I’ve been working with the brilliant Northern Film and Media on an industry event for north east film  production professionals for a little while and it takes place at the Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle on Tuesday 21st November, running 10.15am – 3pm.

We’ll be welcoming a range of great speakers from across the UK exhibition, production  and distribution sectors to unpick how best to get feature films in front of an audience inside a cinema.

OPEN THE GATES – GETTING YOUR FEATURE IN FRONT OF YOUR AUDIENCE is a  one-day event designed to  give practitioners working in the north east’s film production sector the chance to hear from the gatekeepers – the exhibitors and distributors who decide if films not only make the grade but also if there’s an audience for their work.

Key decision makers representing Picturehouse, Showroom Workstation, Hanway Films will be present alongside filmmakers from the region whose work has made it out to an audience and the inside of a cinema – either via a distributor or through self-distribution.

Often seen as an antagonistic relationship, the event will pull back the curtain and discuss how to better collaborate and communicate and ensure films can reach their theatrical audience…

Speakers (with more to be announced) include:

  • Madeleine Mullett, Senior Programmer, Picturehouse
  • Joan Parsons, Senior Programmer, Showroom Workstation, Sheffield
  • Matthew Baker, Director Of Acquisitions, Hanway Films
  • Magali Pettier, Documentary Filmmaker
  • Samm Haillay, Producer, Third Films

There are just a handful of tickets left for this free event. Sign up here!