To work with local organisations towards the creation of a regular film festival across Swindon.

Project overview

In 2009, as part of the Think:Swindon project, a series of films were shown by Swindon Film Society across the borough as a precursor, or test-bed, for the potential of a regular film festival in the borough. There have been other festivals in the past, but nothing that has endured. In 2009 a new festival was run, with a launch on Wharf Green and films shown in a variety of venues (some being used for the first time) across the borough. In 2010 and 2011, the festival grew in terms of both films and audiences, helped by a successful grant application to South West Screen. This year, the festival is really taking off, with additional events and activities being organised by other groups inspired by the success of this new and exciting festival.

Forward Swindon has worked closely with Swindon Film Society to develop the festival, and is now increasingly taking a back seat as the event becomes more self-sustaining and the organisers take it from strength to strength.

Swindon Magnets

This project is one of our Swindon ‘Magnets’, being developed in support of One Swindon’s aim to establish a solid events programme for the Borough. The idea is to develop a number of cultural projects with a view to them becoming, over time, iconic elements of the Swindon calendar in the same way as the Festival of Literature, The Mela and the Half-Marathon have become.

Our Swindon Magnets are founded in the passions of local people and centre around a policy to give local people the professional support they need in order to create and develop self-sustaining cultural projects. The support that Forward Swindon brings to the projects (in different quantities depending on the project)  includes advice and help with organisation, working with the Council, marketing, PR, print and publicity, advertising, sponsorship, volunteer assistance, grant applications, partnership building and professional project management.

Other Swindon Magnets with Forward Swindon involvement:

St. George’s Day

Swindon Open Studios