Our Archive Screening Day is a one-day event showcasing material from the UK’s national and regional film archives, new restorations coming into distribution and films soon to be made available by the ICO as part of the BFI’s Britain on Film project. We are delighted to be partnering with Watershed and Film Hub South West & West Midlands on this event.
Britain on Film is a tremendously rich resource, containing films that will excite and connect audiences across ethnic, generational and class divides. We hope this event will give exhibitors the opportunity to gain cinematic inspiration, practical skills and knowledge of the support available to show this work. ICO’s last archive tour – BFI Mediatheque on Tour – was a major archive event, with more than 400 bookings across the UK. This is your first chance to find out how you can get involved.
The event will take place at Watershed in Bristol on Thursday 28th July 2016, and will incorporate screenings, workshops, keynote speakers, case studies, panels and presentations on how best to programme archive films.
Watershed will also be holding the inaugural Cinema Rediscovered (28-31 July 2016), a new international archive film event over the three days immediately following the Archive Screening Day.
Cinema Rediscovered
Taking inspiration from the pioneering Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna, Italy, Cinema Rediscovered will give audiences the opportunity to discover or indeed rediscover new digital restorations, film print rarities of early cinema and contemporary classics on the big screen in cinemas including Watershed and Curzon Clevedon Cinema & Arts.
Archive Screening Day delegates are eligible for a special rate on Cinema Rediscovered passes, which entitles you to entry into all Cinema Rediscovered events: £65 (discounted from £80). To book your discounted Cinema Rediscovered pass, click here.
Please note: for those booking tickets for individual events, Archive Screening Day delegates are eligible for a £2 discount on entry to individual events, including the opening night film The Lion in Winter.
To claim your discount on individual tickets, go through Watershed’s online booking form and enter the discount code ‘Hepburn‘ on the cart page.
Registration
Registration for this event has now closed.
Bursaries
A number of the Film Hubs are offering bursaries towards fees, travel and accommodation for their members to attend Screening Days. For details of the bursaries and how to apply please see below:
- Film Hub Central East
- Film Hub London
- Film Hub North
- Film Hub North West Central
- Film Hub Northern Ireland
- Film Hub Scotland
- Film Hub South East
- Film Hub South West & West Midlands
- Film Hub Wales
Find out more
Further information about the event will be uploaded to this section of the website, or for any queries please call 020 7636 7120 or email info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk
Our whole team attended the day and found it very useful in terms of opening us up to the availability of archive, how to access it, and knowledge of formats and processes.
Archive Screening Day delegate
Programme
We are delighted to welcome several special guests at the event.
Keynote: New audiences for old films
The BFI is one of the strongest champions of archive film. Robin Baker. Head Curator of the BFI National Archive has worked in film exhibition, distribution, marketing and archive for 25 years. He leads the BFI’s team of curators and on its curatorial plan for the UK’s collections of film and TV, and we’re delighted to welcome him to deliver our keynote on archive film’s importance in our cultural memory and future.
Discovering the festival Il Cinema Ritrovato
The phenomenally popular Il Cinema Ritrovato is the world’s largest archive film festival. Festival Coordinator Guy Borlée will introduce the painstakingly restored Rapsodia Satanica and highlights of his Kinemacolor programme, explaining how the films were returned to their original glory.
Film archives and the next generation: how to engage young audiences?
Head of Education at Amsterdam’s EYE Filmmuseum, Florine Wiebenga will describe their work with young audiences. Where to start? How to combine old films, blockbusters, art house film, YouTube, video games, mobile devices and cinemas? Florine will share best practice on how to engage young people and interest them in film history.
John Sweeney, Pianist
Pianist John Sweeney has played for silent film since 1990, at venues and festivals across the UK as well as internationally. We’re delighted to welcome him to accompany Britain on Film: Railways and Victorian Film as New Media as well as selected Kinemacolor shorts during Guy Borlée’s presentation.
