British Winters – A community filmmaking success story

August 15, 2019

What is it?

British Winters is a British comedy drama about a self-pitying barman whose life is in a state of crisis. The film is the debut feature from Tape Community Music and Film – delivered using an inclusive production model which has subsequently seen the film used as a case study for promoting inclusion by the British Film Institute (BFI).

What is it about?

The story is about Noel Winters, a lazy procrastinating youth who is no longer young enough to pull that lifestyle off. The film follows this hapless protagonist through the festive season and into the new year. Noel is disillusioned with himself as much as the outside world but he draws inspiration from his younger adopted sister, Hannah, a ray of sunny optimism in his blinkered outlook on life.

Why you should watch/buy it?

TAPE Community Music and Film seek to maximise opportunities for people through the delivery of creative arts and media projects. Based in North Wales, the award winning charity delivers high-quality projects and person-led opportunities. These range from 1-hour taster sessions through to commercial contracts and service-level agreements. All TAPE projects are safe, inclusive and creative.

With a budget of just £20,000, the TAPE team created jobs, bought equipment and brought people together to collaborate on the project. The finished film supported involvement from over 100 people, with over 50% of those requiring additional support of some kind to take part.

The the film premiered in 2016 and has subsequently toured cinemas around the UK, festivals in Europe and screened to ministers and guests at the Senedd in Cardiff. A ministerial screening in Westminster is planned for the Autumn ahead of the film going into the archive at the BFI who have also used the film as a case study for promoting inclusion.

How we can we get hold of it?

British Winters is now streaming on Amazon Video and Vimeo on Demand. Your purchase means you’ll enjoy a first class production made in Wales as well as supporting TAPE to deliver more good work in the North Wales community.