Radical Film Network: Sustaining Alternative Film Cultures
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the West of England
Department Name: Fac Creative Arts, Humanities &Education
Abstract
Broadly characterised by the politically engaged and aesthetically innovative use of moving image media, 'radical film culture' has expanded rapidly in recent years as contemporary socio-political, economic and environmental contexts have meshed with access to digital technologies. Comprised of academics, artists, filmmakers and other digital creatives, as well as festivals, financiers, distributors, commissioners and the myriad community organisations and collectives that feed into them, radical film culture is now a diverse, multidisciplinary and international field. However, despite its rapid expansion, there is at present a major lack of interaction between the researchers and stakeholders involved in radical film culture, which is in turn currently dispersed and fragmented along industrial, geographic, political and aesthetic lines. As a result, researchers and stakeholders across the many strands of radical film culture are working in disconnected ways, often unaware of one another and of the history, culture and contemporary international developments in the political moving image. A recent increase in scholarship in the field has also focused almost exclusively on the past. There is thus urgent need to counter that fragmentation, stimulate debate across these boundaries and apply and develop existing historical knowledge to our contemporary context.
This bid proposes the creation of a Radical Film Network (RFN), which will stage four events across 22 months in the UK and US, taking place at key dates in the industry and alternative film calendar. The RFN builds upon a successful pilot project led by Dr Steve Presence at the University of the West of England's Centre for Moving Image Research, which will conclude with a conference in February 2015. The pilot project has demonstrated a clear need for such a network, having generated interest from 83 organisations in 18 countries across the globe, many of which bring existing relationships with other cross-disciplinary academic and industry institutions and community groups. The network will bring together this community of stakeholders with an international research community - ranging from world-class academics to PhD students - to address the past, present and future of radical film culture as a holistic entity, exploring four interrelated research questions based on key themes:
1. Ontology: What was/is radical film culture?
2. Praxis: What were the conceptual, theoretical and practical concerns of previous radical film cultures? How do they compare to contemporary concerns?
3. Challenges: What are the challenges facing the vitality and sustainability of radical film culture? What can we learn from the past to address contemporary challenges?
4. Policy: What kind of policy will assist the RFN to continue in the long-term, and what kind of film policy do we need to enable and sustain alternative film cultures more generally (thereby encouraging more diverse film cultures overall)?
By addressing these key questions across the four events, the network will facilitate the exploration of ideas that will generate new knowledge in the field. The network and the knowledge it generates will bring theory and practice into a productive relationship both inside and outside the academic community and lead to collaborative, creative advances across these boundaries. More broadly, it will position the UK as a global centre for independent and alternative film scholarship and establish a sustainable, international network for the researchers and stakeholders involved. That network will play a key role in the critical interrogation of contemporary film culture and the power with which the medium can convey ideas and stimulate debate about some of the most important issues in culture and society today. Funding at this stage is essential to ensure groundwork of the pilot project does not go to waste and that the far-reaching potential impact of the network is realised.
This bid proposes the creation of a Radical Film Network (RFN), which will stage four events across 22 months in the UK and US, taking place at key dates in the industry and alternative film calendar. The RFN builds upon a successful pilot project led by Dr Steve Presence at the University of the West of England's Centre for Moving Image Research, which will conclude with a conference in February 2015. The pilot project has demonstrated a clear need for such a network, having generated interest from 83 organisations in 18 countries across the globe, many of which bring existing relationships with other cross-disciplinary academic and industry institutions and community groups. The network will bring together this community of stakeholders with an international research community - ranging from world-class academics to PhD students - to address the past, present and future of radical film culture as a holistic entity, exploring four interrelated research questions based on key themes:
1. Ontology: What was/is radical film culture?
2. Praxis: What were the conceptual, theoretical and practical concerns of previous radical film cultures? How do they compare to contemporary concerns?
3. Challenges: What are the challenges facing the vitality and sustainability of radical film culture? What can we learn from the past to address contemporary challenges?
4. Policy: What kind of policy will assist the RFN to continue in the long-term, and what kind of film policy do we need to enable and sustain alternative film cultures more generally (thereby encouraging more diverse film cultures overall)?
By addressing these key questions across the four events, the network will facilitate the exploration of ideas that will generate new knowledge in the field. The network and the knowledge it generates will bring theory and practice into a productive relationship both inside and outside the academic community and lead to collaborative, creative advances across these boundaries. More broadly, it will position the UK as a global centre for independent and alternative film scholarship and establish a sustainable, international network for the researchers and stakeholders involved. That network will play a key role in the critical interrogation of contemporary film culture and the power with which the medium can convey ideas and stimulate debate about some of the most important issues in culture and society today. Funding at this stage is essential to ensure groundwork of the pilot project does not go to waste and that the far-reaching potential impact of the network is realised.
