Film Hub South East

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Film Hub South East

Part of the BFI Film Audience Network, working with exhibitors across the commercial, community and cultural film exhibition sector.

23/07/2026

The hotly anticipated new drama ISH is coming home next week to Luton, where the film is set and was shot!

This special Luton premiere features a Q&A with director Imran Perretta and cast members ahead of its release on 31 July and kicks off our BFI FAN SPOTLIGHT programme. Through this, we’ll be bringing more films to Luton audiences over the next three years, delivered in partnership with The Hat Factory, Bute Street Film Festival, and The Orange Picture Club.

The debut feature film from Perretta is a personal coming-of-age story following two 12-year-old best friends, played by Farhan Hasnet (Ish) and Yahya Kitana (Maram), growing up in Luton against a backdrop of political tension and personal loss.

ISH is garnering critical acclaim, including multiple 4-star reviews, and Perretta spoke to Kiran Moodley on Channel 4 News about the importance of telling authentic stories and touching on something universal.

This event is hosted in partnership with BFI Distribution, Luton Council and Step Forward

22/07/2026

Join our free online training session TOMORROW at 10:30am!

Gain insights from industry leaders Vanessa Lobon Garcia and Colm Forde, co-founders of Doc’n Roll Film Festival, and Guy Martin, co-founder of Reel Connections CIC, as they share real-world case studies on successfully eventising your film programme.

From Q&As and workshops to themed food and live music, adding an event to your screenings can attract new audiences and strengthen existing audience loyalty.

Register now via the link in bio

22/06/2026

SPOTLIGHT is coming to Luton!

Over the next three years, we’re partnering with Bute Street Film Festival and The Orange Picture Club to bring exciting films and new screening opportunities to Luton’s community.

SPOTLIGHT aims to expand local audience choices and make independent films more accessible, especially where screenings are currently limited.

Launched in 2023, this hyper-local approach opens new opportunities for communities to experience screen culture where it was previously out of reach.

Luton audiences can look forward to even more opportunities to enjoy film together, following the success in Peterborough with the Gateway Film Festival, where the programme helped launch new community cinemas, summer outdoor screenings, mini film festivals, and a network of local film exhibitors.

A huge thank you to the BFI and National Lottery for their continued support.

Bute Street Festival

28/05/2026

Today is the final chance to secure early bird tickets for BFI FAN CON!

We would love to see our South East hub members in Newcastle this September.

Only a handful are still available, and booking early could save you up to £35.

Book now and find out more: https://www.bfi-fan.org.uk/conference/bfi-fan-con-2026/

10/04/2026

FHSE Members, The Complete Cinema Marketing Course is now open!

Covering all areas of marketing, including brand building, social media strategy, and audience insights, the course will also offer marketers the opportunity to connect with industry peers.

Made up of nine modules across six months of practical learning, it’s designed so you can learn around your existing workload.

Register for the online info session, learn more about the course, and apply here: https://www.bfi-fan.org.uk/event/the-complete-cinema-marketing-course/

Open to all BFI FAN members across the UK (including Film Hub South East organisations!), applications close on Monday 18 May.

You can also learn more about joining FHSE here: https://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/film-hub-south-east/become-a-hub-member/

Created by the ICO in partnership with course leaders Indigo and funded by the BFI Film Audience Network.

25/03/2026

Accessibility Across the Board is a new Online Learning Course designed to help venues and organisations implement effective changes that grow audiences and support inclusivity.

This course gives film exhibitors the practical tools to create their own disability action plan, understand the Social Model of Disability, support the range of access needs their audiences may require, and more.

Created by ICO in partnership with Charlie Little (Access Consultant, Matchbox Cine), the course draws on real-world case studies from Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham Hippodrome, Scottish Q***r International Film Festival, and Matchbox Cine.

Find out more and enrol: https://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/course/accessibility-across-the-board-online-course/

Supported by BFI FAN using National Lottery funding.

19/03/2026

Proposal submissions are now open for the 2026 BFI FAN UK-wide season, Rip It Up!

Exploring the evolution of generational rebellion in the UK from the 1950s to today, this season runs from May until October 2026.

Alongside the season’s key titles, this year, FHSE has spotlighted three films with special ties to our region:

🎥 Ish (2025)
🎥 Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging (2008)
🎥 A Clockwork Orange (1971)

There are three ways you can engage with the programme and access support: Menu, Bespoke, and Cross FAN.

Next steps:

Review the full programme details here: https://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/film-hub-south-east/rip-it-up/

Join our Information Session with Cross FAN Programme Lead Ti Singh at 1pm on Tuesday, 31 March

11/03/2026

Funding for Film Hub South East has been officially confirmed for 2026-29!

We are pleased to announce the continuation of Hub and BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) funding, enabling us to maintain our work expanding film access, creating industry opportunities, supporting talent development for early-career filmmakers through BFI NETWORK, and more.

Following success in Peterborough, working with Gateway Film Festival to bring more community-led screenings and film events to local audiences, we’re excited to share that our next SPOTLIGHT focus will be Luton, where we’ll be working to open more opportunities for people to enjoy film together.

Thank you to the BFI and The National Lottery for your ongoing support.

05/03/2026

The Film Exhibition Fund 2026-27 is now open!

If you are thinking about submitting a proposal, make sure to read the guidelines on our website and consider joining our online information session taking place on Thursday 12 March at 11:00.

All Film Hub South East members are welcome to join the online session, where the Hub team will provide an overview of the fund and answer any questions.

Find out more about the Film Exhibition Fund and register for the online session here: https://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/film-hub-south-east/film-exhibition-fund-2026-27/

The BFI Film Audience Network is supported by the National Lottery.

04/03/2026

Last chance to submit your session ideas to the BFI FAN CON Open Call!

BFI FAN is seeking session ideas and topics from its membership to help shape the BFI FAN CON programme.

Get involved by proposing to guest curate a session, sharing a case study from your organisation, or simply suggesting speakers you’d like to see or topics you’d like to see covered.

These are paid opportunities for the guest curators and case study proposals that are taken forward. We'd love to see case studies and sessions from our FHSE members and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Submit your ideas by Monday, 9 March 2026, at 5pm.

Find all the details and submit your ideas: https://www.bfi-fan.org.uk/conference/open-call-for-sessions/

Address

9 Bickels Yard, 151-153 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey
London
SE13HA

Telephone

0207 636 7120

Website

https://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/film-hub-south-east/

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