Cross Art-form Venues Network (CAV Network) welcomes the Film Policy Review and its assertion that any practical policy for film in the UK must start with the audience.
We are extremely pleased about the Review’s recognition of the central role the CAV Network is already playing in partnership with the BFI to give more audiences the chance to see more great films, particularly British ones.
We support the acknowledgement of the many opportunities that digital technology opens up to allow audiences to enjoy film and for artists and entrepreneurs to create new content in innovative formats.
CAV Network fully endorses the call for a re-balancing of support across the whole film value chain, including distribution and exhibition, and for a fairer balance of funding across the nations and regions of the UK, and look forward to working in partnership with the BFI, Arts Council England and artists, agencies and filmmakers across the UK to realise the ambition of this Review.
Chair of CAV Network, John Newbigin, said “This Review gives a huge and welcome boost to our ambition for a UK-wide hi-speed digital network that allows our most creative filmmakers to reach audiences that at the moment they cannot reach. The Review deserves a ringing endorsement from the government – it’s a great route map for the future of British film.”
Dave Moutrey, CEO of Cornerhouse and CAV Network member, added “The members of CAV Network have been working hard to bring forward projects to develop audiences for film, support talent development and innovation and to make our not-for-profit businesses more sustainable. Recognition of that by the review and their recommendations is great news.”
CAV Network is a consortium of well-established film and digital arts centres that is now forming a wider UK partnership for a hi-speed digital network to explore innovative ways of creating and exhibiting film, multi-platform media and live inter-active events. We look for partners who will work with us to drive forward cultural frontiers and help us build commercially sustainable businesses.
The founding members of CAV Network are Broadway (Nottingham), Cornerhouse (Manchester), FACT, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (Liverpool), Showroom (Sheffield) and Tyneside Cinema (Newcastle).