Special events
Power in Our Hands: case study
Recent documentary Power in Our Hands used archive material to bring to life the untold story of Britain’s Deaf community. In this session, Jemma Buckley of the British Deaf Association will discuss how to create compelling, socially meaningful screenings from archive film and how best to reach local groups and minority audiences.
How to programme archive film
Our beginner’s guide to programming archive film: a session covering all practicalities and considerations including costs, rights, materials and technical specifications for those keen to start offering archive films in their programmes, led by ICO Head of Cinemas David Sin.
Travel
Watershed is located in Bristol’s city centre, on its historic harbourside.
1 Canons Road
Harbourside
Bristol
BS1 5TX
Tel: 0117 927 6444
For a map please visit www.watershed.co.uk/visit/location
By road
Watershed is situated on the waterfront, off of Anchor Road. It cannot be accessed by car.
The nearest car parks are the NCP on Prince Street and Millennium Square Car Park at the end of Explore Lane and Canons Way.
NCP on Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QF
To walk to Watershed from the NCP car park, turn right when you come out of the car park onto Prince Street. Take your first right onto Farr’s Lane. At the end of Farr’s Lane you will be at the waterfront. Cross Pero’s Bridge onto the other side of the water and turn right. Watershed is on the left-hand side.
Millennium Square Car Park, Bristol, BS1 5LL (scroll down)
To walk to Watershed from Millennium Square Car Park, turn right when you come out of the car park onto Explore Lane. When you get to the ibis hotel on the left, turn right and walk across Millennium Square until you get to the waterfront. Turn left along the waterfront, Watershed is on the left-hand side.
For a map of other local car parks please visit:
www.travelwest.info/car_parking
By rail
There are two mainline railway stations in Bristol; Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway. Bristol Temple Meads station is the closest to Watershed.
Temple Meads
Temple Meads station is about 1 mile from Watershed. Taxis are available outside the station. Alternatively it is about a 20 minute walk from Temple Meads station to Watershed.
- Head out of the train station, down Station Approach. At the end of the road, cross the road at the pelican crossing and turn right onto Temple Gate.
- Follow the road round to the left towards St Mary Redcliffe Church and Arnolfini onto Redcliffe Way.
- Follow Redcliffe Way past the St Mary Redcliffe church on your left.
- At the roundabout head straight across towards Arnolfini and Youth Hostel. Once over the roundabout continue on Redcliffe Way (you will cross the river).
- At the mini-roundabout head straight across onto Bell Avenue. This will lead you to Queen Square.
- Head straight on past Queen Square keeping to the left-hand side. Continue onto Royal Oak Avenue.
- Cross Prince Street and continue straight onto Farr’s Lane. At the end of Farr’s Lane you will be at the waterfront.
- Cross Pero’s Bridge onto the other side of the water and turn right. Watershed is on the left-hand side.
Parkway station
Parkway station is about 6 miles from Watershed. Taxis are available outside the station.
By coach
National Express has direct coaches to Bristol from 116 destinations. Coaches arrive at Bristol Coach Station, Marlborough Street, Bristol, BS1 3NU. The coach station is about a 15 minute walk to Watershed.
To walk to Watershed from the coach station, come out of the station and turn right onto Marlborough Street. Turn right onto Canon Street, continue until you reach St James’ Park. Cross St James’ Park (its a small park), when you get to the other side of the park, turn right onto Haymarket which then leads quickly onto Lewins Mead. Continue on Lewins Mead for nearly 0.5 miles, the road bears round to the left and then to the right. Lewins Mead turns into Anchor Road. Stay on the left-hand side of Anchor Road, you should see the waterfront directly ahead of you. Watershed is then slightly further up on the waterfront on the right-hand side.
By air
From London Heathrow
There is a direct National Express coach service between Heathrow and Bristol. Alternatively you can take the Heathrow Airport Express to London Paddington and a First Great Western train from London Paddington to Bristol. There is also a RailAir link coach service which runs between Heathrow and Reading. Most Paddington to Bristol trains stop at Reading.
