Film festivalisation : the rise of the film festival in the UK's postindustrial cities

Abstract

This study presents an examination of three diverse film festivals that are based in postindustrial cities in the UK. It takes the view that all film festivals are intrinsically bound to and affected by their host location. The research is particularly concerned with how film festivals help to create eventful cities, an all important objective within the postindustrial era. By examining Glasgow Film Festival (GFF), Flatpack Festival (Flatpack) in Birmingham and Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival (Doc/Fest) the study presents a perspective on each festival that links their programming strategies and modus operandi to the specificities of their respective city’s postindustrial milieu.

The thesis poses the following question: What are the prevalent characteristics that define film festivals located in postindustrial cities and conversely how does the postindustrial environment contribute to the realisation of each festival? It considers these questions by examining interlinking strategies that relate to programming, place-making and spatial materialisation. The research contributes to the growing field of film festival studies by being the first of its kind to present an in-depth comparative analysis of film festivals established in UK cities. As such the study offers an insight into the broader development of the film-festivalscape in the context of the UK during the most recent phase of its development.

Empirical evidence of each festival’s strategic approach is provided through case study methodology including participant observation, semi-structured interviews and archival research that examines how each festival came into being, formulated its identity and achieved sustainability. The study maintains that these particular film festivals provide an apt articulation of the experience economy through a marked turn towards non-theatrical programming practices and alternative use of spatial materialisation that has elevated the context of viewing to being a defining differentiator of the festivals in postindustrial cities.