Tristan Syrett and Steven Dorrington run film production company Aura Films.
Tristan Syrett is a multiple award-winning filmmaker and editor. His work has been screened at film festivals around the world to critical acclaim. His varied skill set includes producing, cinematography, and all aspects of post-production from editing to visual effects.
Steven Dorrington is a multi-award-winning filmmaker. As well as producing and directing commercials, corporate videos and promotional films his array of award-winning short films has been selected for over 500 film festivals across the world. He currently runs production company Aura Films and is a freelance film tutor.
Aura Films have stimulated and inspired the next generation of film audiences and filmmakers by exhibiting the best films from around the world and by hosting educational events with established film professionals, increasing access for residents to film education who would not otherwise have the means or the opportunity to attend high quality film masterclasses.
The Story of Colchester Film Festival
Colchester Film Festival began as a short film festival in 2012 and gradually grew in scale over a six-year period adding film challenges, feature films and guest speaker events. After the 2017 edition the festival paused due to funding issues.
During the pandemic Aura Films found new ways to educate and help aspiring filmmakers in the region offering support and guidance to recent graduates from degree level film courses. This programme was much needed due to it currently being one of most difficult periods in recent times to be a graduate in the creative sector.
The 2022 festival took place from 5-12t November at Firstsite, Colchester with film screenings each evening of feature films that have no or limited cinema or streaming release in Essex or the wider region.
Saturday 12 November saw a series of masterclasses with Q&A sessions and a large networking event for filmmakers across the region bringing the festival to a close.
Speakers included Director and writer Deborah Moggach as well as BAFTA award winner Caroline Barfleet and Oscar winner Chris Overton with an attendance over the course of the festival of 700.
The “Challenge” or “Opportunity”
The key challenge Aura faced was marketing, particularly encouraging the identified younger target audience to attend. The aim was to inspire the next generation of young filmmakers through screening the best new cinema and hosting high profile guest speaker events. The challenge faced was getting the message out to the younger target audience who are across a variety of social media and various educational bodies. Aura were therefore unable to narrow down their marketing and had to advertise across a wide range of media.
Engaging this audience via educational bodies such as schools, colleges and universities was a challenge as finding the correct contact to enable allow direct contact with students was hit and miss.
The other issue faced was due Covid the majority of the target audience had not been to similar events also not regularly going to the cinema or other live events. In contrast to an older audience who seemed keen to get out to these events younger people were a lot more apprehensive.
The positive that came of this was once Aura were able to engage these younger audiences to attend events, the feedback was 100% positive and it was clear they would attend similar events in the future.
Why the practitioner chose to partner with ECC
The festival has received Essex Small Grants in the past and felt the 2022 film festival was suitable for this funding.
How ECC / the culture team responded
Aura Films application to the Arts & Culture Fund clearly outlined the Essex residents it aimed to engage with via an exciting programme, using high quality film screening and masterclasses to engage with the creative sector.
The ECC culture team has supported the project via regular catch up’s, offering assistance wherever needed in terms of marketing, PR, and general project advise.
The Results
The first thing Aura had to address with the community and particularly young people was outlining what a film festival is and how it can benefit them. Aura spent a lot of time using social media and speaking with educational bodies to explain to younger audiences why film festivals are important, why young people should be attending them and how it can benefit their careers.
The key results in attracting so many young and new people to the film festival, was inspiring the next generation to pursue a career in the arts and getting them to network together and meet like mined people. The one surprise was the amount of young people who mentioned that they haven’t heard of or haven’t ever been inside Firstsite Arts Gallery before they attended the festival and that they intended to come back.
Getting involved
Here at Essex County Council we are passionate about Arts & Culture and keen to support projects across the county. If you have an idea you’d like to share with us, take a look at the Arts & Cultural Fund webpage on the Explore Essex website here and get in touch via email: culture@essex.gov.uk
