Exit 6 Film Festival

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s bid for UK Town of Culture. 

My name is Carl Austin and I am the Creative Director of Exit 6 Film Festival, an annual international short film festival based right here in Basingstoke. Our mission has always been to champion independent filmmaking, cultivate new creative talent and bring a diverse, global array of cinematic storytelling directly to our local community. Through screening events, educational workshops and networking opportunities, Exit 6 has grown into a vital hub for both emerging filmmakers and passionate film lovers. 

Having built and run the festival within the borough, the team and I can say firsthand that Basingstoke possesses a unique and fiercely passionate creative energy. It is a place with not only the ambition to dream up large-scale cultural events, but crucially the structural backbone and collaborative spirit to make them happen. The council has consistently recognised the value of our creative industry, offering the partnership, resources and shared vision necessary to help grassroots cultural initiatives like ours thrive. 

What truly sets Basingstoke apart is its commitment to accessibility and community connection. Culture here isn't exclusive; it is collaborative. For Exit 6, this means seeing diverse audiences, from local students discovering film production for the first time to lifelong residents, engaging deeply with international cinema in the heart of our town centre. Over the years, our festival has shown that the people of Basingstoke have a massive appetite for bold, thought-provoking art and our local venues and public spaces provide the perfect canvas for it. 

Looking to the future, a UK Town of Culture designation would be transformative. This bid does not start from a blank page; it builds directly upon an existing, vibrant cultural ecology. It would amplify the incredible work already being done by local creatives, open doors for deeper community co-creation and foster a lasting sense of civic pride. 

Exit 6 Film Festival wholeheartedly backs this application. Basingstoke is entirely ready to step into the spotlight, celebrate its rich cultural identity and deliver an inspiring, inclusive Town of Culture programme that leaves a legacy for generations to come.