Planned Impact
The Radical Film Network (RFN) will bring together organisations, artists and other stakeholders in radical film culture with an international community of world-class thinkers in the field, facilitate communication and collaboration between those involved, enhance the sustainability and visibility of innovative, radical film culture worldwide, and enrich the diversity of UK film culture and scholarship. In so doing, it will also address the fact that, despite the rapid expansion of radical film culture in recent years, the multitude of organisations that comprise it are often unaware of one another and the wider history of radical filmmaking of which they are a part.
The network will also enhance the visibility and influence of radical moving image culture within the mainstream film and television sector, as well as increasing awareness of other forms and uses of radical moving images in the digital era. A concerted research inquiry will see scholars and stakeholders explore the ontology, praxis, challenges and policy issues in contemporary radical film culture, distil the key issues facing the sector, and catalyse the production of new knowledge that will be of use to the range of user groups involved. As a result, practitioners and stakeholders will benefit from the relationship-building and knowledge exchange that will take place, as will an entire sector of fledgling micro-businesses, not-for profits, and community media organisations. The skills and experience of practitioners groups will connect with the conceptual, theoretical and historical understanding of the RFN's research community, and be of benefit to theorists and practitioners alike.
Aligning the production of this knowledge to the existing industry and alternative cinema calendar in the UK and US will raise the profile and reputation of practitioners and stakeholders and will broker relationships between radical film artists, organisations and industry stakeholders. Across the four events, dialogue will be created and relationships built with representatives from UK television commissioning (Nick Fraser, BBC Storyville); film finance (Jess Search, BRITDOC Foundation); production (Chris Hird, Dartmouth Films) and distribution (Oli Harbottle, Dogwoof); as well as with the three key exhibition and distribution infrastructures in the UK: the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS), the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) and the British Film Institute's new Film Audience Network (BFI FAN). Similar relationships will be sought with overseas partners.
In addition, a Policy Working Group, comprised of Holly Aylett (London Met), Simon Blanchard (Leeds), Margaret Dickinson and Jack Newsinger (Leicester) - all of whom are experts in film policy - will establish dialogue with policy-makers at the British Film Institute (BFI) from the outset of the network. Working in consultation with the BFI, the Policy Working Group will focus on channelling the new knowledge created by the network into a policy document designed to support the continuation of the RFN in the long-term and a set of policy recommendations to be submitted to the BFI and other leading film-culture institutions including the Arts Council, Creative England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council Wales and the DCMS.
The network will also enhance the visibility and influence of radical moving image culture within the mainstream film and television sector, as well as increasing awareness of other forms and uses of radical moving images in the digital era. A concerted research inquiry will see scholars and stakeholders explore the ontology, praxis, challenges and policy issues in contemporary radical film culture, distil the key issues facing the sector, and catalyse the production of new knowledge that will be of use to the range of user groups involved. As a result, practitioners and stakeholders will benefit from the relationship-building and knowledge exchange that will take place, as will an entire sector of fledgling micro-businesses, not-for profits, and community media organisations. The skills and experience of practitioners groups will connect with the conceptual, theoretical and historical understanding of the RFN's research community, and be of benefit to theorists and practitioners alike.
Aligning the production of this knowledge to the existing industry and alternative cinema calendar in the UK and US will raise the profile and reputation of practitioners and stakeholders and will broker relationships between radical film artists, organisations and industry stakeholders. Across the four events, dialogue will be created and relationships built with representatives from UK television commissioning (Nick Fraser, BBC Storyville); film finance (Jess Search, BRITDOC Foundation); production (Chris Hird, Dartmouth Films) and distribution (Oli Harbottle, Dogwoof); as well as with the three key exhibition and distribution infrastructures in the UK: the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS), the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) and the British Film Institute's new Film Audience Network (BFI FAN). Similar relationships will be sought with overseas partners.
In addition, a Policy Working Group, comprised of Holly Aylett (London Met), Simon Blanchard (Leeds), Margaret Dickinson and Jack Newsinger (Leicester) - all of whom are experts in film policy - will establish dialogue with policy-makers at the British Film Institute (BFI) from the outset of the network. Working in consultation with the BFI, the Policy Working Group will focus on channelling the new knowledge created by the network into a policy document designed to support the continuation of the RFN in the long-term and a set of policy recommendations to be submitted to the BFI and other leading film-culture institutions including the Arts Council, Creative England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council Wales and the DCMS.
