Cambridge is renowned for its zines, poets and especially its theatre, but the film scene has often gone overlooked. However, in recent years a steadily growing filmmaking and film loving culture has emerged, bringing with it not only some fantastic societies and opportunities to learn new skills, but also invaluable experiences that have launched many careers. Just in the last year, I’ve had the privilege of directing and acting in a few short films, working behind the scenes at Watersprite Film Festival and being part of the CUFA committee, and even learning how to sound design for a mockumentary. Film in Cambridge is only getting bigger, so here’s my guide on where to begin.

Where to find opportunities:

Year by year, the opportunities to get involved in Cambridge Film have only increased, and now you can pretty much guarantee you’ll spot a few ads per term on Camdram, requesting actors, camera operators, sound designers – you name it! The fantastic thing about Cambridge is that beginners are encouraged to have a go at something they’ve never done before, so don’t let a lack of experience stop you from applying. Through Camdram ads and chatting to those involved in projects, I’ve learnt invaluable skills in cinematography, lighting, sound, and producing, all of which I had no prior experience in. You’ll meet some incredible people working on film projects, and you never know, you may even end up making something together in the future…

Also make sure you join the Cambridge Theatre, Cambridge Film and Cambridge Filmmakers groups on Facebook. Opportunities will often get posted here before they are listed on Camdram, and these groups are a useful way of keeping up to date with what’s happening in the film scene each term.

“Film in Cambridge is only getting bigger”

Societies:

There are quite a few film societies around, each with a slightly different focus. Look out for these at the Freshers’ Fair:

CUFA: CUFA hosts a range of opportunities from filmmaker social events to a regular film club, workshops with industry professionals and a Fresh2Film program, which encourages freshers and those new to the scene to make their first short film. Sign up to their mailing list: you can always cancel an email subscription later on!

Watersprite: Watersprite Film Festival is an incredible chance to get real industry experience. It is not only the world’s largest student film festival, but it’s also entirely run by students! I had the pleasure of being their Head of Communications in my second year; a valuable experience that has opened so many doors as I plan to enter the industry after my degree. You can join a range of departments, from events management to marketing and communications, and the festival itself is a fantastic weekend with some high profile guests making an appearance. (Last year David Yates attended the awards ceremony!)

The Shadwell Society: Shadwell, though not strictly a film society, are one of the greatest supporters of film in Cambridge. They host filmmaking talks and networking events, and provide funding for the majority of short films being made by students. They’re worth following on Instagram to see when applications open!

Film@Jesus: Film@Jesus functions as more of a regular film club, where each term a series of films will be screened at Jesus College following a particular theme. They also run lots of competitions throughout the year for both filmmakers and screenwriters, and the Master of Jesus College will occasionally host impressive industry speakers in the Master’s Lodge to a select number of ticketed students. Keep your eyes peeled for these spots, as they go quickly!

“If you consider yourself a cinephile, Cambridge has quite a few good options”

For real film enthusiasts, it’s also worth checking out the Cambridge Film Festival; this event dates back to 1977, and boasts an impressive roster of speakers and events each year. Here you can also catch screenings of films yet to come out – last year my friends and I were able to see Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things months before its worldwide release, so keep an eye on the CFF website in case a movie you’ve been anticipating turns up on their list of exclusive screenings!

Competitions:

There are a few competitions scattered around too, so if you’re a budding screenwriter, director or cinematographer, check out Film@Jesus on Instagram and Facebook, where regular screenplay and short film competitions are announced. Downing Dramatic Society runs ‘Downing Shorts’, to which you can submit your short films, and if you’ve already made a film, why not submit it to Watersprite in August?

Cinemas:

If you consider yourself a cinephile, Cambridge has quite a few good options for you around the city too. The Arts Picturehouse is a fantastic place to catch up on the classics or enjoy new films in a smaller, more intimate cinema (and it has a fantastic café), or you can head down to the Grafton centre’s Vue for all recently released blockbusters. Don’t forget to check out St John’s Picturehouse too, which is entirely student run and holds weekly screenings during term time, showing everything from mainstream to indie and documentary releases.