November 2020

This BFI Network short film funding programme supports fiction projects with directors based in England and is run in partnership with the BFI NETWORK Talent Executives who work with filmmakers on the delivery of funded projects. For directors based outside England or for filmmakers looking for documentary funding opportunities, please see our Funding Finder.

This fund supports the production costs of fiction shorts, in both live action and animation. BFI Network wants to support short films that respond to our core objectives which are to support:

• The early careers of ambitious filmmakers;
• Filmmaking that takes risks on talent, form and content;
• Work that recognises the quality of difference – in perspective, in talent, in recruitment;
• Work with cultural relevance or progressive ideas;
• Work from filmmakers based throughout the nation, not just in traditional industry centres.

BFI Network supports standalone short films and this can include projects that have the potential, further down the line, to be developed into other forms or formats (e.g. a feature film, content in serial form). The fund is intended to stimulate new ideas and stories, so it doesn’t support adaptations of existing material. We welcome applications for amounts throughout the available budget range up to a maximum of £15,000. We are seeking applications for films of any length up to a maximum of 15 minutes.

BFI Network funding is accompanied by creative oversight of the short film by a BFI NETWORK Talent Executive. As well as working with filmmakers prior to and during production, the Talent Executives may be able to advise you on:

• finding screening opportunities regionally and further afield;
• ways to meet potential collaborators for your project;
• festival strategy for your film;
• other means to gain industry exposure for your work.

APPLICATION TIMELINES

Changes are being made to the way that we manage and assess applications to the Short Film fund in England. From October 2020 onwards the fund will open for two six-week application windows in the Spring and Autumn of each year. From 2021 onwards we will publish the application dates six months in advance so that filmmakers can plan their applications, polish their draft scripts and find collaborators in good time.

The dates for the next two application windows are as follows:

Autumn 2020

Spring 2021

BFI reserves the right to amend any of these dates where necessary.

GUIDELINES

Please read the full funding guidelines before you complete the application form.

READ GUIDELINES

AUDIO GUIDELINES

The Short Film Fund audio guidelines are in the process of being updated, please check back soon for the revised guidelines.

APPLYING

Before you proceed to the application form via the link below you will be asked to create an account. Following submission of the application to the BFI, applicants will be sent a unique application reference number for their records.

If you have already submitted an application and would like to review it at any point, you can log into your account here.

You will need to submit a budget for your short film using our budget template which you can download here.

Preview the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund application here.

APPLY NOW

ASSISTANCE DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS

We can provide assistance to applicants who are D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, Disabled or neurodiverse people, and people with sight loss, where this support is needed in order for someone to make an application to the Film Fund. Visit Access support for BFI Film Fund applicants for information.

FINDING COLLABORATORS FOR YOUR PROJECT

If you are looking a writer, director or producer to work with on your project, click here for some ideas on how to do this.

Source: filmhubmidlands.org

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The British government has formally announced the creation of a Global Screen Fund aimed at partially replacing Creative Europe’s MEDIA funding following the completion of the Brexit transition period at the end of the year. The $9.4 million fund was confirmed as part of a major spending review setting out Britain’s post-Brexit economic plans as it deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of a major spending review on Wednesday, which set out plans for the British economy post-Brexit as it deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed an initial pot of £7 million ($9.4 million) for the Global Screen Fund, which was first proposed over the summer.

In 2018, the U.K. received $14.5 million in MEDIA funding.

The British Film Institute, which has been calling for $22.8 million, highlighting how MEDIA funding has aided both U.K. exhibition and distribution and British films in Europe for more than a decade, is set to administer the fund. It argued that the sector would likely shrink by 10 percent, costing up to 1,200 jobs, with no replacement arranged.

“Today’s £7 million for a pilot Global Screen Fund announced as part of the Government’s Spending Review is a positive result for the independent screen sector in what we appreciate is a challenging fiscal climate,” said BFI CEO Ben Roberts. “Given the significant contribution of film, TV and video games to the UK economy and our position in the global market, we welcome this new funding which will enable the industry to further grow international partnerships, build on export opportunities and increase our return on investment.”

Simon Crowe, chair of Film Export U.K., added: “Well-reasoned arguments do not always prevail but, thanks to detailed understanding within BFI and receptiveness at [the culture ministry], the case for this support has been compelling. We were really grateful to see other sectors of the film industry endorse our view that independent films are incubators for the talents of the future. These films need nurturing to develop and to reach audiences around the globe.”

Caroline Norbury, CEO of the Creative Industries Federation, said: “Confirmation of a Global Screen Fund to replace Creative Europe MEDIA is welcome news, but urgent clarity is needed on what will replace Creative Europe Culture and other EU-funded programmes.”

Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country, is currently recruiting workers for the Covid-19 vaccine programme.