Organisations
- University of the West of England (Lead Research Organisation)
- Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival (Collaboration)
- Creative Scotland (Collaboration)
- British Film Institute (BFI) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- Scottish Trades Union Congress (Collaboration)
- Liverpool Radical Film Festival (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- University of Genoa (Collaboration)
- Film Hub Scotland (Collaboration)
- Workers Unite! Film Festival (Collaboration)
- Sheffield Hallam University (Project Partner)
- City University of New York (Project Partner)
Publications
Presence S
(2017)
Community Filmmaking: Diversity, Practices and Places
Presence S
(2016)
Sustaining Alternative Film Cultures: the Radical Film Network
in Viewfinder Online
Presence S
(2020)
Contemporary Radical Film Culture: Networks, Organisations and Activists
| Description | One of the primary objectives of this project was to establish a sustainable international activist film network that would facilitate the discussion and exchange of ideas on all aspects of radical moving image culture. This objective has been conspicuously achieved: the Radical Film Network currently consists of 133 organisations from 24 countries, and it has a lively and diverse communications infrastructure comprised of a website with Directory of affiliated organisations, a mailing list and various social media platforms. It has also created a major sub-network, RFN Scotland, which emerged from the second annual conference in Glasgow and which organises independently of the umbrella organisation. Although it is too early to make any claims as to the long-term sustainability of the network, it certainly appears robust at the time of writing, with, for example, members from around the world currently preparing to attend its fifth annual conference in Nottingham in July. In establishing this network infrastructure, the project has demonstrated one of its underlying hypotheses: that digital cultural networks can provide a significant boost to previously disparate and fragmented, chronically under-resourced film cultures. The project has also generated substantial new knowledge by bringing together the organisations noted above, almost all of which were hitherto virtually unknown outside of their local and regional contexts, many which are now actively collaborating with one another. Key findings are harder to report at this stage given that the two major outputs have yet to be published. These are a journal article, authored by the PI, which was recently accepted for publication in Screen, the leading international journal of academic film and television studies, and a collection of essays edited by the PI, Co-I and another colleague from the University of Nottingham, which is due to be published by Routledge in 2019. However, the principal contribution of the journal article can be summarised as follows: - An innovative methodology and conceptual framework with which to analyse digital cultural networks, that synthesises various approaches to network theory found in cultural studies, social movement studies, organisational studies and management studies - That networks play a crucial role in enabling and sustaining cultural movements, yet that role is often largely invisible and often undocumented, and therefore undervalued. - Three major defining features of cultural networks include: the boundaries and objectives that shape their identity and the ways in which that identity is created and understood by members; the internal organisation and communicative structures, and the 'structuring principle around which these are based; the external relationships networks can form and the extent to which these facilitate the movement of resources, people and ideas within and beyond the network, and shape its development. On a less positive note, it has not been possible to develop the outputs involving some of the UK's publicly-funded film culture institutions, because of their lack of interest in the project. It is also extremely difficult to sustain the project with no core funding support available to cover any of the labour involved in maintaining the network or organising the events held in its name. As a result, the RFN depends on a large amount of unpaid labour. |
| Exploitation Route | The methodology developed in the journal article could be adapted and applied to other cultural networks. The edited collection of chapters will include several case studies and approaches to radical film cultures around the world. This research will provide a significant resource on which scholars working in this field can build. Moreover, the network itself is a major resource for scholars working in this field and could contribute to or even provide the foundation for myriad future studies. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Other |
| URL | http://www.radicalfilmnetwork.com |
| Description | The outline below remains a useful narrative of the RFN's impact. Two things are worth adding since my submission last year: 1) in June 2022 the RFN's annual conference took place in Genoa. The conference was a collaboration between the University of Genoa and a multitude of activist groups and social centres and took place in multiple university buildings and venues across the city. Held to mark the 20th anniversary of the G8 Summit in Genoa in 2001 (the conference was delayed by two years because of the pandemic), this conference was a major cultural and political meeting for an international and intergenerational group of filmmakers, scholars and activists. 