Practical Programming Online Course

Would you like to develop a new programme in your cinema but worry about audience turnout?

Do you run a film festival and want to diversify the types of films you show AND the people coming to them?

Do you want to hold a film screening, but don’t have experience in marketing or delivering events?

Our Practical Programming online learning course will give you the skills to develop an innovative, structured, well-attended film programme.

You will hear from programmers and industry experts across the UK, workshop a potential programming concept and learn how to curate a programme that could one day screen in a venue or as part of a festival.

If you have already enrolled for the course, you can login here.

Course Instructors

Catharine Des Forges Course Leader

David Sin Course Leader

James Calver Author

Course Information

Estimated Time: 5-6 hours

Difficulty: Beginner

Categories: Programming

Course Instructors

Catharine Des Forges Course Leader

David Sin Course Leader

James Calver Author

• Lessons

  • Introduction
    • Introduction to Practical Programming
    • A little more about you
  • The Film Industry
    • Session introduction – The film industry
    • Defining distribution and exhibition
    • Outlining industry models
    • The UK distributor
    • The UK exhibitor
  • Practicalities of Film Programming
    • Session introduction – Practicalities of film programming
    • Speaker introductions – Practicalities of film programming
    • Organisation introduction – Practicalities of film programming
    • Licensing and territories
    • Rights and materials
    • Terms and splits
    • Distributor relationships
    • Film knowledge
    • Industry know-how
  • Distribution
    • Session introduction – Distribution
    • Speaker Introduction – Delphine Lievens – Distribution
    • Speaker introduction – Dave Shear – Distribution
    • The role of distribution
    • Acquiring films
    • Scheduling and release dates
    • Establishing an audience
    • Marketing
  • Programming seasons
    • Session introduction – Programming seasons
    • Speaker introductions – Programming seasons
    • Gaining experience
    • Preparing your titles
    • Finding prints
    • Final words
  • Young audiences
    • Session introduction – Young audiences
    • Speaker introductions – Young audiences
    • Organisation introductions – Young audiences
    • Defining a young audience
    • Organisational buy-in
    • Engaging an audience
    • Young programmers
    • Dynamic pricing
  • Festival programming
    • Session introduction – Festival programming
    • Speaker introduction – Festival programming
    • Organisation introduction – Festival programming
    • Where and how to start
    • Defining your niche
    • When to start
    • Engaging audiences annually
  • Workshop: Programming a venue
    • Session introduction – Programming a venue
    • The workshop
  • Programming Case Studies
    • Introducing the case studies
    • Oska Bright – Lizzie Banks – Speaker introduction
    • Oska Bright – Matthew Hellett – Speaker Introduction
    • Oska Bright – Case Study – Part One
    • Oska Bright – Case Study – Part Two
    • Oska Bright – Case Study – Part Three
    • Oska Bright – Case Study – Part Four
    • We Are Parable – Anthony Andrews – Speaker introduction
    • We Are Parable – Organisation Introduction
    • We Are Parable – Case Study – Part One
    • We Are Parable – Case Study – Part Two
    • We Are Parable – Case Study – Part Three
    • We Are Parable – Case Study – Part Four
    • We Are Parable – Case Study – Part Five
  • Long-term planning strategy
    • Session introduction – Long-term planning strategy
    • Income building aims
    • Your business
    • Income building strategy
    • Methodology
    • Your options – Earned & Public
  • Conclusion
    • Wrap-up
    • Course evaluation