Call for applications now closed.
Latest information HERE

Latest (Feb 05) 'The Times Newspaper' article on the subject HERE

UK Film Council press release:

"UK cinemas invited to be part of world's first digital screen network"

Digital Screen Network
Further Call for Cinema Applications

The call for applications from cinemas to the DSN (Digital Screen Network) closed on 10th December 2004. The response to this call was extremely positive with applications received from more than 260 cinemas from almost all areas of the UK. In order to ensure the widest possible spread of applications from which to make their assessment, the UKFC are issuing a further call for applications.

Full details and application forms are available on the UKFC website here.

Or on request to UK Film Council Distribution & Exhibition department by calling 020 7861 7861.

Applications must be received by the UK Film Council no later than 31st March 2005, in accordance with Section 3 of the Guide for Applicants.

See also Northern Ireland Grant Scheme HERE

Original UKFC press release:
August 16, 2004 - London

Multi-million pound National Lottery funded plan will use state of the art technology to give UK cinema audiences a wider choice of films.

Cinemas across the UK are being given the chance to lead the world by taking part in a National Lottery funded scheme to increase the breadth and range of films available to UK audiences, the UK Film Council announced today.

Under the Digital Screen Network plan which will see an investment of up to £13 million, the UK Film Council will equip around  200 screens in around 150 cinemas across the UK (approximately 1 in 4 of the total) with state of the art digital projection equipment.  In return, cinemas will be asked to commit to using the new technology to show a broader range of films on a regular basis, giving many more people the chance to see specialised (non-blockbuster) films such as British multiple award winner Touching the Void, recent New Zealand classic Whale Rider and the internationally acclaimed comedy Goodbye Lenin! 

The move is a key part of the UK Film Council’s strategy to boost audience choice by improving the distribution of specialised films which often have potentially wide appeal but receive a more limited cinema release.  The UK is one of the most expensive countries in the world in which to release a film.  While blockbusters such as Harry Potter are released widely with up to 1,000 copies/prints most of the specialised (non-blockbuster) films are issued with less than 20 prints due to the relatively high 35mm print costs.

Traditional 35mm film prints can cost around £1,000 each and in contrast digital copies can be duplicated at a substantially lower cost allowing film companies to increase the number of film prints available to cinemas around the country.

The introduction of the new network will put the UK at the forefront of digital cinema. As of March 2004 there were approximately 190 screens worldwide offering high level digital projection with just nine located in the UK.

The Digital Screen Network will also offer audiences a range of other opportunities. Cinemas will be encouraged to use the equipment to benefit the local community, for example by showing films made by local filmmakers, film clubs and schools. 

The digital system will also boost the ability of cinemas to project subtitles to benefit the hearing impaired and the system can also have a descriptive audio track to enable the visually-impaired to enjoy the films being shown.

All types of full-time licensed cinemas from all parts of the UK are eligible to apply to become part of the new network which will be up and running early next year.  Cinemas have until 8 October to apply for funding from the Digital Screen Network Fund. 

Inviting cinemas to apply to become part of the new network Pete Buckingham, Head of the UK Film Council’s Distribution and Exhibition Fund which is spearheading the initiative, said:

“At the moment if you don’t live in a major city, your film choices can be fairly limited. The aim of this revolutionary new scheme is to give as many cinema-goers as possible from every location in the UK the opportunity to see a much wider variety of films.” 

For further information please contact:
Ian Thomson/Caroline Nagle
UK Film Council Press Office
T: 44 (0)20 7861 7901/7508/7884
E: press@filmcouncil.org.uk

Or visit the UK Film Council website HERE

SUMMARY OF GUIDELINES FOR CINEMAS

The UK Film Council's Digital Screen Network

The following is a summary of the full guidelines, designed as a quick guide.

Objectives of the scheme

* Enhanced opportunities for the distribution and exhibition of specialised films

* Wider provision of specialised films, especially in areas currently with low or non-existent provision

* More flexible programming and booking models

* Lower 'access' costs for distribution via digital copies

* Greater audience choice

Who is eligible?