2) The 2024 conference will take place in Madrid in June and is currently being planned by RFN members at various Spanish universities (there is no conference in 2023 because we are focusing on raising funds to build a new website - the current one was funded by the AHRC award in 2015 and is now out-of-date). The research activities and findings of this project were central to the establishment, growth and development of the Radical Film Network, which the I co-founded in 2013. The RFN has transformed a dispersed cultural field - composed of activists, academics, artists, filmmakers, distributors and exhibitors - into the world's largest network for alternative film culture. Our findings helped build a diverse global community, cultivated shared objectives and generated multiple national and international collaborations (conferences, festivals, workshops) that facilitated knowledge exchange and influenced practice. In summary, the RFN has increased the visibility and coherence of alternative film culture around the world, and has enhanced its impact on society and culture, particularly within the screen industries and trade union movement, within research and education, and with a range of diverse audiences. As recording in the RFN's Impact Case Study for UWE Bristol's REF submission, the details of the RFN's impact can be outlined under the following three key headings: 1. Building a global community Since 2013 the RFN has transformed a dispersed and fragmented cultural field into a globally interconnected community. Presence's work in founding, managing and maintaining the network, informed by his body of research, has been instrumental in bringing practitioners together. The RFN's website (https://radicalfilmnetwork.com/), Directory and World Map lists 207 affiliated organisations from thirty-seven countries in four continents. Its international mailing list includes almost 800 individual users. In a 2019 RFN membership survey, 91% of respondents reported that the RFN had generated a sense of community, connected people who 'would never have connected otherwise' and built 'a culture of activist and resistant cinema practice, from production and exhibition to distribution and research, that is international'. As the organiser of Tolpuddle Radical Film Festival attests, 'It is thanks to Steve's work in establishing the RFN that there is now this community in place'. Testifying to the impact of this inter-generational community, ex-Independent Filmmakers Association (IFA, 1974-1990) coordinator and filmmaker, Sue Clayton, describes the network as having connected successive generations of alternative film activists and created 'a global set of relationships [of] incalculable influence and significance'. 2. Generating knowledge exchange 86% of members said the RFN impacted on their practice, from filmmakers who became 'more informed on, and applied as a result, modes of participatory art production from around the world' to distributors and film festival organisers whose work has been shaped by the network. Gareth Evans, curator of moving image at London's Whitechapel Gallery and inter/national festival programmer, describes the RFN as providing access to 'an extraordinary range of material that we would never otherwise have come across, nationally and internationally'. It is, he says, 'an essential toolkit for my activities as curator'. The RFN has organised several major inter/national events, including eight multidisciplinary international conferences (150+ delegates) in major cities, including New York (2017), Dublin (2018) and Berlin (2019). RFN members host conferences and events in partnership with local organisations, community groups and universities. This collaborative model has fostered knowledge exchange and influenced members' activities. For example, in 2018, the RFN member who coordinated a series of more than 70 international events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the May '68 uprising describes how the entire project, from inception to delivery, emerged from and was shaped by the RFN's 'knowledge sharing processes'. These included workshops 'at consecutive RFN conferences'; extensive discussions on the mailing list; a shared Padlet research board with contributions from across the network; and input from affiliated international organisations that commemorated the 40th anniversary in 2008. One member remarks, 'The aims and scope of the RFN are ambitious and valuable. Thanks to Steve Presence and those who have organised such fascinating and rewarding events!'. 3. Impacting on wider society The RFN has enhanced the profile of and engagement with alternative film culture in wider society, particularly within the cultural industries and trade union movement. It has secured significant funding from mainstream cultural institutions for its members' work and helped them reach new audiences. The Senate Department for Culture and Europe funded (€35,000) the 2019 RFN meeting in Berlin for example, that attracted 1,500 visitors; the RFN film festival and conference in Glasgow in 2016 was co-funded by Creative Scotland (£10,000) and the British Film Institute (£5,000), and co-hosted by the Scottish Trades Union Congress and University of Glasgow. This festival had 1,745 admissions and reached audiences 'from communities who would not normally attend festivals or screenings', and who attended events at venues and organisations 'not traditionally associated with cinema or arts culture'. In 2014, RFN activities facilitated the formation of the Tolpuddle Radical Film Festival at the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival, the second-largest trade union event in the UK. Organisers note that the festival 'wouldn't have existed in its current form had it not been for Steve Presence and the Radical Film Network', emphasising that the collaboration has given the radical film community 'far greater impact and prominence' among the trade union movement than previously. The RFN's partnership with Sheffield Doc/Fest - the third-largest documentary film festival and marketplace in the world - has increased the visibility of alternative film culture in the screen industries. The partnership provides discounted access for RFN members each year and has resulted in several panels and screenings at the festival. According to Doc/Fest's Deputy Director, this collaboration ensures that the 'radical voice is heard as part of our conference programme'. The RFN has also enhanced the careers of many of its members. One member notes how she secured a permanent job in the exhibition sector partly as a result of her work with the RFN. Filmmaker Paul Sng describes the RFN as a 'vital resource' that helped him secure relationships with national and international activist networks, film festivals, distributors, exhibitors and broadcasters and find audiences for his first two feature documentaries. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Title | International Directory of Activist Film Organisations |