Local people from across Birmingham and Solihull are being sought to take on the job of a lifetime. Birmingham and Solihull has been one of the hardest hit areas in the country, and Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on lives, health and the economy. The UK Government and its medical and scientific advisors have been clear that the only safe and sustainable way out of the Covid-19 pandemic is through a vaccine. The Covid-19 vaccine programme is going to be the single-most important activity we can take part in to restore our health, economy and livelihoods and it is going to require a workforce dedicated to the vaccine programme to help us recover fast in all areas of our lives. As well as seeking people with recent clinical experience to return to practice as vaccinators, those vaccinators will not be able to do their job without an army of non-clinical supporters behind them who will come from all walks of life with differing ranges of skills, but with a common life-saving purpose of recovering our community from this pandemic. We will need, to name but a few:

•         Drivers

•         Administrators

•         First-aiders

•         Coordinators

•         Organisers

•         Care workers

•         Marshalls

•         Logistical movers and handlers.

We will be providing full training and induction so a commitment to the programme is the main essential criteria, and from there we will work with individuals to identify where their skills and experience can best be put to use.

Duration :                 Mid December  – March 2021

Venues:                    There are planned to be 5 venues ;Millennium Point, Aston Villa Football Club, Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham Airport and the NEC.

How to Apply:          If you are interested in applying please email the inbox;  covidvaccineworkforce@uhb.nhs.uk  stating the following:

• The position you are interested in applying for (max of 3),
• Your preferred venue (max of 3)
• The hours  per week you would are available and the days that you would be available to work ( vaccination centres will be open 7 days a week for 12 hours per day)
• Within your expression of interest you need to provide details of the skills and experience you have that would be applicable to the roles you are applying for.
• Please can you also provide details of how you found out about the vacancy  ( was it through a referral from an organisation you’re working with)

On submission of your email  a member of the recruitment team will then contact you to discuss the information you have provided.

Source: www.solihullforsuccess.com

Here are the nominees for the RTS Midlands Awards 2020. The RTS Midlands will be celebrating the TV and broadcasting industry across the Midlands. Categories include Award for Best Animation, Best Popular Factual Series, Best Drama (sponsored by Film Birmingham) and Best On-Screen Personality. 

The ceremony will be streamed live on Wednesday 25th November. Register here.

Acting Performance – Female

Acting Performance – Male

Animation

Breakthrough (Off Screen)

Breakthrough (On Screen)

Craft – Post Production

Digital Creativity

Documentary

Craft – Production (sponsored by Create Central)

Drama (sponsored by Film Birmingham)

Factual and Specialist Factual

Factual Entertainment / Popular Factual Series

Journalist of the Year

News Programme of the Year

On Screen Personality

Promotional

Short Form

Writer

Register here to view the awards on November 25th at 8pm!

Source: www.rts.org.uk

National restrictions begin in England from 5th November. Find out about the new restrictions and what you can and cannot do.

 The following guidance is provided from UK Government and provides confirmation that COVID-secure film and TV production, in studios and on location, can continue in England under the new regulations. This is detailed below:

Travel and logistics in England:

• If you live in England, you cannot travel overseas or within the UK, unless for work, education or other legally permitted reasons, and you should look to reduce the number of journeys you make.
• However, you can and should still travel for a number of reasons, including travelling to work where this cannot be done from home.
• This exemption covers all aspects of the production process, including scouting and recces. It includes travelling for work purposes within England and internationally. Staying in a hotel for work purposes is permitted.

Production activity in England:

• Filming can continue to take place in the premises of businesses that are closed to the general public due to the new Health Protection Regulations. This includes work on films and television programmes.
• Productions should always consider whether there are local restrictions in place where they are filming.

Production and travel in the UK Nations and Regions (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

• Film and television production is also permitted under current restrictions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For travel in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, you should refer to regulations and guidance from relevant devolved authorities.

The British Film Commission Working Safely During COVID-19 in Film and High-end TV Drama Production guidance to reflect these amendments. The update Guidance is available to view and download here

Organised by BAFTA

Online, Free

Thu, 12 Nov 2020, 13:30 – 14:30

Storytelling is at the heart of what we do and runs across all crafts and mediums. Hear from the Guru Live panel as they discuss their creative approaches, how they generate ideas, shape narratives and engage audiences.

Speakers include:

Jack Attridge, creative director and co-founder of Flavourworks
Nainita Desai, composer, For Sama, Telling Lies
Lydia Rynne, writer Theatre/Film/TV (Hear Me Howl)
Sophie Reynolds, Producer and Founder of SONA films

Hosted by: Anna Bogutskaya

More speakers to be announced.

Click ‘Register’ to gain access to the Zoom webinar where this Q&A will be held. For further information on how to register, click here.