All types of full-time licensed cinemas from all parts of the country - for the purposes of this application, a full-time cinema is defined as one that shows at least one evening show per day, at least 300 days per year. It is important to the UK Film Council that it receives applications from as many cinemas as possible, ranging from full time art house venues to those that for whatever reason are not currently able to play specialised films but may be interested in doing so.
Therefore: all licensed full time cinemas in the UK can apply, including;

* Existing specialised cinemas

* Multiplex and chain operators

* Independent operators

* Metropolitan and rural operators

* Commercial and publicly supported cinemas

Applicants can apply for funding for one or more digital systems per cinema complex. Under certain circumstances the UK Film Council may be able to allow, at the cinema's own cost, availability of further systems at pre-agreed prices.

What equipment?

State of the art digital cinema equipment, the majority of which is likely to be, where feasible:

* Latest 2k projectors

* Secure servers

* Ability to use equipment for the exhibition of soft subtitled and audio described tracks

* Ability to play out on other popular formats eg DVD, Digibeta, VHS, etc

The UK Film Council also recognises the fact that new equipment runs the risk of becoming technologically obsolete. An upgrade programme will be included in your agreement with the equipment and services supplier (the contractor) to ensure that significant changes in technology and technologies will be covered (eg compression algorithm).

Who pays and how?

The UK Film Council will make an award in the form of digital cinema equipment to successful cinema applicants.

To ensure value for money to the National Lottery, the UK Film Council is in the process of arranging, through competitive tender, an overall agreement with a single contractor representing a number of manufacturers and service suppliers. Successful cinemas will be entitled to access equipment and services through a separate contract between the cinema and the contractor. This contract will cover equipment, installation, training and after sales service. The UK Film Council award will cover these costs, although cinemas will pay any VAT element and recoup this in the normal way.

At the end of the contract period, cinemas will have the right to buy the equipment outright for a pre-agreed fee (ie an agreed residual value). This is likely to be favourable to cinema owners and will give them the opportunity to own high level equipment at an advantageous price. We are unable to say at this stage what that residual value is, since it forms part of the competitive tender process currently under way, to appoint the contractor.

Cinema contribution to the strategy

The main contribution of cinemas to the strategy will be via the enhanced exhibition of specialised films. Cinemas will, on the basis of specialised programming in 2003, propose an increased level of specialised film programming over the next four years on a cinema by cinema basis and this proposal will form a crucial part of the UK Film Council's assessment of applications. The UK Film Council is not seeking to pre-set the level of that requirement since the circumstances of all cinemas are different. However, the UK Film Council will be looking for significant additional specialised film commitment, whether in programming time or other commitments relevant to the strategy or both.

It is equally important to the success of the strategy that the distribution sector is incentivised to provide the maximum amount of product in digital format. It is therefore imperative that existing specialised cinemas both in London and UK-wide have the capacity to exhibit digitally. Applicants will be assessed on the extent to which they contribute to the overall strategy, together with additional innovative and creative use of the digital cinema equipment in developing the audience for specialised film.

In addition, cinemas will need to contribute the following:

* The cost where necessary of preparing the projection booth to receive the equipment (eg possible extra porthole, access to power, air conditioning, sound compatibility etc);

* A small annual usage charge payable directly to the contractor, starting at £250 per month, rising by 10% per annum (the preparation costs and usage charge will be viewed as 'partnership funding' in a cinema's application);

* Effective local and/or national marketing and communication activities to ensure maximum awareness of programmes to local audiences;

* Willingness to become part of a unified network on occasions when the UK Film Council will centrally book a particular programme.Length of the agreement

The agreement between the UK Film Council and each cinema will be for a minimum of four years. The intention is that the network will operate for four years, but the contractor will need time to install equipment across the UK, so this period will commence once all installations have been completed. Thus, those cinemas entering the network in the early stages will have the equipment for longer than those entering towards the latter stages, but as a result every cinema agreement will finish at the same time.