| Description | Part of the outputs of this project is the Radical Film Network website, which includes a publicly-accessible Directory of organisations involved in radical film culture. The Directory is searchable by name, country or main area of activity (production, distribution, exhibition, archive) and is the only database of its kind in the world. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The Radical Film Network Directory is the only database of its kind in the world. As demonstrated by numerous discussions on the RFN's mailing list, the Directory enables organisations involved in radical film culture to find, communicate and collaborate with one another. It is a live representation of the nature of contemporary radical film culture and helps raise the visibility of all involved. |
| URL | https://radicalfilmnetwork.com/directory/ |
| Description | Liverpool Radical Film Festival |
| Organisation | Liverpool Radical Film Festival |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We hosted a day-long symposia in during the festival. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LRFF hosted a day-long symposium which included presentations on their work, a keynote address by representatives of Subversive Festival (Croatia) and presentations by funders including the British Film Institute's Film Hub North West and Central, Cinema for All and Creative England. |
| Impact | The book chapter I contributed to Sarita Malik's edited collection focused in part on this organisation. LRFF remain highly active within the network and will be attending the final event in Bristol in October 2017. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | RFN Genoa |
| Organisation | University of Genoa |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I supported the organisation of the week-long RFN Festival/Unconference that was co-hosted by the University of Genoa and a whole range of activist organisations and social centres across the city from June 21-26, 2022. As founder and co-convenor of the network, I participated in several organisational meetings and supported the lead organiser, Dr Elena Boschi, with the coordination of the event. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The event itself was coordinated by Dr Boschi, who led a core organisational team comprised of the following organisations: Laboratorio di Sociologia Visuale (Visual Sociology Research Group, DISFOR, University of Genoa), Corso di Laurea in Scienze della Comunicazione (Media and Communication Programme, DISFOR, University of Genoa), and Associazione Culturale Oblò. The University provided several large rooms for entire days across the week of the conference, but also drew on considerable labour power of activists and academics at the institution and beyond. |
| Impact | There are no outputs published as yet but I know there is a journal article being prepared. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | RFN Scotland |
| Organisation | British Film Institute (BFI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I liased with the organising group in Glasgow throughout and acted as point of contact for the main network. I am my research team attended and participated in the event and I have continued to act as liaison for the main network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My partners organised a subdivision of the RFN, RFN Scotland, which formed to organise the second RFN conference after the launch conference, which I organised, took place in Birmingham in February 2015. They ended up organising a conference and film festival across four days over the MayDay weekend in 2016. As described in their report on the event for one of their funders, BFI Film Hub Scotland: 'The Radical Film Network (RFN) Festival was held over 4 days on the 2016 May Day bank holiday weekend (29 April to 2 May). There were 46 screening and discussion events as part of the festival programmed alongside an Unconference at Glasgow University. We used 27 venues across the city of Glasgow and showed 99 films in a range of programmes including shorts, features, discussions and social events. Events were organised autonomously by our 27 partner organisations with the support of the RFN central organising group. The RFN was facilitated by Glasgow University who provided the venue for all of the organising meetings and was the venue for the 'Unconference'. The festival was supported by Glasgow University staff, a programme co-ordinator, a volunteer co-ordinator, a media and press officer. There was a separate team working on the organisation of the Unconference. All of the activities were reflected on a web site and in a newspaper style programme (Appendix 1) and social media was used extensively in the run up to and during the festival and Unconference for Marketing and audience generation. We are extremely happy with how the RFN weekend went - we had full-house in some venues and were only disappointed with numbers at one or two of the events. The festival ran smoothly and we have had incredible feedback from audiences and our partner organisations. We are confident in saying that the RFN Festival and Unconference successfully captured the spirit, diversity and talent that is working in radical and alternative film culture in Scotland.' This collaboration is ongoin, and RFN Scotland are currently working on several events that will take place during the RFN's international series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of 1968 in 2018. |
| Impact | As the report from this collaboration states, 'The partnership work on this project was awe inspiring'. Over 40 organisations linked up under the Radical Film Network banner to put on the RFN festival and Unconference. The details of each of the events that took place over the four days are available on request. The following publications emerged from the collaboration: Archibald, D. (2017) Glasgow: RFN 16. Screenworks, 7(3); Archibald, D. (2016) Activists unite for city's radical film network festival. National, 2016, 28 Apr; Archibald, D. (2016) Drouth Special Issue: Radical [Volume editor]. Drouth, 55. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | RFN Scotland |
