HI~Arts is excited to take the opportunity of the third annual Inverness Film Festival to announce the formation of a consortium with Eden Court Theatre and North East Arts Touring (NEAT). In response to the new Rural Cinema Development Scheme set up by Scottish Screen, the consortium has established the Rural Cinema North project, for an initial pilot period of two years.

The aim of Rural Cinema North is to promote Cinema as an art form, and to make accessible to rural communities a wider range of non-mainstream non-Hollywood films than is currently available through existing provision. Following the appointment in August 2005 of Matt Lloyd to the position of Project Coordinator, the consortium is developing opportunities for events and screenings throughout the north of Scotland

The type of projects will include unique screenings of international short films and documentaries, where possible accompanied by the filmmakers; showing collections of archive footage of local interest and relevance; encouraging cross-media events such as silent films with live musical accompaniment.

In addition, Matt will be offering advice and support to organisations and communities wishing to stage screenings, and providing a forum for groups to share their experiences and programming suggestions through an online resource for film fans - a virtual film club.

A crucial component of the project is the promotion of local filmmaking activities, whether through offering a wider exhibition platform to communities producing work, or by holding open master-classes/workshops with visiting filmmakers.

“Whilst there are many dynamic film-making initiatives throughout the north of Scotland,” says Matt, “what is lacking is the opportunity to distribute the results beyond the local community. I would like to see a network of screenings throughout the area, so that we can be inspired by one another’s work, and by films from around the globe. Then we will see the emergence of a confident, region-wide community of filmmakers and film lovers, just as exists such a community of musicians.”

Matt is currently consulting local practitioners, and would like to hear from any interested parties in the north of Scotland, whether or not they are actively involved in filmmaking or exhibition. He is particularly keen to hear from arts centres and community groups who do not presently have the facilities to screen films, but would like to do so.
Matt can be reached at matt@hi-arts.co.uk  or on 07917 851 380, or through HI~Arts , 4th Floor, Ballantyne House, 84 Academy Street, Inverness IV1 1LU.