South West Screen presents Big Reach, a unique opportunity for professional filmmakers to get the latest industry insights into the changing relationships between funding, distribution and marketing.

Expert speakers include David Sproxton (Aardman), who will open the seminar, and Pete Buckingham (UK Film Council) who will demystify the world of data capture and metadata, and how they can help target audiences and shape funding. David Shear (Revolver) will give the distibutor’s take on reaching and building audiences, asking what makes a 5-star digital marketing campaign? Our panel will then share their views on the impact of digital technologies, giving their unique insights into digital distribution and film beyond 2010.

When: Tuesday 16 November 2010, 1-6pm
Where: Encounters Short Film Festival, The Watershed, 1 Canon’s Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5TX
Tickets: Call the watershed box office on 0117 927 5100 / email info@watershed.co.uk

The Speakers

Peter Buckingham, Head of Distribution and Exhibition, UK Film Council
Pete is Head of Distribution and Exhibition at the UK Film Council and as such is tasked with increasing the breadth and diversity of cinema-going across the UK, as well as assisting audience appreciation of UK films. He heads up a range of schemes to support this strategy, which aim to broaden the choice of films available to UK audiences and to increase admissions for specialised film; these include the P&A Fund (prints & advertising) and the world’s first Digital Screen Network. Pete was previously Deputy Chief Executive of FilmFour Limited. During his time at FilmFour, the company achieved the highest market share in its history and released East is East, its highest grossing film and the first film to achieve cross-over success with specialised and mainstream cinema audiences. He was named Video Distributor of the Year in 2000. Prior to FilmFour, Pete was Managing Director of Oasis Cinemas, building up a specialised chain into five cinemas and 13 screens, including the complete design and rebuilding of the 5-screen Ritzy Cinema in Brixton, South London. Pete has also worked as Director of Film Distribution for Virgin Vision responsible for the theatrical and video release of films such as Drugstore Cowboy, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Paris by Night and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

*David Shear, Head of Theatrical Distribution, Revolver Entertainment *
David has been at Revolver for two years and as Head of Theatrical Distribution he is responsible for the overall release strategy of all Revolver’s titles. Revolver was the first independent to release a digital 3D film, U23D, and also created the day-and-date model in the UK with the multi-platform release of the award-winning Mum & Dad. David is working on releases by Charlie Kaufman, Werner Herzog, Steven Soderbergh and Jim Jarmusch. Starting at the Feature Film Company in 1997, he became Head of Sales moving onto Winchester Films, Content Films and then set up a UK Distribution arm at The Works. In that time releasing such critical and Box Office successes as Lantana, My Summer of Love and Open Range.

David Sproxton, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Aardman Animations
David Sproxton is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Aardman. Together with co-founder Peter Lord, he has overseen the development of the company from a two-man partnership to one of the pre-eminent animation houses in the industry. David has served as a producer, director or cinematographer on a number of animated projects at Aardman. David spent 9 years on the board of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Trust. He is also a Board Director of Encounters Festivals. He is also on the Board of @Bristol and the National Film Television School. The Oscar and BAFTA award-winning Aardman animation studio is famous for its stop-motion, ‘claymation’ productions, being the home of Wallace & Gromit, Morph and Shaun the Sheep. Its first 30 minute film, The Wrong Trousers won over thirty awards and has become one of the most successful animated films ever made. Aside from the Wallace & Gromit series of films, Aardman has also produced the feature-length animation, Chicken Run, and it successfully entered the computer animation market with its 2006 film, Flushed Away.

The Panel

Rory Ahern, Rubber Republic
Rory has over a decade’s experience in advertising (digital & ATL), PR and documentary film-making, and has been fortunate to have worked in some of the best agencies in London, Sydney and more recently Bristol. These include Fallon, TBWA\, Karmarama and Blast! Films on projects as varied as Skoda, BBC, Amnesty International and a BAFTA nominated documentary. Since 2008 Rory has worked with the Rubber Republic, one of the Team Rubber companies, which specialises in audience activation online using social media and influencer networks to get ideas spread through genuine engagement. Rubber Republic’s key clients include Sony PlayStation, BBC, Channel 4, FRANK (Department of Health) and Paramount Pictures International for whom we have planned and executed campaigns on Tropic Thunder, Watchmen, Transformers 2, Up In The Air & G.I.JOE.

Joy Wong, Sales Agent
Joy started her career in film at the British Film Institute and until recently was Head of The Works International having 16 years experience in international sales and distribution of feature film. Films represented include The Crying Game, Orlando, Antonia’s Line, No Man’s Land, Land And Freedom, Bend It Like Beckham, Whale Rider, In This World, 24 Hour Party People, This Is England, Consequences Of Love, The Sun, My Summer Of Love, Venus, Man On Wire, The Cove And Most Recently I Am Love. Joy attended all the major film markets and festivals including Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, San Sebastian, Rome and AFM.