and Bluray releases and to meet people from all over the region who share an enthusiasm for screening films in their communities. In recent years, the Spring event has been in two stages in the east and west of the region.

We also issue regular listings of the latest non-theatrical releases on DVD and Bluray available for licensed hire by community venues.

The SW Executive is always looking for volunteers to join the committee and get involved with however much or little they are able to contribute. It is very rewarding work and much appreciated by member Film Societies and Community Cinemas, so step forward and contact Jane in order to offer your services!

Privacy Policy

* CfA South-West is a subsidiary organisation of Cinema for All, and operates within its framework, including its Data Protection Privacy Policy (insofar as it applies to CfA SW) which can be viewed here.
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Cinema for All

Cinema for All is the national support and development organisation for community-led cinema: community cinemas, film clubs and societies. It has a professionally-staffed office based in Sheffield which provides help through its regular events, including the National Conference Viewing Sessions, as well a wide range of information from start-up packs and equipment loans. Much of the advice and support on offer is for free, as well as a huge range of additional services and benefits for subscribing members. These include the Booking Scheme offering over 800 films, including the latest releases from the very best of world cinema, British films, independent features documentaries and classic titles.

Since 1946, Cinema for All has been helping communities across the country to develop and sustain the type of film screenings they want. The work is funded by the British Film Institute (BFI), member subscriptions, sponsorship, film licence fees as well as project funding from trusts and foundations.
Whether you have been screening films in your community for many years, or are just thinking about setting up, Cinema for All can support you along every step of your journey.

For details of membership or for starting your own screen:
Contact: Cinema for All Central Office, Unit 411, The Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX
Phone: 0114 2210314
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.cinemaforall.org.uk

Cinema For All is a trading name of the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) and is a company limited by guarantee (company no.1391200) and a registered charity in England & Wales (charity no. 276633).