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May 2021

BFI Short Film Fund – Deadline June 7th

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The BFI Short Film funding programme supports projects with directors based in England. It is run in partnership with the BFI NETWORK Talent Executives who work with filmmakers on the delivery of funded projects.

About the BFI Short Film Fund

This fund supports the production costs of fiction shorts, in both live action and animation. They want to support short films that respond to BFI 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;
  • Filmmakers based throughout the nation, not just in traditional industry centres.

This fund 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. The BFI welcomes applications for amounts throughout the available budget range up to a maximum of £15,000. You can submit applications for films of any length up to a maximum of 15 minutes.

This 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.

Apply for the Short Film Fund

The Short Film Fund opens for two six-week application windows in the Spring and Autumn of each year. The BFI 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:

2021/22 | Spring Round

Applications open: Monday 26 April 2021

Applications close: Monday 7 June 2021 – 5pm

Deadline for securing additional finance: Monday 16 August 2021

Final Funding Decisions Announced: By end of September 2021

2021/22 | Autumn Round

Applications open: Friday 20 August 2021

Applications close: Friday 1 October 2021

Final Funding Decisions Announced: By end of March 2022

Learn how to apply via Film Hub North here. If you are instead a director based outside England or a filmmaker looking for documentary funding opportunities, please see their Funding Finder.

 

Source: syfn.org

 

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Crossroads for People Facing Challenges

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Due to the huge success of DV Talent‘s first round of Crossroads, the programme is back for a second intake.

Funded by Screenskills and delivered by DV Talent, in collaboration with The Talent Manager, this free scheme will give successful applicants the opportunity to have regular, confidential, one-on-one sessions with an experienced industry mentor over a 6–month period.

The Crossroads Mentoring Programme is aimed at people who have at least 2 years’ professional experience in the screen industries, and who are facing a particular challenge in their career.

Are you:

  • at a crossroads in your career?
  • returning from a career break or looking to raise your profile or widen your industry network?
  • facing a specific challenge preventing you taking the next step or progressing?
  • looking to raise your profile or widen your industry networks?
  • returning after a break?
  • Considering a career change?

If yes, then the Crossroads Mentoring Programme could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

To Apply

To be eligible, candidates need to:

  • have at least 2-3 years professional industry experience
  • be at a crossroads in their career
  • be able to nominate 3 ideal mentors

Cross Road Mentors

Fatima Salaria, MD of Naked, Quicksilver boss Eamonn Matthews, Lisa Holdsworth, All Creatures Great and Small writer and chair of the Writers Guild of GB, BBC3 commissioner editor Nasfim Haque, Man on Wire editor Jinx Godfrey and Sherlock DoP Neville Kidd are just some of those who are mentoring as part of the Crossroads Mentoring Programme.

“Navigating a career in the TV and film industry can be really challenging,’’ said Matt Born, the programme director. “Whether you’re trying to step up a grade, move genre, returning from a career break, raise your profile, or simply trying to get your focus and confidence, having a mentor who has a holistic view of the industry – and can be a guide – is invaluable.

“We’re incredibly grateful to all our mentors who are giving their time, expertise and experience to help others coming through to try and reach their potential.’’

Jane Saunders, ScreenSkills mentoring programme manager said: “Mentoring is a brilliant way of helping support people. It can be invaluable for those at a crossroads in their career. We are pleased to be supporting this initiative. We hope this will be of particular help to those from groups who are currently not well represented in the screen industries.”

The scheme welcomes applications from all genres/sectors in the industry and is particularly keen to recruit delegates from the nations and regions, and underrepresented groups.

Deadline for applications – Wednesday 2nd June

Please click here to apply.

 

Source: www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk

 

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BFI Step Up for Underrepresented Crew

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The BFI Step Up initiative provides the opportunity for creative and technical production crew from underrepresented groups to work on a production supported by the BFI Film Fund.

Through the BFI Film Fund (awarding funds from the National Lottery), it aims to address the lack of diversity in crew by recognising and engaging with the wealth of talent across all creative industries. By matching this talent with BFI productions, Step Up provides a unique opportunity for crew from underrepresented groups to embrace new challenges and enhance their skills. This also provides the wider industry with the chance to engage in meaningful change.

