Bristol City of Film’s response to COVID-19: leveraging the power of culture and creativity

Natalie MooreBristol, Network

Over the course of the pandemic, UNESCO Cities of Film have harnessed support, adapted programmes of work and connected communities through film, art and creativity. On 6th July, Bristol City of Film will represent UNESCO Cities of Film around the world at the UNESCO Creative Cities Annual Meeting 2021. Below is a summary of Bristol’s creative response to COVID-19 a … Read More

The Bristol Talent Behind Oscar-Winning Doc My Octopus Teacher

Natalie MooreBristol

It’s 10 months since the release of Netflix Original documentary My Octopus Teacher, a quiet yet extraordinary film co-directed by Bristol-based James Reed and South Africa-based Pippa Ehrlich. This gentle account of the relationship forged between filmmaker Craig Foster and an inquisitive octopus living in the Great African Seaforest on the coast of South Africa, went on to win the Oscar … Read More

2021 Call for UNESCO Creative Cities now open!

Natalie MooreŁódź, Bitola, Bradford, Bristol, Busan, Collaborative, Galway, Mumbai, Network, Potsdam, Qingdao, Rome, Sarajevo, Sofia, Sydney, Terrassa, Valladolid, Yamagata

Created in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) fosters international cooperation within and across cities of the world that have invested in culture and creativity as an accelerator of various aspects of sustainable development. Together with its 246 member cities from over 80 Member States, the UCCN aims to fulfil the power of culture and creativity in building cities … Read More

Bristol Launches Film 2021 to celebrate Bristol as a UNESCO City of Film & mark centenary of Friese-Greene’s death

Natalie MooreBristol

Film 2021, a new year-long programme of activity celebrating the many aspects of Bristol’s film and moving image credentials, is launched today by Bristol Ideas and Bristol City of Film, supported by the city’s film studios, cinemas, filmmakers and festivals. Marking the centenary of the death of Bristolian inventor William Friese-Greene (1855-1921), a pioneer of early motion pictures, Film 2021 will include film screenings across … Read More

Bristol Horror Short Creeps out at Midnight for SXSW

Natalie MooreBristol

BRISTOL, 16 March 2021: A short film made by Bristol City of Film-based writing-directing duo Sophie Mair and Dan Gitsham will make its North American Premiere at leading international festival SXSW in Austin, Texas at 01:00AM on Wednesday 17 March (06:00AM GMT), as part of the ‘Midnight Shorts’ competition programme. Funded by BFI NETWORK South West, The Thing That Ate … Read More

£12M Secured for Bristol Studio, The Bottle Yard, Expansion Plan

Natalie MooreBristol

Bristol’s biggest production facility, The Bottle Yard Studios in Hengrove, South Bristol, is set to expand following an investment by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) that has now been confirmed. An outline business case submitted to WECA by Bristol City Council for expansion of the Studios into the neighbouring Hawkfield Business Park was approved by the WECA Committee on 29th … Read More

Bristol’s BBC Natural History Unit Expands to LA

Natalie MooreBristol

BBC Studios has announced plans to hire personnel to be based in Los Angeles for its world-renowned Natural History Unit, based in Bristol City of Film, in order to offer around the clock service to their growing number of US buyers. Additionally, this will allow the incubation of US-based natural history on and off-screen talent. This will be the first … Read More

UNESCO Film Cities Film Education and Media Literacy Forum 2020

Natalie MooreŁódź, Bradford, Bristol, Busan, Collaborative, Network, Terrassa

UNESCO Cities of Film map

On Thursday 26 November 2020, UNESCO Cities of Film from around the world came together to deliver an online forum to discuss film education and media literacy. The event was an opportunity to share knowledge and good practice and help each other to use the power of the moving image as a key tool to inspire and empower young minds. Presentations … Read More

75 Years of UNESCO

Natalie MooreBristol, Network

Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees reflects on the importance of the city of Bristol’s relationship with UNESCO, on the anniversary of its creation in 1945. Originally published on the Mayor’s blogsite, thebristolmayor.com. Today (16th November 2020) marks 75 years of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Founded after World War II to promote peace, and now representing 193 … Read More

New website launched to connect UNESCO Cities of Film and enhance international collaboration

Eleanor PenderBradford, Bristol, Collaborative, Network

UNESCO Cities of Film map

On Wednesday 15 July 2020, a new website launched to connect the 18 Cities of Film in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, in order to showcase the work taking place between the cities and enhance the international collaboration within the network. Bristol City of Film has led the design and development of the multilingual Cities of Film website (www.citiesoffilm.org), which … Read More