From Bristol Airport
The airport is about 8 miles to the south of Bristol centre. Taxis are available at the airport or there is a frequent bus service to Temple Meads station and the City Centre called Airport Flyer Express Link.
Useful links
- National Rail Enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk
- Traveline www.traveline.org.uk
Hotels
Watershed has secured discounted rates at several local hotels for ICO Archive Screening Day delegates: ibis Bristol Centre Hotel, Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol City Centre and The Bristol Hotel.
Please note: all hotels will check delegate names with the ICO before approving discounted bookings.
Other nearby hotels (by distance)
Radisson Blu
Approximate rate per night: £85 – £115
Distance to Watershed: 150 metres
Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel
Approximate rate per night: £99 – £120
Distance to Watershed: 150 metres
Bristol YHA
Approximate rate per night: £22 – £54
Distance to Watershed: 0.2 miles
Premier Inn Bristol City Centre (King Street)
Approximate rate per night: £60 – £82
Distance to Watershed: 0.3 miles
Travelodge Bristol Central Hotel
Approximate rate per night: £56 – £70
Distance to Watershed: 0.3 miles
Thistle Bristol City Centre, The Grand
Approximate rate per night: £95 – £132
Distance to Watershed: 0.4 miles
Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel
Approximate rate per night: £101 – £124
Distance to Watershed: 0.4 miles
NB. The ICO does not endorse any of the above hotels.
FAQs
How do I register on the day?
Registration will be held in the morning. You will be issued with a badge which will be your entry pass into all screenings and events.
Can I leave my luggage somewhere?
There will be a space for delegates to leave luggage. Please note luggage is left at the owner’s risk.
When do the screenings happen?
A precise schedule is yet to be confirmed, but screenings and events will likely run between 9:00am and 6:00pm.
Where are the screenings held?
Screenings and events will be held in cinemas 1 and 3 and in the Waterside rooms at Watershed.
Will there be any other activities in addition to the screenings?
There will be workshops, keynote speakers, case studies, panels and presentations, along with a drinks reception on Thursday evening before the opening of Cinema Rediscovered.
Is there somewhere to get drinks and food onsite?
Refreshments and lunch will be provided on the day. You can also visit Watershed’s café-bar (on the first floor). Click here for further details and opening hours.
How accessible is the Watershed?
The main entrance and box office are located on the ground floor, accessible via a ramped, electronically assisted door. The cinemas, café/bar and event spaces are on the first floor, accessible via a lift near the box office. On the first floor there is level access to all areas, including an adapted toilet, with Radar key. Induction loops are available in all three cinemas. There are two disabled badge holders’ parking spaces to the rear of the building, on Canons Road.
How do you select films for the programme?
The aim of the event is to showcase archive film that a variety of venues could programme to increase the history and breadth of stories on their screens. This event coincides with BFI’s launch of their major archive film project, Britain on Film, and the start of our touring programme of films from the project. This project is a vastly exciting opportunity for film exhibitors, as it collates a wealth of material that will appeal to audiences across ethnic, generational and class divides. We’ll be selecting films from the project and further afield, as well as curating events for the programme to enable you to as much as possible out of the day.
Why can only five members of my organisation attend?
As we only have a limited capacity, we limit the number of passes for any one organisation to five. This ensures that the largest number of organisations can benefit from the event. Attendees must also be engaged in one of the following areas within their organisation: programming, marketing, education, audience development, or on the selection committee of a film society/club.
Can I Tweet or share reviews or comments on the films in public?
Yes! Normally, we have a strict press embargo including social media at Screening Days events, as the films screened are pre-release. However, this isn’t the case for our Archive Screening Day so please feel free to discuss films and other events in the programme (such as panel discussions and presentations) online as you wish, tagging us at @ICOtweets #ScreeningDays.