| Organisation | Creative Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I liased with the organising group in Glasgow throughout and acted as point of contact for the main network. I am my research team attended and participated in the event and I have continued to act as liaison for the main network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My partners organised a subdivision of the RFN, RFN Scotland, which formed to organise the second RFN conference after the launch conference, which I organised, took place in Birmingham in February 2015. They ended up organising a conference and film festival across four days over the MayDay weekend in 2016. As described in their report on the event for one of their funders, BFI Film Hub Scotland: 'The Radical Film Network (RFN) Festival was held over 4 days on the 2016 May Day bank holiday weekend (29 April to 2 May). There were 46 screening and discussion events as part of the festival programmed alongside an Unconference at Glasgow University. We used 27 venues across the city of Glasgow and showed 99 films in a range of programmes including shorts, features, discussions and social events. Events were organised autonomously by our 27 partner organisations with the support of the RFN central organising group. The RFN was facilitated by Glasgow University who provided the venue for all of the organising meetings and was the venue for the 'Unconference'. The festival was supported by Glasgow University staff, a programme co-ordinator, a volunteer co-ordinator, a media and press officer. There was a separate team working on the organisation of the Unconference. All of the activities were reflected on a web site and in a newspaper style programme (Appendix 1) and social media was used extensively in the run up to and during the festival and Unconference for Marketing and audience generation. We are extremely happy with how the RFN weekend went - we had full-house in some venues and were only disappointed with numbers at one or two of the events. The festival ran smoothly and we have had incredible feedback from audiences and our partner organisations. We are confident in saying that the RFN Festival and Unconference successfully captured the spirit, diversity and talent that is working in radical and alternative film culture in Scotland.' This collaboration is ongoin, and RFN Scotland are currently working on several events that will take place during the RFN's international series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of 1968 in 2018. |
| Impact | As the report from this collaboration states, 'The partnership work on this project was awe inspiring'. Over 40 organisations linked up under the Radical Film Network banner to put on the RFN festival and Unconference. The details of each of the events that took place over the four days are available on request. The following publications emerged from the collaboration: Archibald, D. (2017) Glasgow: RFN 16. Screenworks, 7(3); Archibald, D. (2016) Activists unite for city's radical film network festival. National, 2016, 28 Apr; Archibald, D. (2016) Drouth Special Issue: Radical [Volume editor]. Drouth, 55. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | RFN Scotland |
| Organisation | Film Hub Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I liased with the organising group in Glasgow throughout and acted as point of contact for the main network. I am my research team attended and participated in the event and I have continued to act as liaison for the main network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My partners organised a subdivision of the RFN, RFN Scotland, which formed to organise the second RFN conference after the launch conference, which I organised, took place in Birmingham in February 2015. They ended up organising a conference and film festival across four days over the MayDay weekend in 2016. As described in their report on the event for one of their funders, BFI Film Hub Scotland: 'The Radical Film Network (RFN) Festival was held over 4 days on the 2016 May Day bank holiday weekend (29 April to 2 May). There were 46 screening and discussion events as part of the festival programmed alongside an Unconference at Glasgow University. We used 27 venues across the city of Glasgow and showed 99 films in a range of programmes including shorts, features, discussions and social events. Events were organised autonomously by our 27 partner organisations with the support of the RFN central organising group. The RFN was facilitated by Glasgow University who provided the venue for all of the organising meetings and was the venue for the 'Unconference'. The festival was supported by Glasgow University staff, a programme co-ordinator, a volunteer co-ordinator, a media and press officer. There was a separate team working on the organisation of the Unconference. All of the activities were reflected on a web site and in a newspaper style programme (Appendix 1) and social media was used extensively in the run up to and during the festival and Unconference for Marketing and audience generation. We are extremely happy with how the RFN weekend went - we had full-house in some venues and were only disappointed with numbers at one or two of the events. The festival ran smoothly and we have had incredible feedback from audiences and our partner organisations. We are confident in saying that the RFN Festival and Unconference successfully captured the spirit, diversity and talent that is working in radical and alternative film culture in Scotland.' This collaboration is ongoin, and RFN Scotland are currently working on several events that will take place during the RFN's international series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of 1968 in 2018. |
| Impact | As the report from this collaboration states, 'The partnership work on this project was awe inspiring'. Over 40 organisations linked up under the Radical Film Network banner to put on the RFN festival and Unconference. The details of each of the events that took place over the four days are available on request. The following publications emerged from the collaboration: Archibald, D. (2017) Glasgow: RFN 16. Screenworks, 7(3); Archibald, D. (2016) Activists unite for city's radical film network festival. National, 2016, 28 Apr; Archibald, D. (2016) Drouth Special Issue: Radical [Volume editor]. Drouth, 55. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | RFN Scotland |
