Member Article

Film and media event set to inspire the region

The North East’s regional screen agency Northern Film and Media have organised an annual event aimed at improving the local community’s awareness, participation and access to filmmaking and the media. ‘New directions 2008: Inspiring Media in the community’ brings together leading national figures, industry experts, youth and community filmmakers and project workers.

‘New directions’ aims to highlight the practical approaches to media literacy, fundraising, and film idea development through screenings, workshops, panels and presentations. The objective of the day is to explore how the media and film can be used to tell the stories of the region’s diverse communities.

Twelve renowned regional and national guest speakers are to set to appear on behalf of Northern Film & Media at the event, these include; Sara Strickland of Suited & Booted Studios, Adrian Lambert of The Rural Media company, Douglas Hunter of Media Box, and Ben Greener from the Tyneside Cinema.

Lisa Laws, Creative Communities Manager at Northern Film & Media, said: “The media is an increasingly important and useful part of our lives. In this ever evolving environment it is vital that we are a media literate society and Northern Film & Media wants to help provide young people and communities with more opportunities to watch, make and debate film in all of its forms.

“We’ve some fascinating people working with youth and community groups in the region, and there are some wonderful partnerships and projects out there run by people who are taking an exciting and creative approach to engaging with key groups. I hope New Directions will help to develop these approaches, and inspire new ideas. The last time we ran this event we had an overwhelmingly positive response.”

The one-day event takes place today at Queens Hall, Hexham from 10am to 4.45pm, with networking and entertainment taking place from 5pm. For more information visit www.northernmedia.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .