Cinéformation

screen • experience • collaborate

About Cinéformation

Who We Are

Cinéformation was established in 2003 by a small collective of film makers and enthusiasts in Bristol who were passionate about exchanging knowledge and promoting collaboration in and around the South West. Their vision, dedication and belief in the creativity of the local filmmaking community led to the birth of Cinéformation, the monthly non-profit get-together in Bristol’s Watershed Media Centre.

Due to the success of the first years of interviews, workshops and forums, in 2004 the events were recognised by BAFTA and Cinéformation became one of the prestigious BAFTA in the Regions programme of screenings and events run throughout England in partnership with the Regional Screen Agencies.

With BAFTA on board, Cinéformation has gone from strength to strength, introducing more learning workshops, more networking events and attracting diverse audiences for sessions on a series of wide-ranging subjects. With more recent support from South West Screen, the University of the West of England as well as Watershed and BAFTA, Cinéformation is the hub of film and media in Bristol, the South West and beyond.

Team Cinéformation

Menekse Meech – Director
As well as the founder of Cinéformation, Menekse Meech is a freelance filmmaker. After attending film school at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design she worked in London on commercials and pop promos in both production and post-production. In Bristol, Menekse has worked as a Producer/ Director on several short films and pop promos, while doing a three year stint of teaching Video Production, Editing and Web Design to adults at CEED Media. Menekse can be contacted at Menekse@cineformation.com
Beth Jones – Creative Producer
Beth has coordinated Cinéformation since September 2006. As well as working as a Costume Designer for the Hollywood feature I’m Reed Fish, she is also a director, facilitator and performer of applied theatre and educational projects and is passionate about using drama in its many diverse forms as a tool for creative active learning. Beth can be contacted at beth@cineformation.com
Elizabeth Hoskins – Assistant Coordinator
Currently in her final year of the Media Practice degree at the University of the West of England, Elizabeth is a producer/director for documentary and music promo. She has been working as Assistant Events Coordinator for Cinéformation since March 2007 and coordinates the technical team at every event. Elizabeth can be contacted at lizz@cineformation.com
Claire Hickman - Presenter
Claire started off her career working on short films nearly 10 years ago. Combining a love of film making with all things digital Claire undertook a BSc in Multimedia Production at the University of Plymouth and since graduating she has worked across a variety of platforms and genres, including animation, television, short film, feature films and also interactive media. Claire currently works as a freelance production coordinator for television. Claire can be contacted at claire.hickman@googlemail.com
Oliver Purches – Presenter
As well as one of the Presenters of Cinéformation, Oliver Purches is a Director and Actor. He has a just finished his finest film to date - 'Not Cut Out For Crime' - for the DepicT! competition. Oliver can be contacted at recalcitrantfilms@gmail.com
Elspeth Rushbrook – Event Assistant
Scriptwriter and novelist Elspeth also has a passion for arts cinema, architecture music and composition. As well as helping out with Cinéformation’s monthly events, Elspeth is looking to gain experience working on a feature film or as part of a film production company. Elspeth can be contacted at elspethr@hotmail.com

What We Do

Our aims are to:

SCREEN quality, creative & diverse work to inspire, evoke discussion & debate.

Provide unique & exciting opportunities to for professionals & enthusiasts to EXPERIENCE film & media in new ways, learning more about the industry through free guest Q&As, workshops and masterclasses.

Encourage attendees to COLLABORATE, creating new work, sharing skills & knowledge & maintaining a sustainable support network for the South West.

Q&A Events

The non-profit monthly events held at Bristol’s Watershed Media Centre are a valuable insight into the world of British Filmmaking based around an aspect of filmmaking which is explored via Q&As with guest speakers, screenings from their portfolio, workshops & discussion. Over the last four years, Cinéformation has attracted an impressive range of local and international guests, including Director of Severance Christopher Smith, one of the UK’s leading Unit Publicists, Susan d’Arcy, Screenwriter of Afterlife Stephen Volk, Life on Mars Cinematographer Balazs Bolygo and acclaimed Dance Filmmaker, Douglas Rosenberg.

Masterclasses

Like the Q&As, Cinéformation Masterclasses are a huge success, delving into an acclaimed filmmaker’s career, the sessions are followed by screening of the guest’s most recent film in the luxury of a Watershed cinema. In January, in association with the release of The Last King of Scotland, Cinéformation presented a Masterclass with the Producer Andrea Calderwood. Later in the year we held a similarly successful and inspirational event with Cinéformation Patron and Director of Notes on A Scandal, Sir Richard Eyre, which was followed by a screening of the acclaimed film.

Learning Workshops

Dedicated to continuing education and vocational training, Cinéformation provides free creative learning workshops on a variety of aspects of the filmmaking process. Recent sessions include a fascinating stop-motion animation workshop with Aardman’s Merlin Crossingham, a film make-up demonstration with BAFTA winner Joan Stribling de’Launay & most recently, director and RSC actor, Sonia Fraser facilitated an inspirational Acting For Camera workshop for budding film stars.

Networking Opportunities

Cinéformation is passionate about keeping the local filmmaking community active and collaborative and at every event there is an opportunity to meet fellow filmmakers in an informal and supportive environment.

Outreach

As part of the Cornwall Film Festival’s 2007 programme, Cinéformation presented an exciting Animation Workshop and networking session and hope to provide more projects throughout the South West in the future.

Supported by

News

See all news

Contact Us

Cinéformation
c/o Bristol Media
Unit 4.3
Paintworks
Brislington
Bristol
 BS4 3EH


07806 716106