BFI Film Fund welcomes applications from those who are ready to either step up in their department or step across from other creative industries (such as television, documentary and short form content).

How it works

  • This is not an entry level or trainee programme
  • Applicants must apply to Step Up via the link below
  • If an applicant meets the criteria they will be invited to discuss their objectives and current experience with a member of the BFI Film Fund team
  • The scheme skill-matches the applicant with a Film Fund production. They will then meet producers and relevant heads of departments
  • All Step Up crew will be hired directly by the production with additional financial support from BFI Film Fund for training, salaries and access requirements

Eligibility

Applicants should be from one of the following underrepresented groups:

  • Black, MENA (Middle East and North African), South Asian, South East Asian or East Asian background, including mixed ethnicity, working in any department
  • D/deaf and disabled people, including those who are neurodivergent, working in any department
  • women working in technical roles (for example: camera, sound, electrical, construction, stunts, props, SFX and VFX)

The BFI welcomes intersectionality across a number of areas. These include ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disability, religion, geographical location (nations and regions) and socioeconomic circumstances across all departments.

The individual must have proven experience in their chosen department. Also they must provide references from either a producer, head of department or equivalent.

The scheme supports candidates from trainee programmes who are ready to take the next step. However, this is not an entry level/trainee programme.

How to apply

Would like to be considered for Step Up and be part of a production supported by the BFI Film Fund? Find the link to apply here.

There is no deadline, and the team reviews applications monthly.

If you have any questions regarding the programme, please email productioncoordinator@bfi.org.uk.

 

Source: www.bfi.org.uk

 

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BFI Doc Society Ripple Effect Fund

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The BFI Doc Society Ripple Effect Fund is a new National Lottery funded initiative. It enables and empowers communities, networks and organisations to build their own inclusive vision for the independent UK documentary sector from the ground up. If you have new and collaborative ideas to support underrepresented documentary storytellers, to reach diverse audiences or to foster closer connections and amplify the work of grassroots nonfiction champions – tell us what they look like.

The Ripple Effect will be open for one round from Thursday 13th May – Thursday 10th June. It offers non-recoupable grants between £5,000 – £20,000 for activities taking place before March 2022.

The Ripple Effect will help kickstart documentary-focused ideas and activities that boost connectivity for documentary filmmakers across the UK. It will also create inclusive opportunities for underrepresented non-fiction voices and develop new audiences.

The goal of the fund is to expand its outreach and support programmes. It does this by identifying, fostering and supporting the work of independent groups, individuals and organisations who are building communities and opportunities for documentary locally or have a great plan in mind to do so.

The BFI Doc Society will be therefore hosting a fund webinar on Monday 24th May from 5pm – 6pm. So if you are potential applicant, come with your questions!

All the information and guidelines about the fund can be found here: www.docsociety.org/bfi-doc

 

Source: www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk

 

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LIFF Unveils Line-Up for 2021 Film Festival

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The London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) unveiled the line-up for its 2021 edition as a “love letter to India”. This is amid the ongoing hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic in the sub-continent. The Bagri Foundation backed annual film festival will also be screening across Birmingham and Manchester until July 4. This is with support of the British Film Institute (BFI) and funds from the National Lottery.

LIFF Screenings

The festival will open on June 17 with a UK premiere of ‘W.O.M.B. (Women of My Billion)’, an inspirational feature documentary on Srishti Bakshi as she walks the entire length of India (nearly 4,000 km) over 240 days to explore the experiences of other women in its billion-plus population.

Another highlight of the festival is a special focus on British filmmakers of South Asian origin and their continued contribution to British cinema’s success.

“We will be showcasing the unstoppable force that is India’s rich and diverse filmmaking, and of course the festival will be helping to highlight and support COVID charities working in South Asia,” said LIFF Director Cary Rajinder Sawhney. “In this year when ”Britishness” is being re-defined, we offer our ”Great British Asians” strand which will celebrate British Asian filmmakers and throw a spotlight on exciting emerging talents.

Special Events

The year’s highlights include on stage “Special In Conversations” with filmmakers like Asif Kapadia and Gurinder Chadha. The festival also has a new strand dedicated to ecology-related films, called “Save The Planet”, screening features that in different ways reflect lives affected by deforestation and rising sea levels.

“It was a difficult year for many these past 12 months, and we are pleased to support a little escape for you via LIFF’s hybrid festival this year,” said Alka Bagri, Trustee of the Bagri Foundation. “Our seventh year as title sponsor showcases classic films and Q&As, as well as a range of UK premieres from some top British Asian and South Asian talent. Whether you attend in person, or watch from the comfort of your sofa, we hope you feel as excited as we are to see fresh faces and legendary stories from across Asian cinema.”

Films will be across several languages with English subtitles, including Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Urdu, Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati.

The festival also premieres the feature documentary ‘Ahimsa: Gandhi The Power of the Powerless’ and celebrates the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray on his 100th birth anniversary. We see one of Ray’s greatest actors, the late Soumitra Chatterjee, in the premiere of ‘Abhijaan’. Also, there are some light-hearted moments with the Bengali drama ‘Searching For Happiness’, plus black comedy in ‘Ashes On A Road Trip’.

The Tiger Award winner at the 50th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Tamil film ‘Koozhangal’ (Pebbles) makes its UK debut at the cinema, as does Sanal Kumar Sasidharan”s ‘Kayattam (A’hr)’ in Malayalam.

 

Source: www.outlookindia.com

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First Look at “You Don’t Know Me” Drama Filmed in Birmingham

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The first image from the highly anticipated upcoming four-part drama You Don’t Know Me, has been released today. See it here. Based on Imran Mahmood’s bestselling novel, the adaptation is written by Tom Edge (The Crown, Vigil) and produced by Snowed-In Productions (Too Close, Mrs Wilson) and co-produced with Netflix for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The drama was filmed in Birmingham, and facilitated by Film Birmingham.

The drama centres on a young man, who, with overwhelming evidence against him, stands accused of murder. At his trial, Hero (Adewunmi) tells an extraordinary story. It is about the woman he loves, Kyra (Wilde) who got into terrible trouble. It’s about how he risked everything to save her. He swears he’s innocent. But in the end, all that matters is this: do you believe him? See the first released image here.

Cast and Crew of You Don’t Know Me

You Don’t Know Me stars Samuel Adewunmi (The Last Tree, Angela Black), newcomer Sophie Wilde, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva (Tomb Raider, Sixteen), Tuwaine Barrett (The Personal History of David Copperfield, The Last Tree), Yetunde Oduwole (Carnage, Meet The Adebanjos) and Nicholas Khan (Transformers: The Last Knight, Exodus: Gods and Kings) alongside Bukky Bakray (Rocks, Self-Charm) who recently became the youngest ever winner of the Bafta Rising Star Award at the age of 19; she also earned a Bafta Best Actress nomination for her role in the film Rocks.

Directed by Sarmad Masud (My Pure Land, Bulletproof, Ackley Bridge). The series producer is Jules Hussey (Guilt, Catherine The Great) and the producer is Rienkje Attoh (Noughts + Crosses). Executive producers are Ruth Kenley-Letts, Neil Blair and Jenny Van Der Lande (Too Close, Mrs Wilson) and Kate Crowe (Taboo, Great Expectations). Lucy Richer and Nawfal Faizullah are executive producing for the BBC.

Training with Film Birmingham

The production, with support from the BBC, is also running a remote HETV training programme with Film Birmingham for ten trainees from underrepresented groups.

Snowed-In Productions previously produced Mrs Wilson with Ruth Wilson for BBC One and ITV mini-series Too Close starring Emily Watson and Denise Gough.

You Don’t Know Me was filmed in Birmingham and will air later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Netflix has world-wide rights outside the UK, Ireland and China. See the first released image here.

 

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

 

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Netflix Screenwriter’s Fellowship

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Netfliix’s new talent initiative will offer up to six successful applicants the opportunity for a year long programme of professional development.

This fellowship, for each writer, will include a bursary of £22,568 to write a spec script for an original idea over the course of a year, monthly development events and workshops, and a paid placement in a writers room of a Netflix or Sky series. They are looking for applications from writers of BlackAsian and other racial and ethnic backgrounds that are under-represented in the High-End TV and film industry.

Each submission will be assessed by an experienced script reader. Shortlisted applicants will then be interviewed and selected by a panel of industry experts.

The Fellowship offer will include:

Winners Announced for the British Film Designers Guild Awards 2020

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The winners of the British Film Designers Guild Awards have been announced in a virtual ceremony. Included for her work on The Personal History of David Copperfield was Production Designer Cristina Casali. Cristina has been the featured production designer on Film Birmingham’s Working in the Locations Department course for aspiring location managers.

About the British Film Designers Guild Awards

This year saw 3 new awards for: Commercial, Short Film and Outstanding Contribution to the Art Department. In other categories, The Gentlemen, 1917 and Tenet were among the winners.

The evening was hosted by BFDG Chairperson and Production Designer, Sonja Klaus and celebrity presenters included actor, Tim Robbins and Manchester United footballer Andy Cole. Major sponsors supporting the evening were film industry supply and service companies: BGI Supplies, Compuhire and Data Reprographics.

The ceremony can be viewed here.

 

British Film Designers Guild Winners

Here is a full list of winners:

 

THE PETER LAMONT AWARD – SPOTLIGHTING NEW TALENT

Libby Hoggard – Junior Graphics

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – COMMERCIAL

David Lee

Production Designer – Argos Christmas Advert

Grant Bailey

Art Director – Argos Christmas Advert

Poppy Luard

Stylist – Argos Christmas Advert

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – SHORT FILM

Jamie Lapsley

Production Designer – Expensive Shit

Gordon Rogers

Art Director – Expensive Shit

Imogen Toner

Set Decorator – Expensive Shit

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TV PROGRAMME

Samantha Harley

Production Designer – Sex Education, Series 2

Samantha Jay Cliff

Supervising Art Director – Sex Education, Series 2

Miri Katz

Set Decorator – Sex Education, Series 2

Alexandra Slade

Set Decorator – Sex Education, Series 2

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – INDEPENDENT TV DRAMA INCLUDING MINI SERIES, TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES

Arwel W Jones

Production Designer – Dracula

Harry Trow

Supervising Art Director – Dracula

Hannah Nicholson

Set Decorator – Dracula

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – INTERNATIONAL TV DRAMA INCLUDING MINI SERIES, TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES

Simon Bowles

Production Designer – Avenue 5

Stuart Kearns

Supervising Art Director – Avenue 5

Liz Griffiths

Set Decorator – Avenue 5

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM – PERIOD

Cristina Casali

Production Designer – The Personal History of David Copperfield

Nick Dent

Supervising Art Director – The Personal History of David Copperfield

Charlotte Watts

Set Decorator – The Personal History of David Copperfield

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM – CONTEMPORARY

Gemma Jackson

Production Designer – The Gentlemen

Martyn John

Supervising Art Director – The Gentlemen

Sarah Whittle

Set Decorator – The Gentlemen

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – INTERNATIONAL STUDIO FEATURE FILM – PERIOD

Dennis Gassner

Production Designer – 1917

Niall Moroney

Supervising Art Director – 1917

Lee Sandales

Set Decorator – 1917

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – INTERNATIONAL STUDIO FEATURE FILM – FANTASY

Nathan Crowley

Production Designer – Tenet

Toby Britton

Supervising Art Director – Tenet (Estonia, UK, Italy, Norway, Denmark)

Eggert Ketilsson

Supervising Art Director – Tenet (Estonia, India)

Jenne Lee

Supervising Art Director – Tenet (US)

Kathy Lucas

Set Decorator – Tenet (International)

Emmanuel Delis

Set Decorator – Tenet (Estonia)

Anna Pinnock

Set Decorator – Tenet (UK)

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE ART DEPARTMENT

Gary Tomkins

Art Director

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

John King

Supervising Art Director

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Unscripted TV Skills Fund – Q&A for Producers

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ScreenSkills invites you to find out more about the Unscripted TV Skills Fund at an event targeted at producers of unscripted content in the Midlands.

This will be taking place on Thursday, 20th May at 9:00am via Zoom. The meeting should take around 15-20 minutes. Feel free to send this invitation to colleagues.   If you have any access requirements, such as BSL interpretation, kindly email katherine.parsons@screenskills.com as soon as possible.

About the Fund

The Fund, which was announced on 16th April 2021 and goes live on Tuesday 1st June 2021, will address skills gaps and shortages in unscripted television across the UK and build a bigger pool of off-screen crew and talent in the nations and regions. See more details here.

Investing matched contributions from broadcasters who are signed up and productions, the Fund is designed to build a more inclusive workforce and future-proof the industry.

