Registered Charity No. 1165040
Annual Report
5[th] January 2024 – 4[th] January 2025
Background
This was our ninth year since establishment as a CIO. We are pleased with the progress made to return to pre-Covid audience numbers – 4034 in 2024, compared with 4296 in 2019 (pre-pandemic), and a significant increase on 2023 (3123). This compares favourably with national figures where box office takings have not yet recovered to previous levels.
Achievements
We held a total of 47 screenings in 2024, including the evening of short films (see below). There were 32 foreign language films, 11 documentaries and 35 feature films, and 9 produced in the UK. The programme comprises primarily contemporary independent films but also some classics, generally when these are re-mastered and re-released, or as a tribute to mark the death of a major actor or director. For example, in June we showed Yasujirô Ozu’s 1953 classic Tokyo Story and in September Coppola’s The Conversation from 1974, both recently re-released. Audience numbers are variable and it can be difficult to predict which films will “fly”; an average audience is around 85 people whereas our largest audience was 306 for The Outrun.
In June we organised and helped to fund a free showing of Outgrow the System in partnership with Transition Buxton, which is a group of local people concerned about the environment working to improve our community’s resilience through practical actions and projects. This also included an expert talk.
After a very successful trial in 2023 of the Exhibition on Screen films, this year we showed films of the Klimt, Singer Sargent and Van Gogh Exhibitions. Due to the licensing agreement, we have charged an uplifted ticket price for these, though we have been able to negotiate a lower rate than that charged by commercial cinemas and the films have continued to draw a large and enthusiastic audience.
This was the second year in which we organised a programme of short films made by filmmakers who have an association with Buxton or High Peak as our entry in the Buxton Festival Fringe. We received 14 entries from a range of individuals and groups, again including young people with additional needs, supported by Derbyshire Community Arts. 11 films were selected for showing and were well-received by the audience (145, up from 122 in 2023). We were pleased to award a Jury prize (a committee comprising trustees and members of Buxton Film) and an Audience prize (generously donated in memory of the late Kieth Savage, founder trustee of Buxton Film), as well as commendations.
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We have been able to maintain a relatively low ticket price, with a heavily discounted rate for children and students. We have over 850 people on our mailing list and regularly receive positive feedback on our programme:
For many years Buxton Film has maintained an extensive film library of DVDs and blu-rays, available for loan to audience members and supporters. However, this was becoming difficult to house and to manage and the take-up was steadily decreasing. It was therefore decided to donate the full collection of over 1300 titles to Salford University Media Studies Department, who received it with enthusiasm.
Looking Ahead
We will continue to develop an attractive and varied programme and explore other ideas to extend and widen our audience base, including additional publicity methods.
We aim to run the short films programme again as part of the Buxton Fringe. To this end we are offering a mentoring opportunity to inexperienced filmmakers who would like to improve their skills.
Trustees
One long serving trustee retired this year and another plans to do so early in 2025. One trustee sadly passed away at the end of the year. However, a new trustee was appointed in 2024 and two further appointments are planned for 2025.
Trustees as of January 2025:
Jane Barrett (Chair) Ela Beaumont Lindsay Crowe Michael Glendenning (Treasurer) Luay Salman
Associate Members
Luke Bayirli Jeanette Hamilton Moira Kean Marek Vilis
Report prepared and signed by:
Jane Barrett, Luay Salman
Accounts prepared and signed by:
Michael Glendenning (Treasurer)
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Buxton Film 1165040 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 5th January 2024 4th January 2025
Section A Receipts and payments
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ A1 Receipts Box Office Receipts 14,070 Other Receipts 365 - - - - - - 14,435 - - Sub total- Total receipts 14,435 A3 Payments DVD Purchases - Film licences 8,639 Other Expenses 775 - - - - - - Sub total 9,414 - - Sub total - Total payments 9,414 Net of receipts/(payments) 5,021 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 29,422 Cash funds this year end 34,443 Unrestricted funds Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 14,070 365 - - - - - - 14,435 - - - 14,435 - 8,639 775 - - - - - - 9,414 - - - 9,414 5,021 - 29,422 34,443 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| - - - - - - - - - |
14,070 | 11,702 | ||
| 365 | 150 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
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| 14,435 | 11,852 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | 14,435 | 11,852 | ||
| - - - - - - - - - - |
- | - | ||
| 8,639 | 7,234 | |||
| 775 | 329 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
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| 9,414 | 7,563 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | ||||
| - | - | |||
| - | 9,414 | 7,563 | ||
| - | - - - - |
5,021 | 4,289 | |
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 29,422 | 25,133 | ||
| - | 34,443 | 29,422 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Bank Cash Details Details Details Details Signature Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 34,439 - 4 - - - 34,443 - OK OK Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
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| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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