The Forum Cinema Hexham is working with local groups and schools for people with additional needs to make their own short films to put on the big screen. Together we will create a mini film festival with the films the groups make with a feature programmed by the groups' users, all culminating in a glorious awards ceremony. After a small pilot in 2023, we have committed to this being an annual event in which case the groups have told us they would like access to a camera and video editing equipment and software and some training to do their actors and directors justice! This is an amazing way for the community to come together and celebrate themselves and enjoy culture, create their own culture and immerse themselves in culture. We know from last year this is a celebration of spectacular joy. If you are not going to be represented on the big screen then you had better do it yourself!!

What we'll deliver:

• Buy a video camera for the groups to use
• Buy a laptop suitable for video editing for the groups to use
• Buy a video digital editing package for the groups to use
• Provide training on using the above - using our local people as trainers
• Provide each group with £200 for video making expenses - set, props, costumes
• Provide event management and staff for the festival
• Pay for a feature film licence
• Use paid adverts to let the whole community know what we are doing
• Buy 'Foscar' awards for the talent in, and making, the films

Why it's a great idea:

This project is for 4 entities in Hexham that work with people with additional needs. The age range is 16 years plus. The groups are Gateway into the Community, Stage Fright, The Priory School and WeCan. The people they work with do not get to see themselves and people like them represented on the big screen very often and we are a community cinema that can give them that screen space and time. Making a short movie is something anyone can get involved in, with some tech and support. We can source local trainers for video making from our existing networks, which will also give some of our young people valuable new working experiences. This year's growth has shown a need in our community for this creativity and access to culture. The legacy of this is an annual continuation and if it grows as it has done this year we will let the event naturally expand so the whole local additional needs community can gloriously celebrate what it means to be themselves.

Steps to get it done:

• Purchasing the equipment
• Engaging a tech trainer
• Providing the training
• Lending out the equipment
• Receiving 4 complete, edited short films
• Programming the feature
• Setting up the event, getting staff and volunteers, decorating the building
• Holding the festival screening
• Holding a meeting to arrange another date for 2025

Forum Cinema is a community cinema and profits get paid back to the community. The festival screening is for everyone in the community, not just users of the four services involved. We attempt to bring people together rather than segregate. Last year's pilot showed the whole community was very interested in this event.