ACCESS>CINEMA LAUNCHES “GREAT CINEMA DESERVES GREAT AUDIENCES” CAMPAIGN
access>CINEMA has released a specially commissioned short film to launch its new GREAT CINEMA DESERVES GREAT AUDIENCES campaign.
In the GREAT CINEMA DESERVES GREAT AUDIENCES film, ordinary people from all over Ireland discuss their love of cinema and what the unique experience of watching films in cinemas means to them.
The campaign showcases access>CINEMA’s vital work in supporting film clubs, community cinemas and arts centres to bring cinema from every corner of the world to audiences across Ireland to enjoy and experience in their own communities.
The campaign asks people to visit accesscinema.ie/donate, where they have the opportunity to make a donation, which will help access>CINEMA continue this work and advance its goal to share the gift of cinema with as many people as possible across Ireland.
The film was directed by Dublin-based film-maker Gar O’Rourke, whose acclaimed debut short documentary Kachalka (2019) was selected to compete in film festivals around the world.
access>CINEMA encourages audiences to share the film across their own social media platforms and share their own experiences of cinema-going through the hashtag #GreatCinema.
Originally founded in 1977 as the Federation of Irish Film Societies, an umbrella body to coordinate the activities of regional film societies, access>CINEMA has made a considerable contribution to the cultural life of people in regional areas of Ireland through the screening of films, both Irish and international, that are not usually seen on commercial cinema screens.
A key factor in the success of the access>CINEMA network has always been the active participation of local people in choosing, selecting and presenting film programmes and activities for their own communities. Participation at this level has ensured that local communities share a sense of ownership of this cinema activity and recognise that their involvement is fundamental to the development of cinema as a culturally important and socially inclusive artform.
Maeve Cooke, Managing Director of access>CINEMA commented “For over 40 years, access>CINEMA’s work has been crucial in ensuring that audiences across all parts of Ireland can access a diverse range of cinema in their own town or village through a shared, big screen experience. Our activities originated from and continue to be focused within local communities across the country.”
She continued, “More than ever, this year has highlighted the importance of the film screenings that our members usually present – they provide an important cultural, social and inclusive activity for their communities, particularly those located in rural, remote and isolated areas. This campaign celebrates the magic of the shared cinema experience that we have all been missing and looks forward to when our members can safely welcome people back together, hopefully not too far in the future.”
Film director and access>CINEMA board member Ken Wardrop added “Thanks to the work of access>CINEMA, I have had the privilege of sharing my films with local communities across the length and breadth of Ireland. I’ve marvelled at seeing my films play to packed venues from arts centres to lecture rooms to courthouses to repurposed churches. The screens are always big, the volumes definitely up and the buzz is mighty. It’s been a joy to share these films with local communities that would otherwise miss out on the magic of the big screen experience.”
He continued, “In recent times, I’ve realised that watching a film together is a real privilege and I really miss the magic that this shared experience offers us. Hopefully with the help of access>CINEMA we’ll be sitting down in front of a big screen together again very soon.
access>CINEMA gratefully acknowledges the support of the Arts Council.
