There are a number of potential cinema and cinema-type screening possibilities outside of the traditional mainstream cinema chains but you have to do your research.

The context in which you will reach the largest audience is to have you work accompany a feature film run or release. This means to have your work shown before a particular feature film for its entire run. This is a real longshot, there have been schemes in the past to try and broker these relationships and some festival prizes that have distribution deals attached to them but there are few examples. Mainly this situation would favour more mainstream short films and its unlikely that you would be paid, but the potential audiences are large enough to make it worthwhile. It is a longshot but the first route would be to make a connection with a feature film distributor to get your film attached to a feature film release. This means that a copy of your film would accompany a copy of the feature film at every cinema it shows in. If you wanted to try this investigate upcoming releases as far ahead as possible, focus on the smaller arthouse film distributors, and find films that you think your work may complement. Send them a preview tape and outline why you think your work would fit with their work, do not expect to be paid and you will probably have to supply all of the filmprints (remember most features are still distributed on 35mm) at your own cost. A more realistic option would be to approach an independent cinema, especially your local cinema which may have a particular interest in supporting local artists, research their upcoming exhibition schedule and if there is something particularly relevant to your work send the programmer a preview tape suggesting the connection along with a list of where its screened and your artists CV. The important thing is to make things as easy as possible for programmer, they probably usually do not programme shots work with features so this would be extra work for them, but if its easy and an interesting suggestion they may just go for it. Its important to remember that most cinemas work at least three months ahead on their schedules, and distributors even longer. A useful website for feature film release schedules and information on feature film distribution is www.launchingfilms.com.

There are a growing number of independent screening venues and initiatives, many of which are listed below that are much more receptive to artists’ film and video and programme it as a substantial part of there regular programme. Most of these venues will either programme along thematic lines or may organise one off screenings of an individual artists’ work. The best thing to do is research the venue’s programme to see what they have done in the past and if your work might fit within this. Send a preview tape, and try and provide as much context as possible to give venues an idea of how they might programme your work. It may even be worth suggesting an interesting idea for a thematic programme that includes you work, or get together with other artists to organise a programme of your work collectively. Then you can offer it to venues as a ready made package to fill a programming slot which may easier for them to place in their schedule.

There are a number of venues, not just cinemas but art centres and galleries which offer regular open screenings. These are screening events which have an open submission process that actively solicits work for screening, some of these events also have non-selection policies which means that they will show all works submitted (within reason), one of the most well know is the popular Exploding Cinema events. These events usually draw large audiences and often encompass an element of peer critique in which you can discuss your work and get feedback from audience members – useful but not for the faint-hearted!