Local universities collaborate to enrich Hampshire's film industry

Alongside the University of Portsmouth, students from Solent will be facilitating three film exhibitions aimed at elevating community voices and enriching Hampshire’s cultural landscape.

Dr Roy Hanney, Associate Professor of Film and Media at Solent University, says: “The landscape of cinema has changed dramatically over the last few years, impacted by on-demand streaming platforms. At Solent University and the University of Portsmouth, we are determined to continue championing the importance of cinema and are working with Making Waves Film Festival to bring accessible cinematic and industry events to the community.

“By providing affordable, immersive cinema experiences, and collaborating with communities to show the films they want to see, we hope that people will continue to visit cinemas and support their regional film industry.”

Making Waves Film Festival works with communities in Portsmouth and the Solent region to programme films that local residents feel connected to and want to see, and then delivers unique cinema events based on community suggestions.

Funding from the BFI’s Film Audience Network Film Exhibition Fund, which aims to bring film directly to audiences, will enable the festival to continue designing unique screenings that revitalise cinema in an accessible way. This collaboration also focuses on creating routes into film for local young people alongside community partner, MOTIV8.

Alongside events, Solent’s Dr Roy Hanney and Portsmouth’s Dr Yael Friedman will welcome producers and creatives working in the sector to their Wave Makers Creative Producers Lab in November. Bringing industry professionals from across the UK to Portsmouth, the event will include workshops and presentations that focus on preserving cinema experiences within communities.