| Organisation | Scottish Trades Union Congress |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I liased with the organising group in Glasgow throughout and acted as point of contact for the main network. I am my research team attended and participated in the event and I have continued to act as liaison for the main network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My partners organised a subdivision of the RFN, RFN Scotland, which formed to organise the second RFN conference after the launch conference, which I organised, took place in Birmingham in February 2015. They ended up organising a conference and film festival across four days over the MayDay weekend in 2016. As described in their report on the event for one of their funders, BFI Film Hub Scotland: 'The Radical Film Network (RFN) Festival was held over 4 days on the 2016 May Day bank holiday weekend (29 April to 2 May). There were 46 screening and discussion events as part of the festival programmed alongside an Unconference at Glasgow University. We used 27 venues across the city of Glasgow and showed 99 films in a range of programmes including shorts, features, discussions and social events. Events were organised autonomously by our 27 partner organisations with the support of the RFN central organising group. The RFN was facilitated by Glasgow University who provided the venue for all of the organising meetings and was the venue for the 'Unconference'. The festival was supported by Glasgow University staff, a programme co-ordinator, a volunteer co-ordinator, a media and press officer. There was a separate team working on the organisation of the Unconference. All of the activities were reflected on a web site and in a newspaper style programme (Appendix 1) and social media was used extensively in the run up to and during the festival and Unconference for Marketing and audience generation. We are extremely happy with how the RFN weekend went - we had full-house in some venues and were only disappointed with numbers at one or two of the events. The festival ran smoothly and we have had incredible feedback from audiences and our partner organisations. We are confident in saying that the RFN Festival and Unconference successfully captured the spirit, diversity and talent that is working in radical and alternative film culture in Scotland.' This collaboration is ongoin, and RFN Scotland are currently working on several events that will take place during the RFN's international series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of 1968 in 2018. |
| Impact | As the report from this collaboration states, 'The partnership work on this project was awe inspiring'. Over 40 organisations linked up under the Radical Film Network banner to put on the RFN festival and Unconference. The details of each of the events that took place over the four days are available on request. The following publications emerged from the collaboration: Archibald, D. (2017) Glasgow: RFN 16. Screenworks, 7(3); Archibald, D. (2016) Activists unite for city's radical film network festival. National, 2016, 28 Apr; Archibald, D. (2016) Drouth Special Issue: Radical [Volume editor]. Drouth, 55. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | RFN Scotland |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I liased with the organising group in Glasgow throughout and acted as point of contact for the main network. I am my research team attended and participated in the event and I have continued to act as liaison for the main network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My partners organised a subdivision of the RFN, RFN Scotland, which formed to organise the second RFN conference after the launch conference, which I organised, took place in Birmingham in February 2015. They ended up organising a conference and film festival across four days over the MayDay weekend in 2016. As described in their report on the event for one of their funders, BFI Film Hub Scotland: 'The Radical Film Network (RFN) Festival was held over 4 days on the 2016 May Day bank holiday weekend (29 April to 2 May). There were 46 screening and discussion events as part of the festival programmed alongside an Unconference at Glasgow University. We used 27 venues across the city of Glasgow and showed 99 films in a range of programmes including shorts, features, discussions and social events. Events were organised autonomously by our 27 partner organisations with the support of the RFN central organising group. The RFN was facilitated by Glasgow University who provided the venue for all of the organising meetings and was the venue for the 'Unconference'. The festival was supported by Glasgow University staff, a programme co-ordinator, a volunteer co-ordinator, a media and press officer. There was a separate team working on the organisation of the Unconference. All of the activities were reflected on a web site and in a newspaper style programme (Appendix 1) and social media was used extensively in the run up to and during the festival and Unconference for Marketing and audience generation. We are extremely happy with how the RFN weekend went - we had full-house in some venues and were only disappointed with numbers at one or two of the events. The festival ran smoothly and we have had incredible feedback from audiences and our partner organisations. We are confident in saying that the RFN Festival and Unconference successfully captured the spirit, diversity and talent that is working in radical and alternative film culture in Scotland.' This collaboration is ongoin, and RFN Scotland are currently working on several events that will take place during the RFN's international series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of 1968 in 2018. |
| Impact | As the report from this collaboration states, 'The partnership work on this project was awe inspiring'. Over 40 organisations linked up under the Radical Film Network banner to put on the RFN festival and Unconference. The details of each of the events that took place over the four days are available on request. The following publications emerged from the collaboration: Archibald, D. (2017) Glasgow: RFN 16. Screenworks, 7(3); Archibald, D. (2016) Activists unite for city's radical film network festival. National, 2016, 28 Apr; Archibald, D. (2016) Drouth Special Issue: Radical [Volume editor]. Drouth, 55. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Radical Film Network NYC: A Global Gathering |
