Become a Hub member

The BFI Film Audience Network (or FAN) was originally set up in 2012, using funds from the National Lottery, to support a stronger and more connected approach to growing audiences for British and international film on the big screen.  It divided film exhibition activity in the UK into regions, each led by a regional Film Hub.

From 2017, FAN is part of the BFI’s five-year plan BFI2022 and central to BFI2022’s commitment to give everyone, everywhere in the UK the opportunity to enjoy and learn from the richest and most diverse range of great British and international filmmaking, past, present and future.

The priorities for FAN under BFI2022 are to:

• Increase access to a wide range of independent British and international film for audiences – especially those outside London;
• Extend engagement with BFI supported activities across the UK and enhance the quality and cultural depth of audience experience;
• Increase access to the UK’s screen heritage especially via the BFI’s National Film and TV Archive and those of the regions and nations;
• Enhance the quality of audience-facing activity, deepen knowledge and build capability in its membership, and;
• To do this with a particular emphasis on increasing the diversity of audiences and boosting the number of 16-30 year old’s engaging with film activity.

Film Hub South East is the Hub region for the South East of England.  Geographically it has grown from the previous iteration of FAN and now covers the following local authority areas: Bedfordshire, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Luton, Medway, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Peterborough, Reading, Slough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Surrey, Thurrock, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham.

From 2018, Film Hub South East is managed by the Independent Cinema Office (ICO), the UK’s national agency for the development and support of independent film exhibition.

Like all of the regional Film Hubs, Film Hub South East works on behalf of the BFI and in partnership with its members to deliver specific outcomes in its region against the priorities listed above.

We welcome membership applications from any organisation based within the region that:

• Screens films to public audiences or its membership (or has plans to do so within the 12 month period from joining)

And/or, which:

• Has a related interest in broadening the range of film available to audiences and in enriching the cultural value of communal film screening activity.

Eligible organisations include (but are not limited to):

• Cinemas (independent and local/national circuits)
• Mixed arts venues
• Volunteer-run film societies and community cinemas
• Touring cinemas and community screen networks
• Film festivals
• Screen archives
• Regular pop-up film events
• Academic institutions
• Museums and galleries
• Local authority departments and agencies
• Local and regional development agencies
• Community groups and leisure providers

In order to join, prospective members must share BFI FAN’s vision and strategic priorities as set out in BFI2022.

In addition, organisations must be formally constituted (e.g. as a community interest company or limited liability company registered at Companies House; a charity or trust registered with the Charity Commission; a Local Authority or statutory body; or a voluntary group with a written constitution and bank account).

Film Hub South East membership offers a wide range of benefits and opportunities, including:

• Schemes for audience development and bursaries for training and development in line with BFI FAN objectives.
• Access to training & professional development courses and events, peer-to-peer mentoring and support.
• Events, conferences and meetings hosted by the Hub and its partners and across FAN.
• Participation in joint programming and audience development projects, and regional and national initiatives with reach and profile.
• Accessible support  and the chance to be part of a stronger collective voice for film exhibition and audiences.

Please read our guidelines for further details.

No. Private individuals are not eligible for FAN membership in their own right, but are encouraged to sign-up to the Film Hub South East newsletter to keep in touch with FAN news and developments from around the South East and across the UK.

The application process is quick and simple.

• First, please download and read the Membership guidelines
• When you are ready to apply, simply fill in our online application form

We will take a maximum of two weeks to make a decision on your membership. During that time, if we have any questions about your application, we will contact you.

Film Hub South East schemes and opportunities are only open to members.

If you wish to submit an urgent proposal for one of our schemes but your organisation is not yet a member, simply apply for membership as soon as possible and we will review your the application alongside your proposal.

Please ensure you have downloaded and read through the full guidelines in the first instance. If you still have a query, please contact Film Hub South East via
filmhubse@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk or 0207 636 7120.