ScreenSkills will manage the Fund and in this session Sarah Joyce, Head of Unscripted and Children’s TV, ScreenSkills, will outline how it will work and answer your questions.

To Join the Meeting

You must register in advance for this meeting, which takes place online on May 20, 2021 09:00 AM

https://screenskills.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMldOGorzwiHNUSz0a2giD6i3_rPwbB3Xk3

 

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Coventry City of Culture Launches with New Film

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Coventry launches its year as UK City of Culture with the release of a George Eliot-inspired film, featuring a new track by Coolie. Watch the film here.

About the Eliot George x Coolie Film

The premiere of the new film, Timeless Words Made New, marks the beginning of Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture. The film takes inspiration from the words of George Eliot, who lived in the city, setting her words to a new music track specially created for the film by one of the city’s hottest talents, Coolie.

Coolie is one of the pioneers of the booming Coventry music scene, known for his work with other Coventry artists including Jay1. The film is commissioned by Coventry UK City of Culture Trust and created by Uncommon Creative Studio and Untold Productions.

The film, which was facilitated by Film Birmingham, takes us on a journey around the city led by Coolie, highlighting what being a City of Culture means to him, in a city he feels has often been overlooked. As George Elliot’s timeless words are projected onto Coventry’s iconic mid-Century cityscape, Coolie takes the viewer on a personal tour of his city as it emerges from the challenges of the past year to be UK City of Culture.

Throughout the film Eliot’s observations on life and art are projected on the buildings of Coventry, while well-known people from the city speak their words. The full list of participants are: Pauline Black, Lee Child, Coolie, Lisa Dillon, Emma Fryer, Nitin Ganatra, Stella Graham, Vince Hill, Debbie Isitt, Jay 1, Navin Kundra, Alice Lowe, Ann Lucas – The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Clint Mansell, Helen Masters, Carla Mendoca, Hazel O’Connor, Horace Panter, Icey Stanley, Paul Morrell, Samson, Manjinder Virk

The quotes were selected for their relevance after a year in which people have been isolated, communities have been challenged and young people have been particularly hard hit.

About Eliot George and Coolie

Mary Ann Evans, writing under the pseudonym George Eliot so her work could be taken ‘more seriously’ was the acclaimed writer of Middlemarch (1871), which is said to be a fictionalised version of Victorian Coventry. She lived at Bird Grove House in Coventry in her formative 20s in the 1840s, and was earlier schooled in the city.

Coolie’s music and the sound he has pioneered has received critical and commercial acclaim.  With the profile of this movement and Coolie’s music now reaching a global wider audience, he’s passionate about celebrating his roots and elevating the status of the city.

Coolie said: “Coventry City of Culture Trust approached me with an idea about breathing new life into the words of George Eliot, which feel really poignant to remember as we come out of lockdown and celebrate the opening of City of Culture. We used her quotes about music, poetry, determination, and resilience. They are as relevant today as they were back when she was writing in Victorian England, but we wanted to present them in a way that was more accessible for today – so I mixed them in a drill track, and we’re using the city as a canvas too for projections.”

Watch the film here.

Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of City of Culture Trust said: “Timeless Words Made New will put the words of one of our amazing women at the centre of the emotional and cultural renewal of our nation. This dynamic film and its compelling soundtrack, speak to who we are as a city, putting our powerful social history at the centre of our future. It marks the start of what will be an incredible year for Coventry and the re-start of our cultural lives.”

About Coventry

Coventry, the city that moves, is known around the world as a city of invention and reinvention. From its rebuilding after WWII, when its city centre was destroyed in the blitz, it has become a symbol of resilience and rebirth. It has been at the heart of several musical pioneers and movements, from Delia Derbyshire to 2Tone and rave and house. Celebrating the city’s youthfulness, diversity and the role that women have played in creating the city it is today are all major themes of its year as UK City of Culture.

The launch of the UK City of Culture year was delayed until today due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. A major signature event – Coventry Moves – will take place on Saturday 5 June. Experienced across the nation through a major partnership with the BBC and extensive broadcast, online and social media content, Coventry Moves will tell the story of the city’s pioneering past, present and future throughout the day.

Watch the film here.

Visit the 2021 City of Culture official website here.

 

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