| Organisation | Workers Unite! Film Festival |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We hosted a 4-day conference prior to the festival and enabled RFN-affiliated organisations from across North and South America to attend. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They provided the venue and worked closely with us to develop the conference programme, sourcing speakers and assisting with publicity. |
| Impact | The conference resulted in securing several further contributions to the edited collection we are producing. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival |
| Organisation | Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I submitted a Session Proposal to the festival which directly addresses the work of the AHRC-funded network project, and it was accepted. The event is a panel discussion in the main programme of the festival, and will take place in addition to the event we are hosting in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have accepted the Session Proposal and it will feature throughout the festival's extensive publicity material and in its programme. They will also cover the costs of bringing all the UK-based speakers to the event as well as the costs of some of the international speakers. Doc/Fest has also added the RFN to its list of affiliated organisations, as a result of which RFN members benefit from reduced price passes to the festival each year. |
| Impact | The outcomes of this event include relationships formed between the PI and the festival team, which have fed into another research project (AH/P013805/1). The festival also provide discounted passes to RFN members each year as a result of this event. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | British Film Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I am in discussion with the British Film Institute about the Radical Film Network and how we can develop a relationship between the two organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.bfi.org.uk/ |
| Description | Presentation at MayDay Rooms' Recording Resistance symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a presentation about the work on the RFN given at an event held at London's MayDay Rooms. Around 50 people were in attendance, and the major outcome was the relationships formed as a result of my attendance and talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://performingborders.live/2017/09/14/recording-resistance-symposium/ |
| Description | Presentation of research at RFN conference 2018, Dublin. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented a research paper at the RFN conference in Dublin 2019. RFN conferences are considerably different from academic conferences, and include a wide range of academics, activists, representatives from third sector organisations and the general public. Aside from the formation of networks, the major outcome was the organisation of the RFN 2019 conference in Nottingham. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://cstonline.net/cfp-2018-radical-film-network-conference-july-27-29-2018-dublin-ire-deadline-m... |
| Description | RFN Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As a result of the this project and associated activities, a formal organisation, RFN Scotland, formed and coordinated the second annual event in the RFN's history. The 'RFN Unconference and Film Festival 2016' was the largest radical film event ever to take place in Scotland. In addition to the conference, which took place at the University of Glasgow over three days, the festival screened 99 films across 27 venues and attracted 1745 admissions. RFN Scotland is currently planning a major series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the events of May 1968 in Paris, which will be part of an international programme coordinated by the RFN. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/rfnscotland |
| Description | Research Seminar, Sheffield Hallam University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk delivered to staff and students at Sheffield Hallam University. The main outcomes were the relationships that were formed as a result of this event that have resulted, for example, in the screening of a film and presentation of research by a member of SHU at the Radical Film Network meeting in Berlin. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/c3riimpact/lunchtime-seminar-steve-presence-university-west-england/?doing_w... |
| Description | Talk given at the Whitechapel Gallery, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk at the launch of a book publication on radical film in the 1970s: 'Other Cinemas: Politics, Culture and Experimental Film in the 1970s'. Around 70 people were present, and the main outcome was the relationships formed and consolidated at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://spiritofmarckarlin.com/2017/09/17/towards-other-cinemas-1970s-experimental-film-whitechapel-... |
| Description | Video-activism panel at Docfest 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Up to 100 people attended a panel on video-activism. Speakers included members of Reel News, a London-based radical video-activist group that covers various struggles around the world; Dr Alisa Lebow, a filmmaker and documentary scholar who recently completed an interactive documentary - Filming Revolution - on the role of filmmaking in the Egyptian revolution; Aris Chatzistefanou, a journalist, photographer and director with the Greek production company, Infowar Productions, whose films include Debtocracy, Fascism Inc., Catastroika, and This is Not a Coup; and Usayd Younis and Cassie Quarless, directors of Generation Revolution, about black activist groups in London. There was a lively and extensive discussion that was audio-recorded and uploaded to the festival's website. One of the members of the audience is now on the Industry Advisory board of a new AHRC-funded research project that the PI is currently working on, 'UK Feature Docs: studying the feature documentary film industry' (award ref: AH/P013805/1). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://player.fm/series/sheffield-docfest-podcast/viva-la-revolucion-video-activism-and-citizen-jou... |