This Way up: Previous Editions
We held our ninth edition in 2022. Take a look at some of the highlights from previous years below.
2021 / eighth EDITIOn
bristol/ONLINE
Our 2021 conference was like no other; our first hybrid event, it invited attendees to a UNESCO City of Film, at Bristol’s Watershed, or to take part online. Following 2020’s online-only event, this simultaneous experience aimed to reignite the joy of in-person collaboration. Centred on themes of Cultural Value, Placemaking and Inclusion, our sessions explored building fairer workplaces, sustainably investing in our cinema buildings and the potential of regional film criticism with a brilliant lineup of speakers.
We were joined by gender equality and inclusion charity Birds’ Eye View; producers of Bait, Early Day Films, and heard from the global leader in disability arts festivals, Oska Bright Film Festival.
DETAILS
WHERE: watershed, bristol/ONLINE
WHEN: 1st & 2nd december 2021
Photos from This Way Up 2021 at Watershed, Bristol. Photos by Shamphat Poductions.
2020 / SEVENTH EDITIOn
ONLINE
In 2020, This Way Up focused on themes of Community, Culture, Accountability and Resilience for its first digital edition which took place online 1-3 December. A new online platform hosted the event, offering delegates a space to network, re-watch sessions and tune in to the live conference. After a tumultuous year for the sector and the impact of COVID-19 on cinema across the world, the programme’s focus was structured around supportive, constructive sessions assessing how delegates can work together and collaborate as the industry reflects and rebuilds.
DETAILS
WHERE: ONLINE
WHEN: 1-3 December 2020
2019 / SIXTH EDITION
NOTTINGHAM
In 2019, This Way Up took to Nottingham for the event’s sixth edition, which kicked off with opening sessions reflecting the key themes of the overall conference: Celebration, Resilience and The Future. The conference included sessions with artist and filmmaker Jeanie Finlay, a focus on documentaries with pioneering distributor Dogwoof (followed by a screening of Midnight Traveller (2019)), an in-depth Q&A with Cambridge Film Festival director Tony Jones, marking his retirement, plus reflections on the past year in cinema with film critic Christina Newland.
Further sessions covered marketing to specific audience groups, the whys and hows of organising pop-up and off-site film screenings, intersectionality, environmental sustainability, and more.
View images from our 2019 edition below.
DETAILS
WHERE: BROADWAY CINEMA, NOTTINGHAM
WHEN: TUESDAY 3 AND WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER 2019
2018 / FifTH EDITION
liverpool
SUMMARY
In 2018, This Way Up took place in Liverpool, a year which saw the city celebrating Liverpool 2018, a decade on from being European City of Culture. The conference included a discussions on Brexit, green cinema and D/deaf and disabled programming, a workshop on leadership and fundraising, talks from Mia Bays, Clare Binns and Ian White, a screening, distribution discussion and director and actor Q&A for Pin Cushion (2017), a networking walking tour of Liverpool and a debate about audience behaviour. Find out more in the video below.
DETAILS
WHERE: FACT Liverpool and bluecoat
WHEN: wednesday 5 & thursday 6 8 december 2018
2017 / FOURTH EDITION
HULL
SUMMARY
In 2017, This Way Up took place in Hull UK City of Culture, a year which saw the city transformed by the power of culture, including film. The conference included a visit from the Vintage Mobile Cinema and a VR experience by Together Films, plus an inspiring keynote from Jenny Sealey MBE of Graeae Theatre, provocations from Simran Hans and an exclusive Turner Prize reception at Ferens Art Gallery.
DETAILS
WHERE: hull truck theatre, hull
WHEN: TUESDAY 7 & WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2017
2016 / Third edition
glasgow
SUMMARY
This Way Up 2016 took place in Glasgow and saw some 310 delegates and contributors take the trip to Scotland for inspiring keynotes from Bobby Allen of MUBI and Dawn Walton of Eclipse Theatre, plus 1-2-1 marketing surgeries with Laura Rothwell of CRYSTLSD and the launch of BFI 2022 by Amanda Nevill, CEO of the British Film Institute.
details
Where: glasgow film theatre, glasgow
When: tuesday 29 & wednesday 30 November 2016
2015 / second edition
manchester
SUMMARY
This Way Up arrived in Manchester in 2015. Held at what was then a brand-new HOME it attracted 262 attendees including both delegates and speakers who took part in keynote talks, panel discussions, workshops, lunchtime labs, two-day hackathons and in competing for Pitch Innovation Funds.
details
Where: HOME, manchester
When: wednesday 2 & thursday 3 december 2015
2014 / first edition
newcastle-upon-tyne
summary
The first ever edition of This Way Up took place at Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. Attended by over 130 delegates and with speakers from cinemas, festivals, community venues, arts centres across the UK we debated ideas, shared stories and learnt from each other. Topics ranged widely from the discussing the challenges and opportunities facing programmers as audiences have more and more choice, and the rise of the second-screen and social media in the cinema space, to how to harness challenging concepts and new thinking about using data and digital to reach audiences.
details
Where: Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
When: tuesday 2 & wednesday 3 december 2014