Use of the equipment

The primary use of the equipment is for the exhibition of specialised films. However, provided that the cinema does not detract playing time from its contractual commitments to the UK Film Council, it may use the equipment for the exhibition of other films (eg mainstream) and non-traditional uses (eg concerts, sports events, conferences, etc), subject to agreement with the contractor and the relevant content provider.

Booking and programming policy

Cinemas will continue to choose and book films under their usual exhibitor/distributor arrangements and according to their usual decision as to what may be a suitable film. The UK Film Council will define in advance of release which films are 'specialised', the current list forms part of the guidelines for applicants. Any film booked, whether digital or 35mm, will count towards the contractual commitment made with the UK Film Council.

The UK Film Council will NOT be booking films on behalf of the cinema. The one exception to this will be the possibility of a nationally co-ordinated film showing (initially no more than one screening a month) of a UK Film Council centrally booked film. By way of example, such programming might include:

* Premieres of new or re-released specialised films concurrent with the West End;

* Pre-DVD releases of earlier specialised releases;

* Films of local or educational significance;

* Touring festival programmes, eg best of the bfi London Film Festival etc

Assessment Criteria

Assessment of applications will be based on a number of criteria including, but not necessarily limited to, the following examples:

* Amount of specialised playing time committed;

* Local marketing and publicity activities;

* Geographical spread;

* Other socially and culturally relevant uses of the equipment;

* The degree to which the application contributes towards the UK Film Council's overall strategy for specialised film and audience development.

Opportunity to access additional systems at UK Film Council agreed prices

Subject to the outcome of the competitive tender to appoint a contractor, the UK Film Council may allow cinema applicants, at their own cost, to access one or more additional digital cinema systems from the contractor at prices pre-agreed by the UK Film Council.

Contractual arrangements

Cinemas will be required to enter into a National Lottery award contract with the UK Film Council and part of the terms and conditions will be based on the application details. Cinemas will also be required to enter into a separate contract with the contractor for equipment and services; the detail of this contract will be agreed by the UK Film Council as part of the competitive tender to select the contractor.

Full Guidelines

This document is only a summary guide to the Digital Screen Network funding scheme. It is extremely important that all applicants read the full guidelines prior to completing their application form. A copy of these guidelines may be downloaded from the UK Film Council website:

http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/funding/
distributionandexhibition/dsn/dsncininfo/

Questions / Further Information:

If you have any questions at all regarding the strategy overall, the guidelines or the application form, please do get in touch with one of the staff in the Distribution and Exhibition department, areas of responsibility are laid out on the UK Film Council website.

Full details on the UK Film Council 2003 'access' initiative HERE

Important news for Exhibitors/Organisers:

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came into force fully in October 2004 and applies to all buildings that are used by the public. It requires service providers to ensure better access to their goods and services, for people with disabilities.

Cinemas are be expected to 'make reasonable adjustments', to ensure better access. It is possible that the provision of subtitles or audio description may fall under the remit of product or service design, which is not currently covered under the auspices of the current DDA.

It is estimated that up to 5 million people in Britain have some form of serious visual or hearing disability. These people would like to be able to access the cinema experience.

It is not tragic to have a disability. Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things one needs to lead one's life (Anonymous)

There are a number of consequences for UK cinemas, such as admission, safety and facilities. Although not forced legislation, cinemas could enable people with sensory impairments to enjoy the cinema experience by considering:

Subtitles – for hearing impaired patrons and
Audio Description – for partially sighted and blind patrons.

Film distributors have recognised their responsibilities under the new legislation, and the vast majority of new film releases are now supplied with the necessary media to allow suitable cinemas to provide these additional facilities.

Equipment manufacturers have also recognised the requirements of the new act, and they have developed products to ensure that cinemas are able to meet their legal requirements.

Full Details HERE

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