Glasgow Film Festival Funny Features

Are you developing a comedy feature? Is this your first or second feature? Glasgow Film Festival’s new talent development lab, Funny Features, is designed to support producers, writers and writer/directors looking to develop and finance comedy projects. 

Over 6 months, successful creative teams will gain access to one-to-one consultancy sessions, online workshops and mentoring. This will be a rare opportunity for comedy projects to be developed in a constructive and practical development environment where they will be able to participate in peer-to-peer and professional feedback.

• Script Consultancy & Feedback
• Story Workshop & Consultancy
• Audience Design Consultancy
• Pitching Workshop
• Finance & Film Packaging Intensive Workshops
• Mentorship
• Pitching Sessions

Teams will leave Funny Features with extensive knowledge of the film finance landscape, heightened confidence in navigating the marketplace, a clearer understanding of their audience and market placement, a widened network of decision-makers, a film finance package, a final draft of their script and a project ready to enter the international marketplace to being securing financing.

Participants will be paid for their time on the scheme; in workshops, consultancies, and meetings.

Funny Features is open to producers, writers and writer/directors who are developing a comedy project that is their first or second feature.

To be eligible for Funny Features, you must apply as a creative team which includes a producer and writer (or writer/director). You can apply if you already have a director attached, but they cannot participate in the lab sessions. Glasgow Film Festival cannot accept applications from individuals.

Applicants must also meet the below criteria:

• The project genre must be a comedy, and this includes sub-genres such as Romantic Comedy, Drama Comedy and Horror Comedy. Comedy must be central to the overall theme of the project.
• The project must be the producer or writer’s (or writer/directors) first or second feature.
• Project must have a completed first draft script  .
• Project team must comprise of a producer and writer (writer/director is also eligible).
• The maximum number of producers attached to the project for participation is two.
• The maximum number of writers (or writer/directors) attached to the project for participation is two.
• Producer(s) or Writer(s) must match one of the below minimum experience criteria:
  • Made at least three short films, two of which must have been commissioned.
  • Made at least two short films (one commissioned) and have one TV Credit as a writer or producer.
  • Have at least two TV credits as a writer or producer.
• Please note only one member of the team has to meet the eligibility requirements.
• Please note both producer(s) and writer(s) must be attached to the project to apply. Solo applications – projects with only producer(s) or only writer(s) – will automatically be rejected.

Before applying, please ensure you meet the minimum requirements stated above. You will be asked to list these in your application. You must apply with a detailed personal statement, a one-pager, a full script and comprehensive bios for each team member.

Funny Features is actively encouraging applications from talent based in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Northern England and those who are from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to, those from the global majority, LGBTQIA+ people, those who identify as a gender minority and/or those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

How to apply

Download the application pack

To apply for Funny Features, you will need to provide the below:

• Draft of the feature film script
• One pager of feature film idea
• Personal Statement
• Names, biographies and CVs of creative team members
• Declaration of any finance/funding already secured/Letters of Interest

Applications for Funny Features will close on Wednesday 21 August at 12 noon.

Glasgow Film Festival will be hosting an online information session on Wednesday 14 August, sign up here.

If you have any questions about the application process or Funny Features, please contact grace.feinmann@glasgowfilm.org