Touring cinema - Dorset Film Touring 

	The Lord Nelson pub in Norton-sub-Hamdon, Moviola screen no. 43

Dorset Film Touring (DFT) is a registered charity and charitable company which has its origins in the film society movement and has also run rural film festivals. It operates across Dorset and Hampshire and the 'border areas' of Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire.

The opportunity
Most cinemas in the area are along the South Coast with a few inland miniplexes. Bad roads, lack of public transport and personal safety issues prevent many members of the rural community attending the cinema, especially the over 50s and under 17s.

The initiative
DFT began by setting up film screenings in four village halls in 2000. The success of these screenings led them to create Moviola, branded as 'the biggest smallest show on earth' with 350 screenings between September 2005 and March 2006 alone.

How it works
Moviola provides films, equipment, projectionist, tickets, flyers and posters for local partners' film screenings. DFT trains local partners in each location in disability awareness, marketing and customer care. These partners are responsible for choosing films, selling tickets and organising poster campaigns. Tickets cost between £4 - £6. The local partner keeps 25% of the box office takings plus refreshment proceeds, which they can use to fund other local community initiatives.

Moviola also showcases emerging filmmakers by running short films with the main feature at nearly all screenings.

Results
Five years after the first screenings, Moviola has over 100 screens and local partners. It has grown through word of mouth, web-based marketing and local media interest.

Funding
DFT has received funding for Moviola from:

• National Lottery
• Screen South
• South West Screen
• Dorset Community Action
• Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest
• Test Valley, East, West & North Dorset District Councils

DFT received a lottery award of £398,000 from Arts Council England to build its second service, Cinemobile - a 100-seater, fully-equipped mobile cinema housed in an articulated lorry, which will serve market towns and larger communities alongside the Moviola service. Cinemobile is the first touring cinema of its kind in England and Wales.

In 2004, the UK Film Council awarded Moviola £5,000 and Digital Screen Network status.  

Further information
For more information on Moviola or advice on setting up a similar scheme, contact Dorset Film Touring.

Phone: 01935 872 534
Email: info@dorsetmoviola.co.uk

Websites: http://www.dorsetfilmtouring.co.uk and http://www.moviola.org/