Film: Big Business

Big Business

Motion Pictures have a unique and powerful ubiquity within human culture. Last year, across the world, there were over 6.8 billion cinema admissions – almost as many as there are people on the planet – which created a global box office revenue of over $30 billion. Film is big business!

But its not all blockbusters and big bucks. Cinema is a powerful vehicle for culture, education and leisure. Just attending the cinema has been proven to have a good effect on anxiety and depression. The collective experience of film watching has decisively positive effects on mental health, because visual stimulation can queue a range of emotions, and the collective experience of these emotions through the cinema provides a safe environment in which to experience them.

Attending the cinema allows for the employment of personal preference and the human need for distinction – it can be a personally expressive experience, good fun, and therapeutic at the same time. The formation of a film also allows all of the people involved in its creation to artistically express themselves. Films are made to be seen, films need to be seen – they should never be left to languish on a hard drive!

Of the over 350 films made in the UK last year, only a quarter achieved theatrical release and an even smaller percentage made it onto our tv screens. If you create films and are looking for an audience, then Latest TV’s FilmFest on 8 is the place for you. With just under four billion viewings of feature films on tv in the UK (22 times as many as the cinema) it’s a great platform for gaining exposure.

FilmFest on 8 is a national platform for the large and diverse community of filmmakers here in the UK. Every Sunday night from 9pm I bring you independent films from across the country – from documentaries to dramas, features to shorts, each one is innovative and unique.

We are here to give a break to the talented people making films across the UK and we are interested in everything you have to give. Although we are Brighton-based we accept films from all over Britain. Send an email to me via jessica@thelatest.tv with the title, run time and a short synopsis of the film. Add an online link if you can and I will get back to you once we have found a spot in the schedule.
I look forward to seeing your work!

Follow me: @latestjessica