New research brings live cinema into focus

Whether it’s Sing-a-long-a the Sound of Music or the Rocky Horror Picture Show or live soundtracks or the fully immersive experience where audiences interact with professional actors, Live Cinema productions provide that little extra something to make a film screening a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Funded by the Arts Council England Grants for the arts and in partnership with Live Cinema UK, media researchers Dr Sarah Atkinson and Helen Kennedy will look at live, event and expanded cinema experiences and audiences. Surveying the industry as a whole, alongside live cinema public audiences, the research will produce an online searchable database of live cinema projects, artists and exhibitors, encouraging further collaboration between the film and arts sectors. The full report will be published in May 2016 to coincide with the inaugural International Live Cinema Symposium.

Lisa Brook, Director of Live Cinema UK said: “We are thrilled with the Arts Council’s decision to fund this ground-breaking research project, demonstrating a commitment to supporting artists and producers who take the moving image as inspiration for the creation of art, thrilling audiences around the UK unlike any other country in the world.”

A call for participants will take place in August 2015. Any artists, exhibitors, distributors and producers interested in the project can email info@livecinema.org.uk to register their interest. Regular updates will be available at www.livecinema.org.uk, on twitter @livecinemauk and on Facebook at /livecinemauk.