The Torch Theatre Puts Young Film Ambassadors in the Picture

Following months of development and an extensive recruitment campaign, the Torch Theatre’s Young Film Ambassadors scheme launched this Wednesday (25 March) with its first online session, as the Torch Theatre’s Alex Lloyd and James Gent welcomed aboard its first intake of new members at the start of what promises to be an unmissable opportunity for young people in Pembrokeshire who are interested in film and cinema to experience film in a fun and educational way.

The Torch Theatre Young Film Ambassadors is a new scheme for those aged 14-18 in Pembrokeshire that will give opportunities for young people to watch, discuss and review the latest independent, UK & International, and blockbuster films. The scheme will give the young ambassadors the opportunity to get their reviews seen, and, to find out more about cinema and filmmaking in focused workshop sessions for aspiring reviewers with special guest speakers.

For the first session, the new recruits were joined by Keiron Self, the film editor for Buzz Magazine, who is also an actor, script writer and filmmaker in his own right. Keiron led an engaging, wide-ranging discussion on film, film genres, making your opinion count as a viewer or critic, and his own experiences writing, performing, and developing scripts for film & TV. 

Also present was Hywel Roberts of young people’s film network Into Film Cymru, whose Into Film Festival is the world’s largest free annual film festival, to share with the group just some of the opportunities available for young people to engage with great filmmaking and to develop a critical viewpoint so that they can learn and grow from those experiences.

Due to current COVID restrictions, the Young Film Ambassadors workshops and film screenings are taking place online. Conditions permitting, once the Torch Theatre is fully reopened and operating with a full cinema programme the Torch Theatre looks forward to welcoming its Ambassadors in person to take full advantage of the unique experience of enjoying films on the big screen.

Alex Lloyd, Senior Manager – Marketing, Press & Communications at the Torch Theatre said:

“It was brilliant to meet so many young people from across Pembrokeshire that share a common passion for film and cinema. This is the start of the journey for the Young Film Ambassadors scheme, we have a number of great workshops and films planned over the forthcoming months that will give a great insight into the film industry. There are certainly a few Marvel film fans here in Pembrokeshire, but we will be embracing the very best of independent and UK cinema as part of the ambassadors’ experience.”

The Torch Theatre’s Young Film Ambassadors scheme has been made possible by National Lottery funding distributed by Film Hub Wales, through the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund which was awarded to the Torch in the Autumn of 2020.

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THE TORCH THEATRE

The Torch Theatre was established in 1977 and is one of only three venue-based producing theatres in Wales alongside Cardiff’s Sherman Cymru and Clwyd Theatr Cymru. It consists of a 300 seat Main House, a 102 seat Studio Theatre, a bespoke art gallery, bar facilities and an attractive café – Café Torch. In 2007, the venue underwent a major transformation and refurbishment project to create an accessible, comfortable and attractive place to enjoy entertainment and the arts, complete with state-of-the-art digital cinema technology with 3D capabilities. The Torch Theatre offers over 1,300 shows, films, art exhibitions and live broadcasts annually to audiences in excess of 80,000.

Torch Theatre Company’s highly acclaimed productions, which include an annual Christmas show, are directed by Artistic Director Peter Doran and have included Grav, One Man, Two Guvnors, The Wood, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Turn of the Screw, The Hired Man, Neville’s Island, Oh Hello!, The Little Shop of Horrors and An Inspector Calls. In 2015, the Torch Theatre Production Company were double Laurel Award winners for its sell out productions of Grav and Oh Hello! at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 2017 saw Artistic Director Peter Doran being awarded the Best Director Award at the annual Wales Theatre Awards for the bilingual production Belonging/Perthyn (Re-Live in association with Chapter).

The Torch Theatre is a limited company with charitable status and is a publicly funded theatre supported by Arts Council of Wales, The National Lottery and the Welsh Government.

 

About Film Hub Wales 

Film Hub Wales aims to bring more films, to more people, in more places around Wales. Part of the BFI Film Audience Network and supported by National Lottery funding, FHW regularly develops inventive ways for people in Wales to go to the cinema with its independent member venues. 

Film Hub Wales (FHW) is one of eight UK wide ‘hubs’ part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) and supported with National Lottery funding, with Chapter appointed as the Film Hub Lead Organisation (FHLO) in Wales. We aim to develop the exhibition sector through dedicated research, training and audience development project support. Since Film Hub Wales set up in 2013, we’ve supported over 225 exciting cinema projects, reaching over 465,000 audience members. 

We are also proud to lead on the UK inclusive cinema strategy on behalf of BFI FAN.  

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About the BFI Film Audience Network  

Supported by National Lottery funding, the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), is central to the BFI’s aim to ensure the greatest choice of film is available for everyone. Established in 2012 to build wider and more diverse UK cinema audiences for British and international film, FAN is a unique, UK-wide collaboration made up of eight Hubs managed by leading film organisations and venues strategically placed around the country. FAN also supports talent development with BFI NETWORK Talent Executives in each of the English Hubs, with a mission to discover and support talented writers, directors and producers at the start of their careers.  

BFI FAN Film Hubs are:  

  • Film Hub Midlands is led by Broadway, Nottingham working in partnership with the Birmingham-based Flatpack 
  • Film Hub North is led collectively by Showroom Workstation, Sheffield and HOME Manchester  
  • Film Hub South East is led by the Independent Cinema Office  
  • Film Hub South West is led by Watershed in Bristol 
  • Film Hub Scotland is led by Glasgow Film Theatre  
  • Film Hub Northern Ireland is led by Queen’s University Belfast  
  • Film Hub Wales is led by Chapter in Cardiff 
  • Film Hub London is led by Film London 

 

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About the BFI 

The BFI is the UK’s lead organisation for film, television and the moving image. It is a cultural charity that: 

  • Curates and presents the greatest international public programme of world cinema for audiences; in cinemas, at festivals and online,  
  • Cares for the BFI National Archive – the most significant film and television archive in the world, 
  • Actively seeks out and supports the next generation of filmmakers,  
  • Works with Government and industry to make the UK the most creatively exciting and prosperous place to make film internationally. 

Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Josh Berger CBE. 

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About the National Lottery 

Thanks to National Lottery players, up to £600 million of funding has been made available to support communities across the UK during the Coronavirus crisis. 

The National Lottery is playing a critical role in supporting people, projects and communities during these challenging times. 

By playing The National Lottery, you are making an amazing contribution to the nationwide-response to combating the impact of COVID-19 on local communities across the UK. 

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