Speakers to discuss emerging cinema trends at conference in Manchester, UK.

Home Manchester

Film exhibition innovation conference This Way Up (Dec 2-3) is to return for a second year at a new venue, the Home cinema in Manchester, and has unveiled its programme of events and speakers.

The two-day event will include workshops, labs, panel discussions and keynotes, exploring emerging trends, models and ideas currently impacting the sector.

Keynotes will be presented by Anna Higgs, former head of Film4.0 and executive producer of High-Rise, The Duke of Burgundy, A Field in England; BBC director of audiences Nick North; and National Theatre of Scotland producer Marianne Maxwell.

Topics under discussion will include the rise of event cinema and alternative content; generating audience loyalty through different pricing models; embracing user-generated video; if the power of the film critic is dwindling; and the use of data in exhibition.

Other topics will explore if documentary is being sidelined by theatres; the use of social media to bypass traditional distribution; the lack of gender equality in filmmaking; and improving the visitor experience.

Speakers and panelists include: From Sweden’s Bio Bio, Ellen Tejle (Founder of A-Rate – branding for films that pass The Bechdel Test), filmmaker Jeanie Finlay (The Great Hip Hop Hoax, Sound It Out, Orion), John Summers (CEO of The Halle Orchestra), Sheffield Doc/Fest’s Claire Aguilar (Director of Programming and Industry Engagement), Oli Harbottle (Head of Distribution, Dogwoof), Ian Forrester (BBC Research & Development), BFI’s Richard Shaw (Director of Audiences), Agnieszka Moody (Director, Creative Europe Desk UK), Damian Spandley (Head of Theatrical, TV & New Media Sales, Metrodrome), Sally Joynson (Screen Yorkshire), and film critics Tim Robey (Daily Telegraph) and Charles Gant (Heat, The Guardian).

Jointly organised by three hubs within the BFI’s Film Audience Network - Film Hub North, Film Hub North West Central and Film Hub Scotland - This Way Up 15 has also signed Creative Europe and Veezi as event partners.

Click here for more details.