Ahead of Spring Screening Days 2023, the latest edition of the UK’s largest cinema conference programme, Independent Cinema Office (ICO) is proud to announce the first eight beneficiaries of the Miles Ketley Memorial Fund. The bursary fund was launched in 2022 in memory of the producer and trustee of the ICO, who was passionate about supporting early career filmmakers, especially those whose voices are often overlooked in the industry.
Funded by the Independent Cinema Office, the bursary fund, worth £15,000 over three years, is designed to support filmmakers from communities traditionally excluded from the industry, and who make original, interesting work that connects with a wider range of audiences. Eligible filmmakers must have shown work at a previous ICO Screening Days, either as a first feature or within the event’s Introducing… slot.
The first selected filmmakers, who have between them received over £5,000 are: Aleem Khan (director, After Love, first feature), Sian A. Williams (director, Rebel Dykes, first feature), Alfie Barker (director, Hanging On, Introducing…), Cathy Mager (director, Sign Night, Introducing…), Corine Dhondee (director, Cinema is the Weapon, Introducing…), Hollie Bryan (producer, Hanging On, Introducing…), Jessie Currie (director, Introverse, Introducing…), Zoe Hunter Gordon (director, ill actually, Introducing…).
Catharine Des Forges, Director of the Independent Cinema Office, says, “Miles was passionate about new talent and gave a lot of his time and energy to supporting emerging filmmakers. The fact that we received so many applications for this first-round of funding, demonstrates the real need for support at this level. Our goal with Screening Days is to make sure cinemas are seeing the best new films so that they can put them in front of audiences. We hope this award will help make sure the filmmakers can keep creating life-changing, innovative work that matters to audiences.”
Spring Screening Days 2023 takes place at the BFI Southbank, London (11 -13 March) and online (14 -19 March). Applications for eligible filmmakers for the next round of the Miles Ketley Memorial Fund will open in April 2023.
The Independent Cinema Office is supported by the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery.
About the Independent Cinema Office
The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) is the UK’s national body that supports independent cinemas through programming, training, consultancy, cultural distribution and organising Screening Days events that help cinemas broaden their programmes. Their mission is to build an open, thriving, robust cinema sector and for everyone to have access to cinema that nourishes the soul and changes lives.
About Screening Days
Screening Days is the UK’s largest cinema conference programme, organised by the Independent Cinema Office for over a decade. Screening Days shows the best British independent and world cinema titles so cinemas from across the UK can make informed decisions about their programming and marketing, as well as hosting sessions to help exhibitors reach all audiences. The event annually attracts over a thousand attendees from cinemas, film societies, film festivals and community groups.