Cumbria Filmmakers Network was established way back in 2005. We started out with some humble ideas: to open up opportunities for Cumbrian filmmakers and to help raise the profile of the filmmaking talent which the county harbours.
It's been a blast, and a lot got done over the past four years. The filmmaking community has grown, prospered and matured, and we continue to be in awe of the innovative and diverse film work we see people produce.
At the core of CFN's activities have been our monthly short film screenings. Started in Autumn 2005, they've run almost uninterrupted until November 2009. They've provided an invaluable forum for creative people to meet and collaborate, as well as a unique platform for filmmakers to present and discuss their work. These evenings couldn't have happened without the support and generosity of our venues - from the early days at the Mint Café, until most recently at the Brewery Arts Centre.
And we're proud of the fact that CFN has fostered a community of talented individuals who are dedicated to one worthy goal: to help one another. From simple, but important things - like offering encouraging words and advice - through to the more practical - providing career opportunities and access to training: the generosity of the community has always shone through.
The organisation is run on an entirely voluntary basis by a team of dedicated people - any profits from ticket sales or training sessions are pooled right back in to pay for our running costs. As the organisation and it's activities have grown, so have the demands on our time and resources. As a new decade rounds the corner, it was time for us to sit down and have a good, long think about the future of the Network.
In our heart of hearts, we feel that CFN has run it's course. We've achieved everything we set out to achieve: our lobbying means that Cumbria now has it's own dedicated film office; the popularity of our screenings has spawned similar events across the county; new networks, collaborations and friendships have forged some inspiring new creative forces.
Now feels like the perfect time for us to bow out gracefully, and make space for some fresh and exciting ideas from the people who have made CFN a success: the filmmakers of Cumbria.
Don't worry, we won't be disappearing completely: we're filmmakers ourselves, and we'll be putting our new-found spare time to good use with our own creative projects, and continuing to develop initiatives for the creative industries.
CFN will continue in a small way - you can join the Facebook group, which allows you to hook up with other filmmakers, post news about your events or activities, make calls for auditions etc. But the website is no more and we're afraid we'll no longer be able to provide advice by email.
It's been a hard decision to make, and we'll miss meeting up with you all at our screenings each month - they've been a joy to present. We'd like to take the opportunity to thank the Brewery Arts Center, especially Kirsty McIntosh and her team for all their help and support. There'll be some other clever people along in a jiffy to fill our shoes and inject some fresh adrenaline into the Film scene here in Cumbria - we're certain of that.
And a final thought, for anyone who might doubt the potential for Cumbria being a catalyst for some truly awesome, world-class creative work, I leave you with some humbling words from a friend of ours who made the big time in L.A.: "Don't concern yourself too much with making it in the mainstream. Stick to the fringes - that's where all the really interesting stuff happens."
Too true. Be proud of your fringe. Be proud of Cumbria.